Reference Department Training Guide 2009 

Week 2: Freedman Center Scanning Processes: Pictures and Text

Week of June 29th, 2009

About Scanning at the Freedman Center

The Freedman Center provides technology for several image scanning applications. These include multi-page document scanning, regular and large-format flatbed scanning of text and pictures, photo slide and photo negative scanning, and X-ray negative scanning.  Multipage document scanning by Case faculty and X-ray scanning by medical school faculty are two popular activities at the Center.

Resources and Equipment

Here are some of the scanning platforms offered at the Freedman Center:

Nikon CoolScan V - 35MM Slide and Film Scanner

These scanners scan 35mm slides and film negatives.  A bulk feeder is available for those patrons with larger slide collections. A professor from dentistry used this scanner to digitize his entire 35mm collection for use in PowerPoint, for example.

Nikon CoolScan 9000 - 35MM Slide and Film Scanner

These special scanners also scan 35m slides, as well as various sized film negatives.  As with other Nikon scanners, this features Digital ICE technology (Image Correction and Enhancement) which removes dust, scratches, and even allows for the restoration of faded color.

Pacific Image PowerSlide 3650

This automated slide scanner is specifically designed to batch scan 35mm mounted slides (scanning area is 37.5mm x 37.5mm with a 50mm x 50mm Mount).  By using a slide magazine, the PowerSlide 3650 is capable of scanning up to 50-100 mounted slides at 3600 dpi.

Bell & Howell Sidekick 1300 - Sheet fed Scanner

This is a very popular piece of equipment.  Imagine taking 100 pages of notes from last semester and having them instantly converted to PDF!  It can scan 30 pages per minute straight to PDF at resolutions as high as 600dpi.  It can even do color and dual-sided paper.  The scanner's humble appearance may fool you.

Epson Perfection 4990 Photo Scanner

This powerful performer scans print materials, multiple slides simultaneously, as well as negatives and photos.  And, with its built-in transparency unit, it accommodates film up to 8" x 10".  Housed in a sleek outer case with an illuminated scan progress indicator, this scanner delivers intricate detail, due to an astounding 4800 x 9600 dpi resolution, 48-bit color depth, and 4.0 Dmax.

Epson Perfection 10000XL Medium Format Photo Scanner

This scanner is available to scan larger works - up to 12" x 17" - at ultra high resolutions.  This scanner also has a transparency adapter to scan transparent media like X-rays. Biomedical researchers have used this to scan their film transparencies for example.  It is also currently being used by KSL archival staff to digitize the Charles Brush collection of papers and correspondence.

Planetary Scanner

The planetary scanner can be used to capture high resolution digital images of materials difficult or impossible to scan on traditional scanners, such as tightly bound or fragile books, oversized journals, maps, posters, and other materials for preservation, reproduction, archiving, and electronic dissemination.  Because it scans from above, minimal damage is caused to the original item. The planetary scanner is housed outside of the Freedman Center in a specially designed, optically tuned room.  Scanning is done by specially trained staff, and a scanning appointment is necessary.

What Can Patrons Do with Scanners at the Freedman Center

Patrons can,

• scan images and save them in multiple formats (JPEG, TIFF, etc.) for inclusion in a PowerPoint presentation or other application
• upload images to hosting sites like Flikr, Facebook, etc.
• create image slide shows with FC software, VoiceThread, or other media hosting applications
• scan text from books and magazines to create PDFs
• scan photocopies to create PDFs
• edit scanned images in Adobe PhotoShop.

Reference Interview Tips & Notes

FC Do’s and Don’ts

Doesn’t – Instruct patrons on how to edit images.  Basic scanning procedures only.

Does – Help patrons set up computer scanning workstations and software to start the scanning process

Doesn’t – Provide color printing  [Direct patrons with color printing to Printing Services in Thwing].

Does – Provide scanning and editing software such as Adobe Acrobat and Photoshop

Does – Monitor the fair use of text and images at FC workstations.  Staff will inquire about patron projects when appropriate, and workstation computers are regularly cleaned of scanned image collections.

Does – Provide special scanning services for a fee.  The FC is NOT, however, a primary media job processing center or drop-off service for the Case community.  Please see the Premium Services information page at the FC website for clarification.

Does – Provide training opportunities to learn more about scanning and manipulating images through the CaseLearns program

Doesn't – Suggest or allow scanners to be used for large/frequent reproduction of books, book chapters, or journal articles.  Individual journal articles can be scanned, but library patrons should be directed to KSL photocopiers in most cases.

Top 3 Scanning Activities:

• The Epson Perfection 4990 Photo Scanner flatbed scanners get the most use.  Large format, slide, and planetary scanners are only used occasionally.

• The Bell & Howell Sidekick 1300 document reader is one of the most popular scanning applications in the FC.  It gets regular use by faculty who like to create PDFs of course readings for inclusion on their Blackboard course management pages.  They love it!

• The planetary scanner is used primarily by KSL staff.  FC patron requests for this scanner are rare, and most are directed to Sharlane Gubkin in the KSL Preservation Department.

Reference Tip - Scanning with the photo slide, bulk photo slide, large format, and planetary scanners takes a very, very long time and will probably require multiple scanning sessions.  Advise patrons to plan ahead and consult with FC representatives.

Try it Out

*** Remember that that FC staff can always set you up at a workstation and help you get started ***

*** Remember also that the instructional wiki tutorials For FC equipment set-up can be accessed from any computer, including Freedman Center workstations. ***

Take a look at the Sidekick scanner tutorial

• scan a document that relates to your personal interest, hobby, leisure activity, topic, project, .. etc.
• create a PDF

Study the FC wiki tutorials on flatbed scanning and Basic Document Manipulation in Adobe Photoshop to create a JPEG image file.

• Check out a digital still camera from the front desk at the FC and take some pictures, or select some of your own photo prints that relate to your interests, activities, personal projects, ... etc.
• Upload images from the FC camera, or scan one or more of your print images, and create JPEG image files.

Getting Credit

If you haven't already, go ahead and register for your free VoiceThread account and check out some of the orientation tutorials.  Also, review some tips and notes (a separate page tab in this training wiki - see the top of the page for this tab) about using your free account for this training, as well as posting your Voicethreads so that others can see your creations.

Post your text PDF and scanned JPEGs to your VoiceThread account.  Don't worry, however, if your text PDF is not readable in Voicethread.  You can describe the text with a voiceover if you like, or just post it in order to get credit for this week's exercise.

Use the Comment link on this page to reflect on this week's activities and provide a link to your VoiceThread media collection.  Did you team up with anyone to make PDFs, JPEGs, or learn how to use VoiceThread?  What does everyone think of the VoiceThread tool?

** Remember, you can post anonymously if you prefer.  Please send Mark Eddy an e-mail note about your comments to get credit if you wish to post anonymously.

** Make sure also to sign up on Friday this week or Monday next for a time to use the Pimsleur German I language learing chip for our module exercise next week.  Just ask for the sign-up sheet at the FC service desk.

Things to Note This Week

Welcome to the second week of our training program!  Make sure to look over the Comment Summary and Overview section of last week's module for further information about how last week went, and thoughts on this week's module.  Thanks to all for participating!

Make sure to sign up on Friday this week or Monday next for a time to use the Pimsleur German I language learing chip for our module exercise next week.  Just ask for the sign-up sheet at the FC service desk.

Be sure to visit the Notes about VoiceThread wiki page to learn more about how to create and post your Voicethread presentations.  Please let me know if you have problems uploading files to Voicethread, or creating a URL for your presentation that everyone can see.

If you want to try a voiceover for any of your Voicethread images, you can use the built-in microphone on your laptop or desktop (if available), or you can check out a microphone headset from the FC that you can use in your office.  You can set the Voicethread to allow other poeple to post comments, or you can restrict your project just to your own comments.  No need to do a voiceover this week, though.  We will do this officially in Week 4 of the training. 

Also, the URLs for your VoiceThreads may not work for others if you do not click the proper settings.  In the menu widget for your Voicethread, click the Share button and then click the "Get a Link" button.  This will give you the option of generating a URL that anyone can view, but you must click the proper check boxes and click the grey "Get a Link" button in this settings window.  This copies the URL to your clipboard, and a red text box will pop up letting you know that the action was succesful.  You can then write a comment in the wiki comment field and paste the URL there as well.

A note about copyright law and PDF posting.  I recommend that you only post short selections if you make a PDF from a published work.  Since the Voicthread URL you post is on the main VoiceThread, it is essentially open for anyone to view.  We do not want to violate copyright law by distributing published works without permission.

Be aware that not all computers in the FC will have shortcut links to the FC wiki tutorial that you want to see while doing the module exercises.  If you need to look at the instructional FC wiki for the process that you are working on in the FC, just ask the service representative at the FC front desk to pull it up for you on your FC workstation.  The links are also on the FC website main webpage under the "training and tutorials" links.

Comment Summary and Overview

Hi Folks!  Great job to all who finished this week's module!  Sounds like you had an educational and fun time using the scanning technology at the FC, and fun learning how to use VoiceThread!  VoiceThread isn't perfect for all kinds of files, but it works pretty well for most.  Please let me know if anyone has trouble posting or sharing their VoiceThreads in future program modules.