Pay to scan?

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:12 am

I know that some members here have done this before, so I solicit their opinions and stories.

I have acquired some very oversized items that would be a pain in the arse to scan with my home scanner. I've heard that you can go to places like Staples, or Kinko's and pay to use their larger scanners. Could someone please tell me which stores they've used, what the costs were, and how happy they were with the quality of the scans.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:12 am

Yes I take go to places like Staples or Kinko's and pay to use their larger scanners. Who said that?

glorff · Post by **glorff** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:23 pm

Be sure to check what kind of scanner they have, because a lot of them run off of pinch rollers that move the image past a fixed scanner bar. The reproduction houses that deal with businesses are more likely to have a large scanner that would be appropriate.

hobbywhelmed · Post by **hobbywhelmed** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 5:13 pm

What glorff said - I've tried the Kinko's route, and their oversize scanner is made for things like blueprints - it bends the original. Absolutely not good for cels or backgrounds. It would pay, though, to contact them, as one store in a region might have a flatbed oversized scanner.

Otherwise, you might check the yellow pages and try a photographic services company in the area. They might charge a bit more than Kinko's, but might have a better range of equipment. (I had to stop going to Kinko's to make copies of backgrounds, since they did NO decent upkeep on their color copy machine and quality kept getting worse and worse.)

vapalla · Post by **vapalla** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 6:53 pm

I found out when I needed to scan Sensei's A Tree of Palme background that no two Kinkos are the same. They don't all have the same equipment and some have better staff than others. Your best bet is to go to the one near you and ask them whether they can do what you want, what equipment they have, and a price. The first Kinkos I went to in Delaware didn't have the equipment to do my scan. I ended up taking it another one in MD that did. The results were really incredible, but it was pricy.( I needed both a color copy and a file for the computer.)

BTW I can't wait to see your new things, they sound incredible!

buma · Post by **buma** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:38 pm

you might also want to check out places that specialize in architectural reproduction - they usually have better equipment and better trained staff (at least they are here where I am:)). They are more likely to have a large flat-bed scanner that will not damage your original and have very good color output machines for printing too.

be forewarned, however, you'll pay for their expertice...

something to keep in mind

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:38 pm

OK, I will check out places that specialize in architectural reproduction - they usually have better equipment and better trained staff at least they are here where I amsmile.

irmgaard · Post by **irmgaard** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:43 pm

hobbywhelmed wrote:try a photographic services company in the area.

This is the route used for digital scans of fine art. Price, typically around $150.

(much cheaper than the "old days" and 8" x 10" transparencies)

klet · Post by **klet** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 2:06 am

You don't technically have to use a huge scanner to get scans of oversized cels. You can scan in pieces and then stitch them together. I'd be willing to help, Rei--just don't contact me here. My PM box is a little on the full size.