PearlScan

Guide to book scanning

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We have put together the following guide to help you decide the most suitable option for having your books scanned and digitised. Depending on your objectives, you may wish to choose a service which may be based around cost, technical requirements or a commercial use.

All our books and bound material scanning services are bespoke, so feel free to contact us for any special requirements.

Here are the three service levels for having your bound books scanned without having the binding removed and keeping your originals intact.

  1. Spread-Scan – This service level is suitable for scanning books to create an offline archive.
  2. Single Page Scan – Scanning books to create an online and web-based archive library without any post-scan image processing and enhancements.
  3. Single Page Scan (Enhanced) – Scanning books for professional and commercial with manual image processing.

A. Spread scan

In this method a book is laid flat on our specialised book scanning systems, which use a linear scanning technology, L.E.D lights and an overhead scanner. Both pages (left & right) from the book are scanned onto one image (as shown below);

An image displaying a spread scan, the cheapest option of our bound book scanning service level. The two pages are scanned into one TIFF file image using our specialised book scanner.
Choose this option if you are looking for a digital backup of your valuable books or any archive which does not require frequent access, as constant reading from two-page image may not be very user-friendly, however this is the cheapest option.

B. Single page scan

As above method, however both left and right-side pages are split into individual images during the digitisation process by finding and adjusting the centre of the book as it is being scanned.

Depending on how the book is bound some digital images may contain some black borders as seen in the picture below, may be warped in the middle and may also contain shadow in the book gutter.

One of two images displaying our bound book scanning service level of single split scan. This is the left image of a spread scan that has been split down the middle and converted as a single TIFF format file. Second image of the two displaying our bound book scanning service level of single split scan. This is the right image of a spread scan that has been split down the middle and converted as a single TIFF format file.
This option is suitable for online publication of your archive material for any research, historical archiving and for a general use.

C. Single page scan (Enhanced)

As above method B, but with manual post-scan image processing. Our post scan processing of the books is specifically tailored for a professional and commercial use, as shown in the example below.

This Enhanced service includes the following features;

  • Removal of black borders.
  • De-skew – straightening of any skewed pages.
  • Orientation – ensuring all pages are facing the correct way in the book.
  • Pictures – setting up all pictures to be in a grey-scale format for extra detail and quality (pictures can be colour OR greyscale depending on the original. We don’t convert all pictures to greyscale by default).
  • Covers – inserting front and back covers in colour where necessary.

Here is an example of the image from the method B as above which has been processed by applying the above image processing features.

One of two images displaying our bound book scanning service level of split page scan processed to the left-hand side page of a spread scan. The image has been processed to make scan quality to be good enough for the use of being to reprint or convert to eBook. The second image of two displaying our bound book scanning service level of split page scan processed to the right-hand side page of a spread scan. The image has been processed to make scan quality to be good enough for the use of being to reprint or convert to eBooks.

Why Choose Pearl Scan?

In conjunction with the EN BS ISO 9001:2005, 27001, 14001 and in-house implemented quality, security and compliance procedures allow us to deliver peace of mind scanning services to our client. We are an approved document scanning and data capture scanning service provider to many reputable health, education, manufacturing, financial, logistics etc. organisations.

    ISO 9001 Registered         ISO 14001 Registered         ISO 27001 Registered         Investors In People         PCI Compliant         Member of IRM     

Founded in 2003, with almost 15 years of valuable knowledge and expertise in delivering successful document scanning and data capture services through the UK to some of the most reputable and globally known organisations.

We operate from a custom built document scanning and data capture centre, which is built around security, safety and confidentiality. The site is monitored 24hours a day by security and CCTV systems.

The document scanning and data capture bureau is equipped with the state-of-the-art dedicated document, Microfilm media, Books and Large Format Plans scanning and capture technology; catering for a wide range of document types and sizes making us a one-stop service provider for scanning and digital conversion needs . We continually invest in our staff training and latest technology to ensure that we are delivering quality and innovations at all times.

Pearl Scan Group has the infrastructure to provide quick turnaround for urgent document scanning needs to taking on a large volume scanning and conversion of documents, microfilm media, books etc. projects. Our document scanning and data capture service centre always run at 80% of its productivity allowing 20% space and resources for on-demand, ad-hock projects.

Documents

We can scan your documents such as Invoices, Employee Files, Client Files, O&M manuals etc. and convert these to digital files such PDF, PDF Searchable, TIFF or JPEG etc.

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Books

Using our specialist book scanners we can scan modern, old, out of print books, magazines, journals and manuscripts to PDF, Word, Kindle etc. formats

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OCR Conversion

Convert your documents to fully editable Microsoft Word or Excel formats or text searchable PDF files. We use the latest in the OCR technology for accurate recognition of text.

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Microfiche and Microfilm

All types of microfiche and microfilms are scanned and converted to digital files such TIFF, PDF and PDF Searchable. The digital files can be supplied on a CD, USB or via FTP.

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Surveys

Accurate data capture from any types of form, survey, questionnaire, invoice, etc. to the any required file format such as CSV, Microsoft Excel, XML and SPSS.

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Aperture cards

Technical drawings stored on aperture card film are scanned using specialist scanners and converted to digital files of your choice such as TIFF, PDF or JPEG as well as DWG or DXF.

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X-rays

Specialist high resolution scanners are used to scan and convert both medical and non-medical X-rays to digital image formats such as PDF, JPEG or DICOM. Nationwide service with fast turn around.

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Business cards

Fast and accurate scanning and data capture service of business cards to Microsoft Excel, Outlook, CSV, XML etc. formats.

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Photos, Negatives

Convert your printed photos, paintings, posters etc, to high quality digital files with our photo scanning service.

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CAD Drafting and Conversion

Accurate and fast CAD conversion from paper or digital image to fully editable CAD file. All types of drawings such as architectural, electrical and mechanical are converted to .dwg or .dxf formats.

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Large Format

Whether computer printed, hand-drawn, old or fragile technical drawings or building plans , we scan and convert these to high quality digital images such as TIFF, PDF, JPEG as well as CAD formats.

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Heritage Scanning and Digitisation

This expert process follows the standard digitisation scanning process and involves post-scan image processing in order to uplift any lost or faint information.

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Archive Digitisation

Free up your office space by having your archived files scanned and converted to digital archive and gain further benefits of secure backup and easy access.

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Bulk Scanning

High volume bulk document scanning and conversion to digital files with the capacity to scan millions of documents per month and offering fast turn around for urgent projects.

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Scan On Demand

Store your boxes with us and instead of recalling phycial box or a file, we will retrieve the required file, scan and deliver it to you electronically via our secure system.

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Document Scanning Manchester

Our document scanning and management services in Manchester can revolutionise your business.

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Document Scanning London

Our tailored document scanning, data capture and digital storage & archiving services for organisations in London to help with office space, cost saving and efficient document storage & access.

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Invoices Data Capture

Our automated invoice data capture solution provides cost-effectiveness and improves accounts payable processes.

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Automated Data Capture

Using advanced OCR, ICR, OMR and Barcode technology we can scan and capture machine printed, handwritten and check boxes from all types of forms such surveys, questionnaires, patient forms, exam papers and medical forms etc.

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Survey Data Capture

Using the latest data capture technology, we can scan and capture all types of market research surveys such as such as customer & staff feedback surveys, medical & educational surveys and product & service related surveys.

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Medical Research Forms

Secure and confidential data capture service of all types of medical and clinical forms to digital formats such as CSV and Excel etc.

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Data Entry Services

We can capture the required data from any type of documents and forms by using a combination of our in-house developed processes and experienced data entry staff.

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Transcription Services

We help businesses to understand vital information, and audio data can sometimes be tricky to analyse. Pearl Scan offers transcription services for interviews, market studies, medical research, legal cases and more.

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Pearl Cloud

We tailor the Pearl Cloud platform to meet our customers’ requirements, allowing them to retrieve documents quickly and easily. We can provide training online, but with such a user friendly interface, we’re certain you’ll be up and running in no time.

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Halogen

Halogen comes in both Local and Cloud versions, providing flexible and scalable options to SMEs and large corporations with multiple offices and remote working.

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Digital Mailroom

Our digital mailroom services are offered to organisations throughout the UK including Manchester, London and Birmingham.

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Document Storage

We guarantee that your documents and media will be safely and securely stored and accurately catalogued.

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Paperless Office

Though systems continue to improve all the time, we are now in a position where we have come to rely on computer systems as much as we do paper.

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Secure Shredding

Our secure and confidential document shredding services offer low cost disposal of your paper documents and confidential information provided nationwide to our Customers.

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Scan to SharePoint

As a leading document scanning services provider, Pearl Scan has worked with variety of documents which were stored and managed in customer’s SharePoint systems.

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Scan to e-Archive

Our Scan to Archive model creates an exact digital copy of the original file and index the digital file by the file label.

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Store to Scan

Our Store to Scan model has revolutionised the way an organisation store and archive their documents.

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PSI Capture

The PSI:Capture application boosts the capabilities of any scanning device, making it compatible with any of our 50 supported back-end Enterprise Content Management or Document Management Systems.

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E-bible

Documents can be accessed easily through an easy to use menu or by using a keyword search powerful search capabilities using fully text searchable documents offers quick access and is useful for document cross referencing.

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Accounts Payable Automation Service

Pearl AP is an accounts payable solution that manages documents that drive AP processes and maximise the benefits of fast, efficient and precise document invoice processing.

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Invoice Scanning

Monthly, annually or one-off scanning of all types of purchase invoices from suppliers including statements, summary reports and expenses to PDF format, SharePoint, SAP, ERP systems or our complimentry easy to use Halogen or Pearl Cloud system.

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HR Document Management

The scanning of employee files enable HR departments to have instant access to documents when needed as well as it makes a lot easier to manage their GDPR compliance.

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Legal Document Scanning

Our legal scanning services and legal document management solutions have become extremely popular with law firms throughout the country.

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Education Sector Scanning

Secure, confidential education sector scanning service and accurate data capture from student & staff files, exam papers, surveys, and microfiche.

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Medical Records Scanning

Our medical records scanning service has helped thousands of NHS hospitals, GP surgeries, private medical trusts and dental surgeries to improve their patient record keeping.

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Proof of Delivery

Digitising your proof of delivery forms saves time, money and improves efficiency.

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Planning and Building Control

Pearl Scan can digitise microfiche using high speed and high resolution microfiche scanners, turning around projects quickly and often ahead of the market

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Aerospace Document Management

Having a digital paperless system not only safeguards your legally binding records and documents, it also makes the business much more efficient.

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Contact us today

Our team of experts is aways on-hand to help assist you with any query, regardless of complexity. The advice we give is completely tailored to you and your needs, and any quotations made are completely free & no obligation...

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