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It is Important to Us that you know what We're talking about. Here at Digital Scanning and Imaging, Inc® we find it important to make sure you are completetly satisfied with the work we have done for you. But if you don't really understand what we've done for you, it is difficult for you be completely satisfied. What we do What our company does in large, is convert paper documents to a digital format. When paper is converted to a digital format, the ability for you to replicate this information is very simple. You can easily make many copies quickly, which in the event of a disaster you can have multiple copies stored in protected locations. Digital technology can compress your data from a room full of file cabinets to just several DVD's, saving you expensive real estate. With indexing, you will be able to locate your information much more quickly than you would if you had to search your physical file. Our goal when converting your files is to digitally replicate your search process using indexing. We learn how you look for your physical files. Then we recreate that same method on the computer. We want to make your transition to digital indexing as painless as possible. Since we're trying to help you locate you information faster, we use what you are already familar with. Your image type Typically when we scan your files, we use a 1-bit Bi-tonal image. These can then easily be scaled to a 2-bit Bi-tonal image. Bi-tonal images are black and white, which well suits text and drawings. This is used to create the best contrast between the information you need and the background which it lies on. Bi-tonal images are very small in storage size as well. Grayscale images can be used, however, their storage size is up to 400% larger. Grayscale, rather than being a cut-and-dry Black or White, use shades of gray to represent the image and is best suited for difficult-to-scan pages. Full Color or True Color is just that, a color image. Full color images capture the obvious colors present on the scanned subject. 24-bit True Color is an exact replication of all colors present in the scanned subject. 24-bit True Color supports up to 16.8 Million colors and is best suited for photos. True Color may be up to 400% larger than Grayscale and 800% larger than Bi-tonal. The Beginning At the beginning of each project we must assess how much prep-work is involved. Document-prep is the process of getting the documents ready for scanning. There are many things that have to happen before the scanning process can begin. In document-prep, indexing is usually discussed and laid out for the entire project. All staples, paper clips, binder clips, and any other retention devices must be removed before any scanning can begin. Scanning process The scanning process itself really is the easiest part of the entire process. There is not much to the scanning other than loading documents and clearing jams. The most important part of the entire process is the indexing we do at the beginning of the project. Explaination of Terms
Aperture Card	A card 3.25" X 7.5" with a window holding a piece of 35mm film. Similar to Microfiche, but only hold a couple images.
Auto-Naming	An automated sequence where the computer advances the naming structure one value within a specified sequence. For example if the first image is named "0001" the second would be "0002". Rather than type the name out for each file, the computer automatically changes it for you.
Backfile	Any documents that you have generated in the past and still use today.
Batch Naming	The same as auto-naming.
Bi-Tonal	A two color image file which uses a specific threshold to define a hign contrast differentiation between colors. Typically this is used for text where the important data needs to stand out against the background. Well suited for Blueprints, Sepias, Mylars, Vellum, and Text.
Bit-map	A type of image where the spatial information is stored within cells or a grid. Typical Bit-mapped images may be stored as: JPEG, BMP, or GIF. Bit-Maps are well suited for Photos, Document Archiving, and Art. Bit-mapped images may be scaled. However, distortion will occur because spatial data must be extrapolated.
Digital	The use of ones and zeros to represent physical information.
DPI	Dots Per Inch. More dots that are captured within an inch produces more detail. DPI may also be referred to as resolution. Typically text is captured at 200dpi which is more than sufficient. Higher resolutions may be used for photos or high detail drawings.
Compression	A software function which uses an algorithm to remove redunant code within a file to reduce its overall storage size without losing information.
Contrast	The amount of separation between Light and Dark Colors.
Full-Duplex	The ability to perform two or more functions at the same time.
GIF	Graphical Interchange Format - Developed by Compuserve® - a common image format.
Grayscale	An image composed of up to 256 shades of gray to represent color.
Indexing	A form of structuring which allows you to retrieve data in an orderly fashion.
JPEG	Joint Photographic Experts Group - a common image format.
Landscape Orientation	Orientation of an image where the longest edge is horizontal.
LaserFiche	A Brand of software used to convert scanned images in to searchable text. Indexing software used to locate information quickly.
Ledger	Paper size - 11" X 17"
Legal	Paper size - 8.5" X 14"
Letter	Paper size - 8.5" X 11"
Magnetic Media	An older form of data storage which uses Magnetic signatures to represent data. Floppy Discs, Tape, or Hard Drives. This form of data storage is relativly volatile and is unreliable for long term storage.
Media	Technology used for data storage. Disks, CDs, DVDs, Tape, Paper, etc...
MICR	Magnetic Ink Character Recognition - Typically used on checks to allow automated reading of information on the check itself.
Microfiche	A card or sheet of film which was used to store a number of reduced images. Requires a special machine to veiw the images.
Migration	The process of moving data from an old medium of storage to a more current version.
OCR	Optical Character Recognition - software which is used to convert images of text to editable and searchable text. Recognizes images of letters to convert them from bitmaps to text.
PDF	Portable Document Format - Developed by Adobe®. A single file which contains one or more pages of documents, much like a book.
Portrait Orientation	Orientation of an image where the Longest edge is Verticle.
TIFF	Tagged Image File Format - Commonly used for transference of raster images or images where spacial information is converted to cellular data. These can also be used as a book with pages like a PDF. However, it does not offer the authoring capablilities that PDFs do. Adobe® also hold the rights for the TIFF Format.
Vector Graphics	A type of graphic, which is usually computer generated, that is composed of a series of points connected by lines. Vector based graphics are 100% scalable. Typical formats for Vectors are: SVG, CDR, DWG, or EPS. Vector Graphics are well suited for Clipart, CAD, and CAM.

It is Important to Us that you know what We're talking about.

Here at Digital Scanning and Imaging, Inc® we find it important to make sure you are completetly satisfied with the work we have done for you. But if you don't really understand what we've done for you, it is difficult for you be completely satisfied.

What we do

Your image type

The Beginning

Scanning process

The scanning process itself really is the easiest part of the entire process. There is not much to the scanning other than loading documents and clearing jams. The most important part of the entire process is the indexing we do at the beginning of the project.

Explaination of Terms

Aperture Card

A card 3.25" X 7.5" with a window holding a piece of 35mm film. Similar to Microfiche, but only hold a couple images.

Auto-Naming

An automated sequence where the computer advances the naming structure one value within a specified sequence. For example if the first image is named "0001" the second would be "0002". Rather than type the name out for each file, the computer automatically changes it for you.

Backfile

Any documents that you have generated in the past and still use today.

Batch Naming

The same as auto-naming.

Bi-Tonal

A two color image file which uses a specific threshold to define a hign contrast differentiation between colors. Typically this is used for text where the important data needs to stand out against the background. Well suited for Blueprints, Sepias, Mylars, Vellum, and Text.

Bit-map

Digital

The use of ones and zeros to represent physical information.

DPI

Dots Per Inch. More dots that are captured within an inch produces more detail. DPI may also be referred to as resolution. Typically text is captured at 200dpi which is more than sufficient. Higher resolutions may be used for photos or high detail drawings.

Compression

A software function which uses an algorithm to remove redunant code within a file to reduce its overall storage size without losing information.

Contrast

The amount of separation between Light and Dark Colors.

Full-Duplex

The ability to perform two or more functions at the same time.

GIF

Graphical Interchange Format - Developed by Compuserve® - a common image format.

Grayscale

An image composed of up to 256 shades of gray to represent color.

Indexing

A form of structuring which allows you to retrieve data in an orderly fashion.

JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group - a common image format.

Landscape Orientation

Orientation of an image where the longest edge is horizontal.

LaserFiche

A Brand of software used to convert scanned images in to searchable text. Indexing software used to locate information quickly.

Ledger

Paper size - 11" X 17"

Legal

Paper size - 8.5" X 14"

Letter

Paper size - 8.5" X 11"

Magnetic Media

An older form of data storage which uses Magnetic signatures to represent data. Floppy Discs, Tape, or Hard Drives. This form of data storage is relativly volatile and is unreliable for long term storage.

Media

Technology used for data storage. Disks, CDs, DVDs, Tape, Paper, etc...

MICR

Magnetic Ink Character Recognition - Typically used on checks to allow automated reading of information on the check itself.

Microfiche

A card or sheet of film which was used to store a number of reduced images. Requires a special machine to veiw the images.

Migration

The process of moving data from an old medium of storage to a more current version.

OCR

Optical Character Recognition - software which is used to convert images of text to editable and searchable text. Recognizes images of letters to convert them from bitmaps to text.

PDF

Portable Document Format - Developed by Adobe®. A single file which contains one or more pages of documents, much like a book.

Portrait Orientation

Orientation of an image where the Longest edge is Verticle.

TIFF

Vector Graphics

A type of graphic, which is usually computer generated, that is composed of a series of points connected by lines. Vector based graphics are 100% scalable. Typical formats for Vectors are: SVG, CDR, DWG, or EPS. Vector Graphics are well suited for Clipart, CAD, and CAM.