cheap fast scanner for books?

1v4n0 · 07-01-2015, 10:48 AM

Hello, anyone has a good recommendation for a cheap fast scanner to use which I don't have to destroy the book? I found another thread here but the answers were mostly expensive stuff; I want something that I can get for maximum $100, maybe used.

The one I use now takes about 15" per 2 pages (i.e. per scan)

thanks

jbacelar · 07-01-2015, 11:19 AM

If you have at your disposal a digital camera, this is the cheapest (and best, and fast):

http://www.instructables.com/id/Barg...Cardboard-Box/

1v4n0 · 07-01-2015, 11:33 AM

Ha! Looks so easy that even I could do it

1v4n0 · 07-02-2015, 06:27 AM

Except it doesn't work :O

The scanning part is indeed faster, though not so much (I'd say it about 50% faster, for a small book, perhaps it would be faster for a bigger one, because of course with a traditional scanner if the pages are smaller the process is faster, while in this case it is more or less the same).

However, at least in my first try, the OCR is terrible. Seems like something that would work if you just need a pdf-image, but for ebooking purposes, unless I missed some huge points, it seems useless to me.

Oh well thanks anyway. Gotta try

jbacelar · 07-02-2015, 08:08 AM

You that OCR is using?
Because I use ABBY Fine Reader 11 and works perfectly.
I think that from a decent photographs, the OCR quality depends on the software you use.

Toxaris · 07-02-2015, 09:11 AM

Can you show us an example of the image? Perhaps you need to use Scantailor to improve the images.

Turtle91 · 07-02-2015, 09:23 AM

There is some good - free scan software designed specifically for this over at DIY Book Scanner.

That process works very well, and the speed is very good. An uber-cheap cradle/platen made of cardboard or Styrofoam will be slower than a constructed one...but...it's cheap! Some designs reach speeds of several hundred pages per hour!! The key is to make sure the camera doesn't move relative to the page, and stays in focus. Consistent images make the job of the scanning software much easier with much better results.

...there are even designs on there used for those tightly bound little paperbacks that like to close on their own...

1v4n0 · 07-02-2015, 09:51 AM

Yes it might well be my fault if it doesn't work. My manual skills are very bad.

I use AFR, which with a normal scanner works fine.
Anyway here's some pics.

Turtle91 · 07-02-2015, 10:02 AM

Need more light. It looks like you are using a very yellow-tinged light source. Perhaps two "daylight" bulbs - with no shade - one on each end of the book.

And, if you can, zoom the camera so it is just taking a picture of the page instead of all the stuff around it.

1v4n0 · 07-02-2015, 10:04 AM

Thanks, will try. Does it need to be a perfect rectangle?

Toxaris · 07-02-2015, 12:39 PM

And higher resolution if you can.

1v4n0 · 07-02-2015, 12:48 PM

Higher res is impossible.
With stronger and whiter light (just one lamp though) it works better, thanks. It is still worse than the usual, and I'll have to figure out whether the whole process (including proofreading) is faster.

theducks · 07-02-2015, 02:21 PM

Cheap digitals do not have the color balance (setting) the Tutorial called for.
You must use Daylight (not fluorescent, which has lots of blue/green).
You really want the best possible contrast.
If the pages are yellowed, you need to correct the color WITHOUT losing the black (text).

Turtle91 · 07-03-2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1v4n0

Thanks, will try. Does it need to be a perfect rectangle?

The perfect-er the better-er!!

But no, it doesn't need to be perfect. The software can de-skew. Of course, the less it has to work at fixing that the faster it goes.

07-01-2015, 10:48 AM	#1
1v4n0 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle	cheap fast scanner for books? Hello, anyone has a good recommendation for a cheap fast scanner to use which I don't have to destroy the book? I found another thread here but the answers were mostly expensive stuff; I want something that I can get for maximum $100, maybe used. The one I use now takes about 15" per 2 pages (i.e. per scan) thanks

07-02-2015, 06:27 AM	#4
1v4n0 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle	Except it doesn't work :O The scanning part is indeed faster, though not so much (I'd say it about 50% faster, for a small book, perhaps it would be faster for a bigger one, because of course with a traditional scanner if the pages are smaller the process is faster, while in this case it is more or less the same). However, at least in my first try, the OCR is terrible. Seems like something that would work if you just need a pdf-image, but for ebooking purposes, unless I missed some huge points, it seems useless to me. Oh well thanks anyway. Gotta try Last edited by 1v4n0; 07-02-2015 at 07:04 AM.

07-02-2015, 09:51 AM	#8
1v4n0 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle	Yes it might well be my fault if it doesn't work. My manual skills are very bad. I use AFR, which with a normal scanner works fine. Anyway here's some pics. Attached Thumbnails

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
good scanner for books ?	NASCARaddicted	Workshop	39	04-20-2014 07:42 AM
Fast scanner?	owly	General Discussions	34	12-31-2011 09:23 AM
Fast book scanner	ShortNCuddlyAm	News	1	03-17-2010 06:24 PM

07-01-2015, 11:19 AM	#2
jbacelar Interested in the matter Posts: 421 Karma: 426094 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Spain, south coast Device: Pocketbook InkPad 3	If you have at your disposal a digital camera, this is the cheapest (and best, and fast): http://www.instructables.com/id/Barg...Cardboard-Box/

07-01-2015, 11:33 AM	#3
1v4n0 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle	Ha! Looks so easy that even I could do it

07-02-2015, 08:08 AM	#5
jbacelar Interested in the matter Posts: 421 Karma: 426094 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Spain, south coast Device: Pocketbook InkPad 3	You that OCR is using? Because I use ABBY Fine Reader 11 and works perfectly. I think that from a decent photographs, the OCR quality depends on the software you use.

07-02-2015, 09:11 AM	#6
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Can you show us an example of the image? Perhaps you need to use Scantailor to improve the images.

07-02-2015, 09:23 AM	#7
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,093 Karma: 18727053 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	There is some good - free scan software designed specifically for this over at DIY Book Scanner. That process works very well, and the speed is very good. An uber-cheap cradle/platen made of cardboard or Styrofoam will be slower than a constructed one...but...it's cheap! Some designs reach speeds of several hundred pages per hour!! The key is to make sure the camera doesn't move relative to the page, and stays in focus. Consistent images make the job of the scanning software much easier with much better results. ...there are even designs on there used for those tightly bound little paperbacks that like to close on their own...

07-02-2015, 10:02 AM	#9
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,093 Karma: 18727053 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	Need more light. It looks like you are using a very yellow-tinged light source. Perhaps two "daylight" bulbs - with no shade - one on each end of the book. And, if you can, zoom the camera so it is just taking a picture of the page instead of all the stuff around it.

07-02-2015, 10:04 AM	#10
1v4n0 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle	Thanks, will try. Does it need to be a perfect rectangle?

07-02-2015, 12:39 PM	#11
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	And higher resolution if you can.

07-02-2015, 12:48 PM	#12
1v4n0 Groupie Posts: 171 Karma: 40000 Join Date: Oct 2013 Device: kindle	Higher res is impossible. With stronger and whiter light (just one lamp though) it works better, thanks. It is still worse than the usual, and I'll have to figure out whether the whole process (including proofreading) is faster.

07-02-2015, 02:21 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,782 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Cheap digitals do not have the color balance (setting) the Tutorial called for. You must use Daylight (not fluorescent, which has lots of blue/green). You really want the best possible contrast. If the pages are yellowed, you need to correct the color WITHOUT losing the black (text).

Advert

Advert