1. create digital images
The first step is to create digital images of the physical book using a scanner. While there are handheld scanners, you would need a commercial scanner to digitize books to scale. These scanners use high-quality cameras with light sources on both sides. the camera is positioned in a way that allows the person or machine to easily turn the pages. There are two types of commercial scanners:
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a. destructive book scanning
In this method, the book must be unbound and then scanned one sheet at a time. a paper stack cutter is used to cut the spine of the book, including the binding glue. then loose papers are fed into the document feeder for scanning. the method works well for low-budget scanning; but, it is not suitable for collector’s items or limited edition books. however, the method is time consuming as the book is first cut and then the loose pages are fed into the machine. the other aspect is that the book has to be unbound carefully, otherwise the text could be damaged or the scan could be faulty, thus compromising the quality of the digital version.
b. non-destructive scanning of books
here, the book to scan is not untied. scanning technology can capture the page and create a digital image with little or no damage to text or graphics. Some scanners also include sensors that can detect double pages, ensuring that no page is lost in the scan. this technology can scan up to 2,900 pages per hour, making it ideal for scanning at scale.
2. clean the pdf
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once you have scanned the book, the next step is to clean it for errors. here is a list to guide you through the step:
- remove empty pages: if there are blank pages, remove them.
- correct page orientation: it may be that the ‘auto detect orientation’ is on when you scan your book. as a result, the scanner may flip some pages by mistake. To avoid this problem, it is better to disable the function if you are sure that the pages have been inserted correctly.
- make the pdf searchable on the internet: once it is scan the book, the next step is to add index data. ocr (optical character recognition) software is used to index data and make the pdf searchable.
- keep a backup copy of the digital book: this is even more important if they are using the destructive scanning method that destroys your physical book. In case of accidental deletion, computer virus or ransomware, you can lose your digital book forever. You must maintain a master file of the digital book.
3. image resolution
The higher the resolution of the image, the better the digital book. ideally, the recommended dpi (dots per inch used to measure resolution) is 300 for grayscale and color originals, 400 for special manuscripts, and 600 for black and white originals.
4. color management
color reproduction varies depending on the scanner and printer used. The problem can be solved by developing a standardized color profile for use across multiple devices, based on the International Color Consortium’s ISO-certified ICC profile.
5. run a quality check
Check the scanned document for errors such as missing or double pages, shadows or fingerprints on images, poor image quality, and cropped text areas. Although there are several software solutions available to perform a quality control, the ideal option is to run a manual control and correct all those errors.
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6. index your digital books
Indexing will help you classify your digital books, making them easy to search and find.
7. add metadata
adding metadata will make your digital book searchable on the internet.
8. store your digital book in the cloud
The easiest way to make your digital books available to your audience is to store them in a cloud. With cloud storage, you can easily backup and duplicate your digital books. In addition, you can also email yourself some pdfs to keep as copies in your mailbox.
also read: how to select the best ebook publishing platform
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