Digitizing old newspapers (Page 3): One scan will in no way fade the documents at all or cause any damage whatsoever. The only way to get good edge to image is a scan. Light only...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

revhen wrote:

My daughter, in charge of the local history room a... (show quote)

One scan will in no way fade the documents at all or cause any damage whatsoever. The only way to get good edge to image is a scan.
Light only damages if is continuous and or frequent. Who ever panicked over one scan is not giving good advice. Also if the material is in the horrible shape you say it is in this actually good for it as is obvious the current conditions are not preserving the documents.

Gpa-15 Loc: Tinton Falls, NJ

RonBoyd wrote:

I have been itching to try this App... just haven't had time.

https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

-------------------
Hi 'Ron Boyd'... I AGREE.!.!.! --- And as I said; re: the previous question on 'Capturing Pictures in a Frame with Glass' --- --- Once you use the Google 'Photo Scan' App, THEN... Move that captured image from your Camera-Roll to a 'Photoshop-Like' Editor, for QUICK-TOUCHUP and Export.

twowindsbear

revhen wrote:

My daughter, in charge of the local history room a... (show quote)

Contact your state's official library & archives for advice and assistance. You've gotten a lot of WAGs here, mixed in with a few tips. The state library will KNOW how to accomplish your task.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Architect1776 wrote:

One scan will in no way fade the documents at all or cause any damage whatsoever. The only way to get good edge to image is a scan.
Light only damages if is continuous and or frequent. Who ever panicked over one scan is not giving good advice. Also if the material is in the horrible shape you say it is in this actually good for it as is obvious the current conditions are not preserving the documents.

Damage caused by exposure to light is cumulative. The only amount that causes no damage at all is zero. It need not be strong light, it need not be continuous or frequent. All exposure to light is damaging.

RonBoyd

Apaflo wrote:

Damage caused by exposure to light is cumulative. The only amount that causes no damage at all is zero. It need not be strong light, it need not be continuous or frequent. All exposure to light is damaging.

That has always been my understanding, also.

JimKing Loc: Salisbury, Maryland USA

A few thoughts: Using filters for color corrections seems counter productive as they reduce the amount of light reaching the sensor, it sounds like the individual articles will not be removed from the album pages so I wonder if they are covered with plastic which could cause reflection problems, I also wonder that if a scanner of appropriate size was available would the bright light used one time cause much damage and is preserving the paper more important than preserving the story. Another thing that I did not see mentioned was shooting RAW so color correction in post would be easy. Most editors will allow you to click once on a blank area of the paper and then increase the contrast and/or exposure to create an almost "new" look. Whoops, I see someone mentioned RAW. Polarizing filters were mentioned which would be extremely useful if the clippings are under plastic.

mmcgavin

Dik wrote:

Look into EquaLight software. br You shoot a plai... (show quote)

This is a real gem of information and I would like to copy and paste into a separate file I have for UH.

A right click brings up a drop down menu with COPY but when I go to paste and Right click again there is no COPY.

I have laboriously PRINTED SCREEN and SCANNED and FILED the page.

Advice appreciated.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Apaflo wrote:

Damage caused by exposure to light is cumulative. The only amount that causes no damage at all is zero. It need not be strong light, it need not be continuous or frequent. All exposure to light is damaging.

So you are saying not to scan these old documents it sounds like.
In order to see damage you would need to have very sophisticated measuring equipment. Once they are scanned lock them up for all I care. But one scan will in no way damage them as you suggest.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Architect1776 wrote:

So you are saying not to scan these old documents it sounds like.
In order to see damage you would need to have very sophisticated measuring equipment. Once they are scanned lock them up for all I care. But one scan will in no way damage them as you suggest.

You need to read what people say and skip what you wish they would say. It cannot sound like I said what I did not say...

One scan will very clearly cause damage. That is not open to debate, it is a well known fact.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Apaflo wrote:

You need to read what people say and skip what you wish they would say. It cannot sound like I said what I did not say...

One scan will very clearly cause damage. That is not open to debate, it is a well known fact.

So to the OP, do not scan, photograph or even allow light on these documents.
Only allow infrared viewing of them.
The advice that one scan will damage them is terrible beyond belief.
As just looking at them in any light is abhorrent and destroys them.
For as I said any damage that could be even remotely measurable would require thousands of scans or hundreds of hours exposure to light. I have hundreds of these documents and have scanned them all.
But do as you please. I have actual documents over 100 years old in my personal collection. Scanned them once and guess what they did not vaporize, they did not fade at all unless again you have some incredible measuring equipment etc.
Here is a scan that is of a letter a few months shy of 100 years old.
I just checked the original and guess what it is still there and legible and I visually cannot see any difference. But I am sure if it were tested with some sophisticated equipment you could possibly see damage but again that could just be the normal aging since it was scanned. The OP seems to not have these documents in any sort of archival storage which is very sophisticated with special humidity and temperature requirements and special lighting and handling limits. In designing an archival space for a library that has a historical collection is no simple task.

(Download)

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Now, some excellent answers have raised a couple of questions:

1. Why is a macro lens necessary? As has been pointed out, my Canon with a 1.6 crop factor and a 60mm macro lens (which I have), would need to be 3 feet away to be able to take the full 11x14 sheets. Why not use a shorter prime (24mm) or even a wide angle (10-22) -- both of which I have -- set at a small enough aperture to provide sufficient DOF?

2. Why is RAW necessary than JPG?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

revhen wrote:

My daughter, in charge of the local history room a... (show quote)

I would disagree, I think scanning would be the best way to go!

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

aellman wrote:

You should be able to get an accurate exposure by shooting an 18% gray card. You can get them at any photo supplier. >Alan

Have it.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Longshadow wrote:

My one tripod had a cap that screwed into the bottom of the stem that prevented the stem from coming out if lifted too high. I unscrewed the stem and removed it, inserted the stem from the bottom. Good luck.

As per advice I looked at my tripod and discovered exactly what you describe here. Thanks.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Architect1776 wrote:

So to the OP, do not scan, photograph or even allow light on these documents.

Illogic and bipolar. There are shades of grey...