Anybody Scan Printed Books?

Bernadette · December 18, 2013, 02:35:36 PM

To convert the files into ebooks? I've been thinking about this lately, and have been wanting to do it for a while. (I've got shelves of books which I would rather read as eBooks, but I cringe at having to buy them over again.) Would you recommend one of those portable wireless scanners, or a printer/scanner/copier combo?

Arun · December 19, 2013, 12:47:52 AM

a flat scanner might be a bit impractical depending on the book. i know i have a digital copy of Eddie Bravo's "Mastering the Rubber Guard" in which the scanned pages curve away from the flat scanner surface towards the spine of the book. it's just the way it was done lol. not sure what i could suggest to ya though sorry.

Bernadette · December 19, 2013, 07:25:56 PM

Where's Geremia? :tongue:

As for pages curving toward the spine of the book on the scan: that's where the exacto knife comes in. A sacrifice, yes, but I consider it to be for the greater good.

Arun · December 19, 2013, 11:47:12 PM

Quote from: Bernadette on December 19, 2013, 07:25:56 PM
Where's Geremia? :tongue:

As for pages curving toward the spine of the book on the scan: that's where the exacto knife comes in. A sacrifice, yes, but I consider it to be for the greater good.

Not sure about Geronimo but yeah that oughta work. Wish the guy who scanned my copy of Mastering the Rubber Guard had done that lol

Lynne · December 20, 2013, 05:40:02 AM

Oh good! If you're willing to take the exacto knife to books then that'll make your work easier. If you take the book to Kinko or some copy place, they should be able to scan it to a pdf (as long as no copyright restrictions are violated).

Arun · December 20, 2013, 02:40:50 PM

it'd be a real good idea for some of those old Catholic gems of books everybody has a couple of lying around. you know the ones; no longer in print, falling apart, just sitting somewhere where it won't be damaged but unable to really be utilised...

Bernadette · December 20, 2013, 06:33:10 PM

Well, I ended up not having to buy one after all!

My uncle had a not-so-old Dell all-in-one sitting in the closet, which he cast aside when he discovered that he could get a new printer for less than new ink cartridges would cost for the old one. It is now mine; drivers are waiting to be installed on my PC; and a black ink cartridge refill kit ($8 on eBay, with free shipping) will be starting its journey to my mailbox tomorrow morning.

Kaesekopf · December 20, 2013, 06:36:08 PM

What books are you looking to do?

If they are Catholic and old, we could probably host them here, if you don't mind?

Bernadette · December 20, 2013, 08:02:30 PM

All of them.

But I think even the oldest one that I have is still in copyright, so I probably couldn't post it here.

Gardener · December 20, 2013, 10:47:22 PM

Copyright schmopyright.

Kaesekopf · December 23, 2013, 06:24:46 PM

Quote from: Gardener on December 20, 2013, 10:47:22 PM
Copyright schmopyright.

Haha, basically! Especially if the books are out-of-print...

Arun · December 23, 2013, 10:49:36 PM

do book copyrights end up "abandonware" like old king's quest games do...?

Kaesekopf · December 23, 2013, 11:42:15 PM

Quote from: Arun on December 23, 2013, 10:49:36 PM
do book copyrights end up "abandonware" like old king's quest games do...?

I mean, do people want to enforce copyrights for books they don't publish? That's my take on it, anyways.

Arun · December 24, 2013, 12:18:14 AM

Quote from: Kaesekopf on December 23, 2013, 11:42:15 PM
Quote from: Arun on December 23, 2013, 10:49:36 PM
do book copyrights end up "abandonware" like old king's quest games do...?

I mean, do people want to enforce copyrights for books they don't publish? That's my take on it, anyways.

yep sounds like "abandonware" to me then lol.