Scanner advice

I’m thinking of purchasing a small-ish scanner so I can start converting my game collection to Vassal modules. Does anyone have any advice on scanners? Currently, I’m looking at models on Amazon.com in the US$90-100 range. Is an 8.5" x 11" scanning surface sufficient, for example?

Thanks.

Good morning,

An 8.5" x 11" is fine for scanning rules and counters. It doesn’t work very
well scanning large maps. For that, you need a flatbed scanner. I use an
HP scanjet 4670. With this, you can lay out the map on a table and set the
scanner flat on top of it. You take 4-8 scans and stitch them together in
Paintshop Pro or Photoshop.

Hope this helps.

Brian

----- Original Message -----
From: “MDF” messages@forums.vassalengine.org
To: messages@forums.vassalengine.org
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 12:10 PM
Subject: [Module Design]Scanner advice


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Thanks Brian.

Well, I’m thinking that most wargame maps are 22" x 34", meaning eight 8.5" x 11" sections. Assuming the scanning surface is reasonably flush with the housing on each side, I should be able to press each 8.5" x 11" section of the map down nicely onto the scanning surface, no? And then use a graphics program to rejoin the eight images into a single one. What do you perceive is the advantage of laying the map down and inverting the scannor over it? Is it easier to make the map lie flat or something?

The main advantage of laying the map flat on the table is that you don’t
have to ruin the map trying to fit it onto the top of a regular scanner. My
regular scanner is squeezed in between the monitor and the wall on the edge
of the desk.

Also, you don’t have to wonder if you have already scanned a particular
section of the map or not. Having it set out on a table, you can
methodically scan each section in order across the map.

One more thing. The HP scanjet I use is thin and light and made for this
type of application. It has a see-through screen that lets you see exactly
what you are scannong. I would not propose using this method with a regular
scanner. :slight_smile:

Brian

----- Original Message -----
From: “MDF” messages@forums.vassalengine.org
To: messages@forums.vassalengine.org
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 7:39 PM
Subject: [Module Design]Re: Scanner advice


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