Imaging / Scanning

The process of taking hardcopy and making an image of the document for use in a computer system.

The process by which raster data is captured from paper maps.

Method of conversion in which a physical object, e.g., a printed page, is represented by a digital grid of pixels.

Axiom's experience covers a broad range of document types. We scan items as small as credit card receipts or as large as computer printouts and architectural drawings. We have experience with difficult paper such as tissue or color copies and two-sided documents.

As a general rule, Axiom recommends scanning documents between 200 and 300 dpi in order to optimize the trade-off between visual clarity and file size, which is most ideal for file archival and the OCR process. However, we determine the most optimal scanning resolution (along with other settings) for each new project before commencing production. If after the test scan phase it is determined that a different scanning resolution would produce better results, we execute the project at the established scan setting.

Small format documents are scanned on high-speed, Automatic Document Feeding (ADF) scanners with duplex capabilities. Large format drawings are scanned on sheet-fed scanners used exclusively for this purpose. Image cleanup consists of de-skewing, de-speckling, etc. where necessary, to ensure that the production staff has the cleanest possible images to work with.

All valuable and fragile papers are evaluated and processed to assure proper care and accurate conversion. Pages requiring special attention (damaged pages, handwritten text, and/or light stock) are processed on a case-by-case basis.

Some features of our scanning/imaging services:

•	Per client request, we can scan folder tab or front of each file folder as first page of document.
•	Index multiple fields per document for database purposes.
•	Ability to scan mixed mode simplex/duplex without missing any pages.
•	Mixed size and orientation as well as various paper weights are scanned with ease.
•	Each piece of information can be imaged - from post-it notes to folder tabs.
•	All fasteners such as paperclips, staples or rubber bands are removed and replaced as the originals.

Per client request, file folders can be shredded upon job completion. Our “Scan to Image” file formats include:

•	TIFF (multipage, Unpacked, CCITT Group 3/4, PackBits, JPEG, ZIP, LZH)
•	Image-based PDF · Windows Bitmap, BMP
•	Ability to scan mixed mode simplex/duplex without missing any pages.
•	Zsoft PCX
•	CompuServe GIF · JPEG / JPEG 2000
•	Portable Network Graphics, PNG