Archive scanning of handwritten documents

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ehl

I frequently create archive scans of 19th century handwritten documents.
I scan from the originals when possible, but sometimes have to scan from
photocopies. Each presents its own difficulties:

1. Originals often allow show-through of writing on the opposite side.
2. Photo copies often have significant quantities of visual noise.

In both cases, I'd like to "pick up" the actual handwriting, clean the
background appropriately, and "restore" the writing. My scans
are typically 300 dpi in color (originals) or grey scale (photocopies).

Obviously, selecting the writing on the image is the hard part - it is
not practical to do it manually. Are there techniques available (in
PhotoShop, PaintShopPro, or whatever) to do what I want?
 
I frequently create archive scans of 19th century handwritten documents.
I scan from the originals when possible, but sometimes have to scan from
photocopies. Each presents its own difficulties:

1. Originals often allow show-through of writing on the opposite side.
Click to expand...

You *do* use black backing on these, right?
2. Photo copies often have significant quantities of visual noise.

In both cases, I'd like to "pick up" the actual handwriting, clean the
background appropriately, and "restore" the writing. My scans
are typically 300 dpi in color (originals) or grey scale (photocopies).

Obviously, selecting the writing on the image is the hard part - it is
not practical to do it manually. Are there techniques available (in
PhotoShop, PaintShopPro, or whatever) to do what I want?
Click to expand...

This is one of those things that seems would have a relatively simple
solution; but can tell you that *I've* never found it.
(unless you could live with bitmap version rather than grayscale or RGB).

Mac
 
I frequently create archive scans of 19th century handwritten documents.
I scan from the originals when possible, but sometimes have to scan from
photocopies. Each presents its own difficulties:

1. Originals often allow show-through of writing on the opposite side.
Click to expand...


Just a guess; would putting a black sheet of paper behind the page
to try to negate the handriting bleed-thru ? (I'm assuming the ink
hasn't actually seeped thru the page.)
 
You *do* use black backing on these, right?


This is one of those things that seems would have a relatively simple
solution; but can tell you that *I've* never found it.
(unless you could live with bitmap version rather than grayscale or RGB).
Click to expand...

What Mac says about black backing would help. Should you be able to
eliminate the "show through" I would suggest the following:

Import the image into what ever photo software you have and increase
the contrast as much as possible. Ideally you want a black and white
image with the text being black and the background being white. Then
use your software to select the white background and delete it. That
should leave you with only the black text.

I've not given precise instructions as I'm a Photoshop user mainly and
I don't know what software you have.
 
What Mac says about black backing would help. Should you be able to
eliminate the "show through" I would suggest the following:

Import the image into what ever photo software you have and increase
the contrast as much as possible. Ideally you want a black and white
image with the text being black and the background being white. Then
use your software to select the white background and delete it. That
should leave you with only the black text.

I've not given precise instructions as I'm a Photoshop user mainly and
I don't know what software you have.
Click to expand...

Unless you are scanning to bitmap mode (line mode, only black and white),
you'll find this just flat won't work, simple as that.

And unfortunately, bitmap mode doesn't reproduce the look of the actual
writing, which I gather is part of the OP's restoration intent.

There are lots of shades in handwriting, regardless of the pen or pencil
used. And to keep those nuances, you'll have to work in grayscale or RGB.
And of course, the paper will not be uniform white either. Heck it won't
be uniform anything, especially old stuff, weathered, yellowed,
splotched, whatever.

Mac
 
Unless you are scanning to bitmap mode (line mode, only black and white),
you'll find this just flat won't work, simple as that.

And unfortunately, bitmap mode doesn't reproduce the look of the actual
writing, which I gather is part of the OP's restoration intent.

There are lots of shades in handwriting, regardless of the pen or pencil
used. And to keep those nuances, you'll have to work in grayscale or RGB.
And of course, the paper will not be uniform white either. Heck it won't
be uniform anything, especially old stuff, weathered, yellowed,
splotched, whatever.
Click to expand...
I would agree. Except that, once having the writing selected you can
try layering it over the original and using an adjustment layer like
overlay to improve the clarity of the writing. Which is, I think, what
the OP was trying to do.
 
ehl said:
I frequently create archive scans of 19th century handwritten documents.
I scan from the originals when possible, but sometimes have to scan from
photocopies. Each presents its own difficulties:

1. Originals often allow show-through of writing on the opposite side.
2. Photo copies often have significant quantities of visual noise.

In both cases, I'd like to "pick up" the actual handwriting, clean the
background appropriately, and "restore" the writing. My scans
are typically 300 dpi in color (originals) or grey scale (photocopies).

Obviously, selecting the writing on the image is the hard part - it is
not practical to do it manually. Are there techniques available (in
PhotoShop, PaintShopPro, or whatever) to do what I want?
Click to expand...

Scanning text documents with my flatbed and Vuescan, I get clean,
predictable results with "text" setting in the input tab. I don't have
the scanner and Vuescan on right now, so can't tell you the exact
wording. When you set "text", it seems to output 2 bit, regardless of
your output settings. I think being 2 bit, cleans things up, which is
your intent?

100 dpi turns out quite legible, clean background scans. It can be
multi-page tiff, as well.
 
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