Archives and Special Collections - Digitization Equipment
The Preservation and Reformatting Lab in the University Archives and Special Collections houses several pieces of equipment for digitizing materials. Other libraries, archives, museums, and cultural institutions are welcome to inquire about using the equipment for small projects.
A small number of items may be digitized at no cost. For larger projects, the fee is negotiated based on the size of the project.
The equipment is available by appointment only. Please contact the Archivist to schedule an appointment. While the Archivist can demonstrate the use of equipment and allow others to use most of the scanners, the Archivist is typically the only person who operates the wide format scanner.
The University Archives and Special Collections would like to grow its digital collections. External institutions may inquire about having their digitized materials added to the site so they can be shared with the public. Please also see the Newport Map Collection, which often interests institutions scanning large format items.
The Archivist cannot scan materials that are under copyright, unless the copyright is held by the institution requesting the scan or the item is in the public domain. Our scanners include the following:
- Contex HD4230 42” wide roller scanner:
- Some fragile materials can be scanned between two sheets of mylar.
- Scans up to 1200 dpi resolution.
- Output formats include: TIF, JPEG, JPEG2000, JPEG2000 extended, PDF, BMP, DWF, PNG.
- Plustek OpticBook A300 book-edge scanner:
- Handles books with pages up to A3 size (with the orientation of 11.7” wide by 16.5” high along the spine).
- The book-edge allows the book to be scanned without laying it flat on the scanning bed.
- Bound items slightly larger than these dimensions may be scanned in sections, and then software can be used to combine the multiple scans into a single file.
- Scans up to 600 dpi resolution.
- Output formats include: JPEG, BMP, PNG, PDF, uncompressed TIF, compressed TIF.
- Also includes an optical character recognition program using AABBY FineReader Sprint Plus.
- Epson GT-15000 flatbed scanner:
- Handles pages up to A3 size (11.7” x 16.5”)
- Scans up to 600 dpi resolution with 48-bit color and 16-bit grayscale.
- Output formats include: PDF, TIF, BMP, JPG, multi-TIF, and PRINT Image matching JPEG or TIF.
- Also includes an optical character recognition program using AABBY FineReader Sprint Plus.
- Epson Perfection V700 Photo:
- Handles items up to 8.5” x 11.7”
- This scanner can also batch scan slides, negatives, and medium format film using a dual lens system.
- Has a Dmax 4.0 for smooth gradations and fine shadow detail.
- Scans up to 6400 dpi resolution for film and 4800 dpi resolution for slides and documents or photographs, with 48-bit color and 16-bit grayscale.
- Output formats include: PDF, TIF, BMP, JPG, multi-TIF, and PRINT Image matching JPEG or TIF.
- Also includes an optical character recognition program using AABBY FineReader Sprint Plus.
The McKillop Library has several scanners available throughout the library. Please ask at the Information Desk if you have questions about using one of the library’s scanners. Information about scanning is also available here.
The Lab also has equipment for transferring audio recordings to digital formats. As above, the Archivist will not digitize audio recordings that are under copyright, unless the copyright is held by the institution requesting the format conversion, or the item is in the public domain. The Lab can convert records in LP (33 1/3 rpm) and 45 rpm formats, as well as audiocassette and DAT formats. The Lab also has a VPI turntable record cleaner.