Document Scanning Guidelines

Complete step-by-step workflow for digitizing archival materials

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Before You Begin - Initial Setup

   

   Essential First Steps

     βœ… Locate your assignment sheet with CAC identifiers
     βœ… Verify you have access to the Scan 2 software
     βœ… Confirm SharePoint folder access for uploads
     βœ… Review the Item Labeling Scheme document

 

  1. Navigate to Your Inventory Sheet

    Find the identifier for the box and folder you will be working with. This identifier will be crucial for organizing your scanned files.

    Example identifier: HARC_2025_1_0000
  2. Turn On Scanner & Launch Software

    Power on your scanner and click the Scan icon to open the Epson Scan 2 software. If the Scanner Settings box appears, try turning your scanner off and on again.

    If the software doesn't detect your scanner, wait 30 seconds and try again. The scanner needs time to fully initialize.
βš™οΈ

Scanner Configuration - Critical Settings

⚠️ Important: These settings should save between sessions, but always double-check before starting each scanning session!

Scanning Settings

Scanning Settings

πŸ“„ Document Settings

  • Resolution: 600 DPI (documents)
  • Color Mode: Color (24-bit)
  • File Format: TIFF (documents)
  • Page Size: Auto-detect

🎯 Quality Settings

  • Brightness: Auto
  • Contrast: Auto
  • Sharpness: Standard
  • Auto-crop: Enabled

πŸ“· Photograph Settings

  • Resolution: 800 DPI (photographs)
  • Color Mode: Color (24-bit)
  • File Format: TIFF (photographs)
  • Page Size: Auto-detect

🎯 Quality Settings

  • Brightness: Auto
  • Contrast: Auto
  • Sharpness: Standard
  • Auto-crop: Enabled

πŸ—ΊοΈ Map / Oversized Settings

  • Resolution: 400 DPI (maps / oversized)
  • Color Mode: Color (24-bit)
  • File Format: TIFF (maps)
  • Page Size: Auto-detect

🎯 Quality Settings

  • Brightness: Auto
  • Contrast: Auto
  • Sharpness: Standard
  • Auto-crop: Enabled

πŸ–ΌοΈ Graphic Materials

  • Resolution: 600 DPI (graphic materials)
  • Color Mode: Color (24-bit)
  • File Format: TIFF (graphic)
  • Page Size: Auto-detect

🎯 Quality Settings

  • Brightness: Auto
  • Contrast: Auto
  • Sharpness: Standard
  • Auto-crop: Enabled
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Folder Organization Setup

  1. Create Desktop Working Folder

    Create a new folder on your desktop. Copy and paste the folder ID from your assignment sheet to name this new folder.

    Desktop Folder Name: HARC_2025_1_0000
  2. Configure Scan 2 Output Location

    In the Scan 2 software, change the Folder setting to point to the folder you just created on your desktop.

    Use the Browse button to navigate to your desktop folder. This ensures all scans go to the correct location automatically.
🏷️

File Naming Convention

Consistent file naming is crucial for organization and findability. Follow this system exactly!

  1. Set Up Prefix Structure

    Begin with the folder identifier from your assignment sheet, add 1 at the end (for the first item), followed by an underscore.

    Prefix Format: CAC_CC_109_9_1_1_
  2. Configure File Counter

    Check the "Use File Counter" box in Scan 2. Select 4 characters and set the Start Number to 1.

    This will automatically append 0001, 0002, 0003, etc. to each page of your current item.

πŸ“‹ Complete File Name Examples

  • First item: HARC_2025_1_0001.pdf
  • Second item: HARC_2025_1_0002.pdf
  • Third item: HARC_2025_1_0003.pdf
πŸ“„

Basic Scanning Workflow

  1. Choose Scanning Method

    Use the scanning bed for thin papers that lie flat. Use the document feeder for thicker items or when you have multiple pages.

    When in doubt, use the scanning bed for better quality and more control over placement.
  2. Scan First Page

    Place your first document on the scanner and click Scan. The file will be saved automatically with your configured naming convention.

  3. Handle Single-Page Items

    For items that are only one page, you're done with that item! Proceed to the next item and update your prefix number.

    Next item prefix: Change from ..._1_ to ..._2_ and reset the counter to 1.
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Multi-Page Items (Stapled/Clipped Together)

Key Concept: All pages that are stapled or paper-clipped together constitute ONE ITEM and should be combined into a single PDF.
  1. Scan All Pages of the Item

    Scan each page of the multi-page item individually. Keep the same prefix number for all pages of this item.

    The file counter will automatically increment: _0001.pdf, _0002.pdf, _0003.pdf, etc.
  2. Select "Add or Edit Pages After Scanning"

    This option allows you to combine all pages of the current item into one PDF file. Click 'Save' after the entire document has been scanned.

  3. Combine Pages into a Single PDF

    If there is a mistake or a forgotten page you can combine pages using Adobe Acrobat:

    • Highlight all PDF files for this item
    • Right-click and select combine/merge PDFs
    • Save the combined PDF with the item number
    • Delete the individual page files [crucial!]
Pro Tip: Keep your individual scans until you've successfully created the combined PDF, just in case something goes wrong!
βœ…

Finalizing & Upload Process

  1. Update Item Numbers for Next Item

    Before scanning the next folder or box, don't forget to change the prefix in Scan 2 and reset the file counter to 1.

    Change HARC_2025_1_1_1 to HARC_2025_1_1_2
  2. Complete Entire Folder

    Repeat the scanning process for all items in the assigned folder. Keep referring to the Item Labeling Scheme until you're confident with the format.

  3. Upload to SharePoint

    When the folder is complete, upload your entire desktop folder to the designated location on the server in the Map Studio.

       Important: Don't delete your desktop folder until you've confirmed the SharePoint upload was successful!
  4. Move to Next Assignment

    Navigate back to your assignment sheet and begin the process for the next folder.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

πŸ–¨οΈ Scanner not detected by software

Turn the scanner off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. If the problem persists, restart the Scan 2 software completely.

πŸ“ Can't find my scanned files

Check that you've set the correct output folder in Scan 2. Files should be saving to your desktop folder with the CAC identifier name.

🏷️ File naming seems wrong

Double-check your prefix setup and file counter settings. Remember to update the item number for each new item and reset the counter to 1.

πŸ“„ Pages are scanning upside down or crooked

Make sure documents are placed correctly on the scanner bed. Use the preview function to check orientation before final scan.

πŸ’Ύ PDF combine function not working

Ensure you're selecting all the pages for the current item only. Try using a different PDF merge tool if the built-in function fails.

πŸ“€ SharePoint upload failing

Check your internet connection and file sizes. Large folders may need to be uploaded in smaller batches.

🀝 Need Help? Never hesitate to reach out to anyone on the team! We're here to support you through this process.