Making Giant Scans

[Jorpho]

Does anyone have tips on how to scan large game maps? All I have is this typical scanner, with a scanning area a little larger than 8.5x11. I tried scanning the map in sections, but ran into several problems:

-My computer does not seem to have enough memory to recombine the sections afterwards.
-For some odd reason (perhaps because the map is not completely flat on the scanner) I cannot even get the individual sections to line up properly.
-As the map does not lay completely flat on the scanner, some parts near the folds are washed out due to reflection off the shiny paper.

It occurs to me that the best way to do things would be to actually cut up the map before scanning it, but that would be needlessly destructive.

Any good advice?

[Querjek]

I think that if there is a Kinko's near you, you can take it there to be scanned full-size for cheap.

[Ed Oscuro]

I ran into the same problem for the first time with my Zelda no Densetsu 1 game map--unfortunately I have no easy solution.

Well, if you like showing off your stuff, take it into a Kinko's or another place and ask if they can do it.

On the other hand, it might be better not to have grungy employees laying their mitts on expensive items :/

[GaijinPunch]

What software are you using? With a little Photoshop practice, you can scan each section (on the fold) and then put it together. If you want the final image to be gargantuan, you're going to need some RAM, but not near as much if you convert each file to JPG before combining them.

Photoshop Format is huge, as it's got a lot more information, but if you're not going to take advantage of layers, then just change them to a smalller format, then work with them.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'd go with original size PDF first, myself.

Perhaps the smart way would be to scan sections (since the Zelda no Densetsu map is essentially folded over many times so you have many Famicom box-sided sections) and put them up separately, selectable from thumbnails of each section on a HTML page.

...yeah, that way sounds pretty cool!

[Jorpho]

I suppose that would be the alternative... But don't you lose the stuff that's on the fold itself?

[Ed Oscuro]

I'd crop slightly outside, but it doesn't really matter after you go from "Huge 300 DPI Resolution (TM)" to something more workable. So really, the answer is no, if you do it right.

[Steven J. Lumas]

As I understand it, most giants will hurl huge rocks at you if you even approach them, let alone examine them as closely as you suggest ! I have seen what happens when a person is crushed beneath such a rock. It's very messy!

[ChuckthePlant]

Many scanners tend to slightly warp on the edge. This creates a poor registration. To resolve this, I tend to over scan and lap about and inch or so on either side. This can best be thought of as scanning 6 1/2" x 8 swaths on an 8 1/2 by 10" wide scanner with. The earlier comments about Photoshop files being large is true, but matching edges of drawings is easier to do using layers and transparencies. It sounds like you are a bit short on memory. Figure out what your ultimate resolution is and scan to it. If you are webifying it should be quite small and manageable as a Jpeg at 72 dpi. Good luck.

[hezeuschrist]

Get a high quality camera, set the resolution way the hell up and take a picture!

[Ed Oscuro]

Get a high quality camera, set the resolution way the hell up and take a picture!

Doesn't work, I've tried many times to take pictures of game boxes with my camera and they often come out nice and lousy, especially during the daytime.