You may have heard the terms destructive or non-destructive book scanning, but what do they actually mean? In this blog post we'll look at these two approaches to digitising books or other printed materials. The main difference between them lies in the impact they have on the physical book during the scanning process.
Destructive Book Scanning: Destructive book scanning involves physically disassembling the book to capture high-quality scans of individual pages. The book's binding is typically removed, and the pages are fed through an automatic document feeder or flatbed scanner. Once the scanning is complete, the pages may be rebound or stored separately. This method can provide excellent image quality and enables efficient scanning, but it permanently alters the book's physical structure.
Non-Destructive Book Scanning: Non-destructive book scanning aims to preserve the book's physical integrity while capturing digital copies of its contents. This method typically involves using specialised scanners or imaging systems designed specifically for books. These scanners are equipped with cradles or gentle mechanisms that hold the book open at a comfortable angle without causing damage. The pages are captured as high-resolution images without the need for disassembly. Non-destructive scanning is more time-consuming compared to destructive scanning, but it allows the book to remain intact and can be particularly useful for valuable or rare books.
Both methods have their advantages and considerations:
- Destructive scanning is faster and more suitable for mass digitisation projects where preserving the physical book is not a priority. It is commonly used by libraries and organisations aiming to create digital archives quickly. It can also produce high quality images suitable for printing further copies of a book.
- Non-destructive scanning is slower but ideal for books of significant historical or cultural value, as it preserves the original book's condition. This method is often used in specialised digitisation projects or for materials that are fragile or rare.
In summary, destructive book scanning involves disassembling the book for efficient scanning but permanently alters its physical structure. Non-destructive book scanning preserves the book's physical integrity by using specialised scanners that capture images without disassembling the book. The choice between the two methods depends on the goals of the digitisation project and the value placed on preserving the original book. If you're unsure which process would be suitable for your requirements we would always suggest asking for some sample scans.
