[X] My Assistant

Hello,

I am about to receive about about 50 Touhou doujinshi in order to scan them.

Unfortunately, I have never done this before, and don't own any equipment. Not even a hairdryer or microwave (or anything else for debinding), let alone an actual scanner.

And so, I need help. I need recommendations on what equipment I'll need to get these books done. I do want these scans to be good quality, so I'll need a reasonably good scanner, I'm sure. Beyond that I have no idea what I'll need to debind these.

I'd also appreciate any links to good guides for learning how to scan and edit books. I'll have a few books to use for practice to try and get a hang of this without risking any damage to the unscanned books. I'll also post at least the first few I finish in here for feedback.

Pics:
[i.imgur.com] http://i.imgur.com/u2nqvIB.jpg
[i.imgur.com] http://i.imgur.com/6b8Psck.jpg
[i.imgur.com] http://i.imgur.com/NdBBCk4.jpg
[i.imgur.com] http://i.imgur.com/ZymRD4p.jpg

(Don't mind the black boxes, those are just doujins that are already scanned and don't need a rescan)

Scanned so far:

(C81) [甘味人形] 八雲式勧誘方 - https://e-hentai.org/g/611618/bb68179c3b/
(C81) [芦間山道] ゆかりックス - https://e-hentai.org/g/611617/c197ec42a8/
(例大祭8) [芦間山道&零フロンティア] みんなのユカリス - https://e-hentai.org/g/611615/4b5d46d67b/
(C79) [ゆ。] なまにえポルチーニ - https://e-hentai.org/g/611614/1abe7a5d1c/ (Alternate scan)
(C81) [+5] 赤と紫が混ざる刻 - https://e-hentai.org/g/611985/e46b2aec43/
[I'm] うどんげがんばります - https://e-hentai.org/g/612242/3a66960b04/
-Translation: https://e-hentai.org/g/637744/d5b5351032/
(紅楼夢7) [Take Out] 八雲紫の淫靡な一日 - https://e-hentai.org/g/612241/360aaea32b/ (Fjord)
(例大祭9) [芦間山道] ゆかゆゆ百人抜き勝負 - https://e-hentai.org/g/612913/b5d2ba3f40/
(紅楼夢7) [GC団] 東方Vサイン - https://e-hentai.org/g/612915/d5c1ac2508/
[幸撃] Parsick! - https://e-hentai.org/g/612916/84e9e9f0a3/
(例大祭9) [キタガワジマ] 魔界神IN仙界 - https://e-hentai.org/g/612917/014015ed58/ (Digital to save time)
(C80) [キタガワジマ] 魔界の親子が嫁ったー - https://e-hentai.org/g/612918/bd2fc15dee/ (Digital to save time)
(例大祭8) [甘味人形&Orange Chocolat] 東方レディースコレクション - https://e-hentai.org/g/615376/ca2df412e0/
(C81) [芦間山道&TLG] 右上左下相合傘 - https://e-hentai.org/g/615386/6d8b09a38b/
(紅楼夢7) [限月] レミリアの憂鬱 - https://e-hentai.org/g/615379/0c43719cf3/ (Fjord)
(例大祭9) [ロケット調査室] ゆうかりんChuChu - https://e-hentai.org/g/615381/debcf742af/
(C79) [JUNK×JUNK] 裏・幻想郷2 - https://e-hentai.org/g/618470/6526cb6204/
(例大祭8) [咲耶17歳] 永琳総受合同本 性命遊戯 ‐らいふ - https://e-hentai.org/g/618471/c82124a737/
(サンクリ53) [Penetrate] 幽香H 太陽の畑にて - https://e-hentai.org/g/630306/c12e1cb169/
(例大祭7) [武蔵堂] マッシュルーム・サンバ - https://e-hentai.org/g/630307/1933bb92c3/ (Alternate scan)
(例大祭8) [セブンスヘブンMAXION] ゆかりんのまだまだ足りないの - https://e-hentai.org/g/630308/13b69b7d0c/
(C80) [限月] 紫 - https://e-hentai.org/g/630309/fe1379b934/
(C74) [ERA FEEL] ゆゆこの初恋 - https://e-hentai.org/g/630364/06b8cd1d7c/
(COMIC1☆6) [萌雛化学] 恋風乙女 4 - https://e-hentai.org/g/630212/5590a4439f/
(例大祭8EX) [喜栄座cmp] TOHO N+ prver - https://e-hentai.org/g/630282/972b8966da/
(C81) [重力堂&てんらけ茶屋] 素股合同誌 おマタせ - https://e-hentai.org/g/631004/a6cdf35310/ (Fjord)
(例大祭6) [少年病監] 境界遊戯。再録集 - https://e-hentai.org/g/635534/f0d17d85bb/
(月の宴4) [ねこのこね] うげコスH3 - https://e-hentai.org/g/639444/71dd51dcd1/
(C80) [うたかた。] 不純異性交遊 - https://e-hentai.org/g/639436/83786237de/
(C81) [ホロホロ亭] 正しい式の躾けかた - https://e-hentai.org/g/639437/9990c2c333/
(例大祭SP2) [AntiDying] りぐるネット - https://e-hentai.org/g/639439/90eb1e8c6c/
(紅楼夢7) [星神官永級] さなぱいと聞いて - https://e-hentai.org/g/641219/21fc593180/
(C81) [喜栄座cmp] TOHO N+ 布天 - https://e-hentai.org/g/648022/fdfa632db2/
(サンクリ32) [喜栄座cmp] TOHO N+ FCR - https://e-hentai.org/g/653898/8fb44f5569/
(紅楼夢7) [ひなプリン] きつねのおくらだし! - https://e-hentai.org/g/653899/9cffaec93e/
[喜栄座cmp] TOHO N+ LL&MSA Type-R - https://e-hentai.org/g/653969/b50ca6a0c4/
(C78) [萌雛化学] キマグレパラサイト総集編 - https://e-hentai.org/g/663131/52a9126c38/


Second batch:
(C82) [快微動] Flower Heaven - https://e-hentai.org/g/638888/6f1ed78457/
(C84) [とんぷぅら亭] 浴衣衣玖さんとイチャイチャしたい!! - https://e-hentai.org/g/639295/835ee2bfa3/
(C84) [桔梗の花の咲くところ] 妄想御阿礼艶戯帳 - https://e-hentai.org/g/639925/ed3c8bdfa2/
[KOTI] 罪椛 - https://e-hentai.org/g/640104/1ca8a15267/
(C84) [終日庵] 穴があったら出したい - https://e-hentai.org/g/641421/db2c408af1/
-Translation: https://e-hentai.org/g/641673/d749527c1b/
(C84) [パームサンデー] 布都ちゃんの! ヌード撮影会で危 - https://e-hentai.org/g/641941/49b919a6b6/
(例大祭10) [幸撃] Sleeping？ - https://e-hentai.org/g/643636/caf38e3c13/
(大⑨州東方祭8) [にゅう工房] おいでませ!!自由風俗幻想郷2泊3日の旅 - https://e-hentai.org/g/643614/8d5327945d/
(例大祭10) [幸撃] Sleeping？ - https://e-hentai.org/g/643636/caf38e3c13/
(C83) [快微動] からーどゆうかりん - https://e-hentai.org/g/644200/92c94c436d/
(C84) [ホロホロ亭] せっくす! - https://e-hentai.org/g/648034/5c05afe4a9/
(サンシャインクリエイション56) [悶亭] 東方×触手 - https://e-hentai.org/g/648029/e5a6da46eb/
(例大祭10) [ホロホロ亭] 第2次性長期の藍は総じてエロい - https://e-hentai.org/g/649215/3ab7e9c613/
(C82) [ぷちえご!] babylove - https://e-hentai.org/g/653291/8bd5c07853/
(C78) [チタンあるみナイド] なれそめ　おしおき　ちゅっちゅ - https://e-hentai.org/g/653979/64b73535f5/
(C82) [110-GROOVE] Midsummer Letty-san - https://e-hentai.org/g/659848/67cd2dc3f8/ (higher quality scan)
-Translation: https://e-hentai.org/g/659853/e1612aab7f/
(C84) [ねこのこね] 愛種SP - https://e-hentai.org/g/661705/1fd892bca9/


This post has been edited by qazmlpok: Jan 10 2014, 05:20

Well, i'm only going to offer amateur advice of what I did. I used a $30 Epson scanner/printer combo I happened to have already but it's given me good results so i'm sure whatever you have will be sufficient. You can try to just bend the book backwards if you don't have a hair dryer, but ultimately I had the best results just taking it apart (with a blow dryer). As fas as scanning I've read that most scanners prefer 300dpi, but I did 600dpi only because I wanted the max size to handle any editing. The funny thing with that is I was able to mimic that digital scan look DLsite has (huge scan/small file). But that's just my preference.

As far as fixing it up, I actually did very little cropping and simply fixed up the little messed up spots manually with Photoshop.

This post has been edited by Super Shanko: Jul 2 2013, 02:50

debinding is a crime against books

debinding is a crime against books

That's why it's good to have two XD

Really though, I had that same thought. I managed to do Precure without debinding it, but it's very tough to do it while expecting quality/no gutters. It wasn't until I snapped and in that psychotic episode debound Soix. I got over it pretty quick when I realized the book didn't burst into flames and was lost forever. Then I got some decent scans out of the whole ordeal.

debinding is a crime against books

Seconding this.

debinding is a crime against books

You can rebind them, you know.

You can rebind them, you know.

Please, let me know how.

Find a printing place that offers binding. Of course, you probably don't want your porn in the open like that, so you can try binding it yourself. I've only done it a couple of times and I'm not that happy with the results, but at least it hasn't unbinded yet, there should be some guides on youtube.

Find a printing place that offers binding. Of course, you probably don't want your porn in the open like that, so you can try binding it yourself. I've only done it a couple of times and I'm not that happy with the results, but at least it hasn't unbinded yet, there should be some guides on youtube.

Hmm. I'll have to check it out.

I did some searching around since I plan to get into scanning at some point too. The consensus seems to be
-unbind the books with a microwave to loosen the glue then take the pages out
-scan them at 300 dpi for b/w or 600dpi for color
-save as .tif before any cleaning gets done

And I'm not sure if they make this but maybe try finding a scanner that auto feeds in the pages so you're not stuck feeding in hundreds of pages manually.

When I was fumbling around with scanning, I didn't like it at 300 dpi because of the small size. When I did it at 600, I got this. I was saving for a rainy day or whenever the hell I get it translated, but it's basically a mock-digital scan.



With some fancy leveling, I got the b/w pages under 2mb, which is kinda cool. My favorite thing about doing it like this is the absolute amount of control over redrawing it like when I did this instead of having those mismatched seams and clone stutter marks. But even so, can always lower the image size I guess.

This post has been edited by Super Shanko: Jul 4 2013, 01:54

just a reminder that in our FAQ (https://forums.e-hentai.org/index.php?showtopic=68725) we have three links

PM me with any others you'd like to add there

I use an iron to debind doujins (glue bind), obviously staple bind is a lot easier and it's not rocket science (easier to rebind, too!).

If you want a decent scanner:
"Canon CanoScan LiDE110 2400 x 4800dpi 48bit USB Interface Flatbed Scanner"

Pretty cheap I guess, works great, only downside is it can only scan one page at a time, and so cover scans run into issues unless you cut them or bend the hell out of them.

Leveling is a separate matter entirely, but there's tutorials on the net. I think LWB published a guide.

If you're still fearful about taking apart the books, you can use [www.yeskey.cn] slide on binder bars to hold it together. I tried them today and they work good at keeping the book together. I even did the shake test. The only downside I had was that I couldn't get the pages perfectly back in the book, but otherwise it works like a charm.

Okay. I have the books, I have the scanner, and hopefully everything else that I'll need.

I'm trying out one of the full-color doujinshi that's already scanned. Starting with the cover before I take it apart.

Here's what I have for a final version:
[filesmelt.com] http://filesmelt.com/dl/IMG_0001_resized.png
[filesmelt.com] http://filesmelt.com/dl/IMG_0002_resized.png

This was scanned at 400 DPI (300 and 600 both produced additional patterns), then cropped, and resized to 50% (cubic).

The back cover was more crooked at the bottom than the front, and I'm not entirely sure why. There's a rectangle around the girls, and that appears to be almost perfectly straight, but the bottom is noticeably crooked. Not by much, I think only about 6 pixels difference on the bottom and 3 on the right, but it's still there. To get rid of it for the final copy, I just cropped it off, since it was nothing but pink background anyway. Is there a better way to deal with this? Rotating doesn't seem to be the answer, since the image itself appears to be straight.

[filesmelt.com] http://filesmelt.com/dl/IMG_0002_MINIMAL_CROP.png

Comments/suggestions would be appreciated.

I know the problem you're having. I'm not entirely sure why it's always comes out slight off, could be the scanner cover slightly nudging the book or it' just some weird scanning thing, but the only advice I can offer to rotate it and use the Photoshop grid or Ruler Tool to help even it out properly. Up top when you have it free transform, you can nudge the rotation by the pixel(s) for precision if you can't get it right using the regular mouse. I hope this helps.

Finished scanning it.

Cropped, resized to 50%
[filesmelt.com] http://filesmelt.com/dl/Troublesome_Fever_test_scan.rar

and then my attempt at leveling it. This was a setting of 0.6 in GIMP on every page.
[filesmelt.com] http://filesmelt.com/dl/Troublesome_Fever_...can_leveled.rar

I left these as PNGs, but for a color doujin I'd normally save it as 95% JPGs to reduce file size.


The leveling is what bugs me the most, since I honestly have no eye for this. It absolutely needs it, but I can't tell what a good value is. I get the feeling I'm not even supposed to be apply the same setting to every page, either.

There was a lot of glue on the pages, and it's clearly visible in the scan. However, this is also present in the existing scan, so I'm assuming this is just an extraordinary case.

I did notice the same unevenness at the bottom as with the cover. I think the page just isn't resting flat against the scanner - thus it becomes curved towards the middle but straightens out at both ends. I am closing the lid, of course, so I don't know what else I can do about this.

Comments about the final scan quality would be appreciated.

I don't usually level color pages, but I fooled around with it and have this.



I used green hair here to save time. But I adjusted the white to 235 to whiten them as much as possible, but instead of darkening it, I adjusted the grey to make the color more vivid and remove that slight grey fade over it. As for that glue/page rip I dealt with that just by redrawing/editing the crap out of it. It's minor but I know that need to remove it. In which case I suggest you get a dedicated editor or two to deal with it, or just crop it.

I don't know anyone that could act as a decicated editor, and redrawing the pages to get rid of the glue is definitely beyond me if it isn't a solid color.

Would you recommend just not leveling the color pages at all?