greasemonkey
October 20th, 2004, 11:14 AM
I started doing this and thought I'd pass this on.
How many people have entire magazines they've kept for only one article? Ever have a hard time remembering which magazine it was in?
If you have a scanner, this is a FREE solution that will save lots of space.
Here's the method
1. Create several folders based on different topics i.e.- scenery, trackwork, kitbashing, etc.
2. scan the article you want to keep using 300-360dpi. Save each scan in the same directory. This will usually give several good quality images. If your scan software has a moire filter- turn it on. I use the "Aquire into" feature of XnView (free download). This saves each scan in the same directory with the same file name and automatically numbers them sequentially.
3. Start a new document in Open Office (hey I said this was free- you can download Open office free from www.openoffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org) and it's available in many languages). Set the page margins at 0"
4. Import one scanned image per page in your document. Extending the page margins to 0" allows the scan to fill the whole page.
5. When all of the images are placed, use the pdf export feature to create a pdf document (built in feature in Open Office- no need to buy Acrobat. Dare I say-free pdf creation?). Make sure you use a name that will help you remember the subject of the article. Save the pdf document into the folder for that topic.
6. Once you're done archiving your articles. burn the entire setup- folders and articles onto a data CD or data DVD.
DO NOT FINALIZE THE CD- this will allow you to add articles to the folders on the CD every month until the disk is full. Then you creat a new disk.
For scale drawings you can scan a ruler with the page.
If you want a hard copy of the article at a later date- print it out.
What should you do with the useless magazines you now have?? Donate them to your local high school, junior high, or public library.
You can save lots of shelf space and spread interest in the hobby this way.
BTW- you do NOT have to be a computer guru to do this.
[ 20. October 2004, 05:23: Message edited by: greasemonkey ]
How many people have entire magazines they've kept for only one article? Ever have a hard time remembering which magazine it was in?
If you have a scanner, this is a FREE solution that will save lots of space.
Here's the method
1. Create several folders based on different topics i.e.- scenery, trackwork, kitbashing, etc.
2. scan the article you want to keep using 300-360dpi. Save each scan in the same directory. This will usually give several good quality images. If your scan software has a moire filter- turn it on. I use the "Aquire into" feature of XnView (free download). This saves each scan in the same directory with the same file name and automatically numbers them sequentially.
3. Start a new document in Open Office (hey I said this was free- you can download Open office free from www.openoffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org) and it's available in many languages). Set the page margins at 0"
4. Import one scanned image per page in your document. Extending the page margins to 0" allows the scan to fill the whole page.
5. When all of the images are placed, use the pdf export feature to create a pdf document (built in feature in Open Office- no need to buy Acrobat. Dare I say-free pdf creation?). Make sure you use a name that will help you remember the subject of the article. Save the pdf document into the folder for that topic.
6. Once you're done archiving your articles. burn the entire setup- folders and articles onto a data CD or data DVD.
DO NOT FINALIZE THE CD- this will allow you to add articles to the folders on the CD every month until the disk is full. Then you creat a new disk.
For scale drawings you can scan a ruler with the page.
If you want a hard copy of the article at a later date- print it out.
What should you do with the useless magazines you now have?? Donate them to your local high school, junior high, or public library.
You can save lots of shelf space and spread interest in the hobby this way.
BTW- you do NOT have to be a computer guru to do this.
[ 20. October 2004, 05:23: Message edited by: greasemonkey ]