The thread rating is reflecting the best post rating. Have you rated this thread (best post)? Schematics perfect with Irfanview 3.98, 3.99 or 4.00

Irfanview  is a Freeware (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer program which offers suitable image processing.
Please follow the given sequence step by step to avoid quality loss !
Important:  Different sequence could dramatically degrade the result !

Note: The processing of schematics needs a good basic scan.
I would recommend min.300 dpi and b/w photo (not fax or OCR !).
The dpi figure can finally be reduced as appropriate, just not to lose details like thin lines and component captions.But a higher resolution is necessary to start with. 

1) Download from http://www.irfanview.com
 

 If You want to select a different language --> Options --> Change language

Bear in mind that the pictures here are from the English version! 

This article was edited 04.Aug.09 11:34 by Konrad Birkner .

To thank the Author because you find the post helpful or well done.	Help

I find that SAMS Photofacts are very easy for us to scan and process. But please scan only Photofacts made up to the End of 1963. After that date there may be a copyright - because the regulation in the USA has changed.

By the way: You may face more difficulties for some few plans made by manufacturers like the model SABA 4000 Automatic Stereo 11 for the USA.
See here what you can achieve with our process which wraps .PNG into a PDF (please click the link above): 16 tubes with 22 tube functions and every single condenser or resistor has its value shown - on one standard sized sheet - within our storage limits of 350 KB! Print it out and get a magnifying glass - or put the size to 400 % and read or print parts big sized ... I show here also a PDF of an old scan for the SABA Lindau Automatic 8 with 12 tubes (290 KB). Thomas Albrecht sent me an other example from the USA, Philco 37-670 to show what can be achieved. Unfortunately not all of the realized 238,677 schematics show this quality (we show 110,357 at present for the USA).

Back to SAMS Photoshop schematics: 

1
We scan at 300 DPI. I never split a page but sometimes SAMS puts a schematic to two pages (we call it then 1b + 1b). Please scan not less than with 300 DPI (what ever others write) and keep the paper in line. If possible scan in black and white or change later to gray scales if it is a black/white schematic.

2 
Sometimes we cut at the unused edges in order to get the content in a slightly bigger size. But never make the DPI less to shrink the scan. It must have a big size like typically 2548 pixels width and 3317 pixels height. which is about 33" by 46" at a "sreen resolution" of 72 pixels/inch.  Our automatic process does the trick by putting it to a printable PDF which you can enlarge to see details up to 400 %. Format is always "portrait", not "landscape"!

3
Then I use the curves in Photoshop (Image/Adjustments/Curves) the following way:
You have 4 vertical "fields" (zones) and from left two zones (in the middle) I keep the bar at the bottom and it will go to top on the 3rd zone and stays there on the top (for the last zone) - if before the bar was from the lower left corner to the upper right corner (a straight line) and the dark field on the left (below you can click it to reverse! - don't).



With this technique, the schematics are automatically free of gray dirt or of browning effects of the paper.

4
Don't do anything else but now go to "File" and "Safe for WEB". Settings = PNG-8, Colors are then normally already 2 instead of 256. In the color table you see black and white - only two small squares. Click the SAVE button, then you name it and select where to store it in your system.
Now it is ready for upload to RMorg, selecting the right model and "schematics" instead of "pictures" (or so). Our system then puts it into the "envelope" PDF so that it is easy printable and scalable up to 400 % for a closed look or a partial print out.
It is that easy ...

Examples:

1
ID = 56942 = (Sears, Roebuck) Silvertone 7025 with chassis = 132.807-2 - 4 pages:
First the one with suffix "sch": Select 400 % enlargement and you will see: still no pixeling, everything black and white, straight, clean.

2
Now a real complex schematic (not a SAMS Photofact but an original) with the same simple technique:
ID = 21403 = (SABA) Lindau Automatic 8
Please click the "1" besides "Schematics etc.": in red.

For guests:
Since guests can not reach the schematics on the model pages here the example as .PNG (click it to big size) and the example as PDF. Print it out or enlarge up to 400 % for a detail view.
It is a crystal clear schematic for 12 tubes with 19 tube functions on ONE standard sized sheet!
Every item has its number and value .. 

I instructed Kathrins daughter on that ;-) She has never before seen a scanner nor worked with a picture program - she just wanted to learn it ... That was in January 2003.

The very rich schematic is below 300 KB ... 
Size 2370 x 3336 pixel (x 8 BPP) or in fact size 83 x 118 cm or 33 x 46 inch!
It uses 289 KB space only but has 7.54 M pixel dimensions but as a .png it is only 288 KB without any loss! Our loading/processing forms that automatically in a printable PDF - again 1 standard sheet - ready for print out.

Cordially,
Ernest

This article was edited 04.Aug.09 11:08 by Ernst Erb .

To thank the Author because you find the post helpful or well done.	Help

On request I will explain how to upload a schematic - as I have done here for pictures (post 4).
Here I give you also a sample of a most complicated schematic on one page for a 16 tube (22 tube functions) model SABA 4000 Sutomatic Stereo 11 where you can read every part number and value in the plan. Please print it out or enlarge it to 400% as a test - it is just fitting the max. of 350 KB. But we know: To upload good schematics is an art and the most difficult job you can do at Radiomuseum.org. 

Schematics modelpages

You search your model and then scroll down on your model page where you find the link:
Add information to model or forum text

You click it and get a small selection - choose "Schematic" - but read the small text in the window first.
In the new window you read again the small text and if you still find questions please click the blue info button in that window - or see below here.

In fact: Since we have introduced the SchematicFinder the process is more complicated - and we have not finished our programs yeet to optimize this. With the SchematicFinder we have a very important tool to know what is around for different schematic collections like Photofact, Rider's, Beitman (just to name for the US). You find also where there exist if we have not uploaded yet. See the link on the search page (homepage).

There are quite different situations depending on if we found automatically the model to be joined to the list or if somebody has already uploaded if there is a collection you have the schematics from etc. Generally you click on the first possible radio button and enter some data if possible. If that is not possible then you click one of the otehr radio buttons, mainly "other collection" and there you give the name of collection. You then click the button continue for part 2. Please read again how to name your document if you have not done so before and know.

Then you select your schematic in your computer with the button besides the field "Where?".
After that you write your name into the "Uploader" field. No comment please. But in the uploader field you can also put in the source. It will be printed on the document.

The upload button will bring your image to the server. You can immediately check the model if you wish. The schematic admin will check later and may contact you if the schematic is not done as we request to give you good results when you look for one.

ERROR?
In case you often get errors, it may be that your picture tool is not really compliant with established standards. Try the freeware at www.irfanview.com of Irfan Skiljan, Vienna. If errors occur rarely: Edit the picture again and cut it only very slightly smaller. Replace the old one with it and try again.

This article was edited 28.Aug.09 13:37 by Ernst Erb .

To thank the Author because you find the post helpful or well done.	Help