Dear Fellow Listers,

I have about 15 blue prints and architectural drawings that need to be 
reproduced for a publication, but I am not sure how to go about this. All 
are from the 1910s. Conditions range from fair to poor. Some are brittle, 
others torn. There are pen on linen drawings (good contrast), as well as 
blue prints (umptieth generationand poor contrast.) Sizes range from 24 x 40 
in. to 36 x 85 in.

Do you have experience with this? What would be best, scanning or 
photographing? In one lab they said they would have to use a carrier 
(acetate sheet?), which would result in some loss of detail. For the blue 
print with minute details and little contrast that would be a problem. They 
will not run the scanner without protective carrier, and even then I would 
have to sign a disclaimer.

What about detail of the reproduction? If you want a scan with enough 
detail, would that mean you’d be dealing with a humongous file that a 
computer wouldn’t even be able to handle? Is it doable to stitch together 
the image from part-transparencies?

The unicorn tapestry comes to mind, and while the problems are similar, the 
budget is definitely not, to say the least . . . :)

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Remko Jansonius
Collections and Archives Manager
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Miami, Florida

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