Book2Net Cobra: Consistency Breeds Excellence in Book Digitization
The processes for creating material for any legitimate digital collection must follow specific industry-accepted standards. The application of these standards must be consistent, not only from page to page or from book to book, but from digitized collection to digitized collection. These consistencies improve image quality and speed of work and are used to build trust and confidence in the process and the authenticity of the results. As a result, planning a digitization program at a library, university or elsewhere, must first recognize the need for consistency and strive to procure book scanning equipment that facilitates it.
Any system used for digitization of historical books or documents must include processes for hassle-free application of these standards to create consistent and uniform results with superior (but measurable) image quality.
Designed in Collaboration with European State Libraries
The Book2Net Cobra is one such system. Designed in cooperation with noted European state libraries, the Cobra is a high-precision book scanner within the framework of the guidelines of the Europeana project. The Cobra incorporates both technology and tools to handle the many variables associated with bound document scanning successfully. In short, the Cobra is a turnkey digitization solution of quality and consistency that will ensure success before the “scan” button is even pushed.
The Book2Net Cobra utilizes two high-resolution area sensors in conjunction with high-quality optics, LED illumination, and safe handling to swiftly and accurately digitize fragile bound books and documents of varying sizes.
The crown jewels of the Cobra system are its twin 71 megapixel cameras, each of which can produce A2-sized images at optical resolutions up to 600 PPI. Image capture relies on two robust shutterless sensors that provide quick speeds and long-term durability. The lack of a mechanical shutter means absolutely no moving parts inside the camera body that can break or wear down over time. Long-lasting, precision lenses manufactured by Schneider provide distortion-free images with crisp, even focus from the center to corner and perfect linearity.
Coupled with renowned fresnel diffuser lenses, the Cobra’s UV/IR free, cold light LED system offers low intensity, even illumination. This ensures stable color temperature and perfect color reproduction without harming aged, fragile, or other valuable material.
The Book2Net Cobra offers quiet, consistent, and gentle document handling to ensure that digitized material will always be in the same condition after the scan process as it was beforehand. The 110-degree V-shaped cradle and padded, fully adjustable spine support allow bound documents to rest comfortably without overstretching or pinching the binding. A glare-free, semi-automated glass platen briefly places controlled and gentle pressure on the top pages of the book, removing curvature and ensuring complete capture of each page from edge to the gutter without the need for human touch or assistance.
Powered by EasyScan
Once the images have been captured, they are rapidly downloaded to the workstation via USB 3.0 connection to EasyScan, the software management tool that powers the Cobra. Fully customizable, the software allows for quick image analysis and post-processing functions such as cropping and format conversion.
FADGI and Metamorfoze Compliant
The Cobra has been designed to provide FADGI and Metamorfoze compliant standards through manual and automated calibration of color, focus, and light uniformity. Meeting and exceeding these international image quality standards offers another layer of consistency that will ensure long-term success for archival digitization programs seeking to preserve their rare and fragile collections.
The Cobra offers a perfect balance for the modern digitization lab. The system’s efficiency, reliability, and quality mesh together seamlessly to create a consistently superior output with predictable and measurable results, allowing the achievement of digitization excellence to become not just an occasional act but a sustained habit.
If you would like to learn more about the Book2Net Cobra please call 1- 877-761-0444.
