Scanning for Plans, Artwork and Documents
J2 scans large-format plans up to 36 x 60 inches, fragile originals and artwork on our contact-free flatbed, and everyday documents from letter through ledger/11x17. We turn every scan into clean digital files you can store, search for and send. Our Vancouver, WA print shop has been family-owned since 1988, and we scan large and small format, black and white or color, for construction teams, AEC firms and facilities teams in Portland, Oregon and Washington. Every scan job is done in-house at our Vancouver shop.
Digitize old plans and as-builts
Rolled plan sets, as-builts and record drawings tend to pile up in plan rooms and storage. We scan architecture and construction plans in black and white or color, so your team can pull up a drawing on a laptop instead of digging through a flat file. Our large scanning bed handles sheets up to 36 x 60 inches without folding them or stitching scans together. Most plans and documents are scanned at 300 dpi, which keeps lines and text sharp, and we can scan at up to 1200 dpi when a job needs finer detail.
Archival scanning for fragile originals
Some originals are too delicate to feed through a scanner. For those, we use contact-free scanning on the Image Access WideTEK 36ART, which captures pieces up to 36 x 60 inches without touching or pressing them. If it fits on the contact-free flatbed, we can scan it: mylar, vellum, sepia, torn sheets, bound books, newspapers, paintings and other artwork. Automatic document format recognition and color management keep the digital copy as true to the original as possible.
Our digital archival scanning suite
Scanning is the first step. Archiving software then supports batch processing, automatic file naming and adding metadata, so a large archive comes back organized rather than as a folder of random file names.
- We deliver PDF, JPG, TIFF or BMP files, and can convert to other formats on request.
- OCR for searchable PDFs is available on request.
- Files come back on a USB drive or as an emailed download link, and direct integration with digital asset management systems is available for cataloging, indexing and sharing.
Document scanning in Vancouver, WA
Along with large-format sheets, we scan small-format documents: project files, specs and records that need to live alongside the drawings. Letter through ledger/11x17 pages run through our document feeder. Bound, flatbed or fragile items are quoted separately.
Large archive projects
Digitizing a whole plan room, records room or boxed files? See archive scanning for plan rooms and records for how we scope and deliver full archive projects for cities, counties and facilities teams. We can also dispatch pickup and return service to collect your originals and bring them back with your completed files; the scanning itself is done in-house at our Vancouver shop.
Need prints from your scans?
Once your plans are digital, we can print them again on demand. Reprints come straight from the same files. See plan printing and spec books and our print shop services, or upload files when you're ready to print. Scanning art for reproduction? See fine art and giclée printing.
Want a wide-format scanner in your own office? J2 Business Systems sells and supports Image Access WideTEK scanners.
FAQ
Archival scanning turns originals such as plans, maps, records and artwork into digital files that are faithful to the originals, named and organized so you can store and find them for the long term.
Yes. We scan architecture and construction plans in black and white or color, up to 36 x 60 inches, plus small-format documents from letter through ledger/11x17.
Yes. Contact-free scanning on the WideTEK 36ART handles mylar, vellum, sepia, torn sheets, bound books, newspapers, paintings and other artwork up to 36 x 60 inches without touching them.
Most plans and documents are scanned at 300 dpi, which keeps lines and text sharp, and we can scan at up to 1200 dpi when a job needs finer detail.
PDF, JPG, TIFF or BMP, with conversion to other formats on request. OCR for searchable PDFs is available on request. Files are delivered on a USB drive or as an emailed download link.
Yes. Whole-archive projects, including long-running and phased projects for cities and counties, have their own page: archive scanning for plan rooms and records. We can dispatch pickup for your originals and return them with your completed files.
They're returned to you or disposed of, whichever you choose. All scanning is done in-house at our Vancouver shop.
We give custom quotes for large archives, based on what you have and what you need the files for.
Yes. We serve Oregon and Washington from our Vancouver, WA shop.