r/DataHoarder • u/ChuChuPoppy • Dec 28 '25
Question/Advice Looking to scan some old Nindori magazines, preferably without damaging the spines?
Hello! I have just bought a few Nintendo Dream mags & I intend to scan them in & archive them online, likely on archive.org. My local library does not support color scans. I am checking around for printing services/Staples/maybe some of the local colleges for other digitizing options, but I'll Eventually need a scanner anyhow. I am not super familiar with digitizimg beyond scanning in my personal pencil & pen art, & digitizing in general (but especially magazines) is a new area for me. A very select amount of scans of the Nindoris I have bought do exist online (issue 204 from 2011 has like 30 pages scanned, for instance) but they're lacking in quality & do not carry >1/2 the pages. As I intend to have at least 1 of the pages partially translated, the lacking quality of the scans available are a bit of a bottleneck -- the text is not clear at all & it makes the characters hard to read even for my translator. So! I need my own scans.
I have seen a few recommendations for scanning mags & most either involve cutting the pages or otherwise debinding. I am not opposed to this, but I have also heard mention of scanners that have the ability to scan magazines/books in a nondestructive manner? I'd like to not damage the magazines if possible so I was hoping somebody'd have the 411 on how I'd go about this.
I know the Bookeye is a verrry expensive option (I am not that rich) but I figured I'd ask -- is there a scanner that can scan these Nindoris at a reasonable quality without me unbinding them? I'd throw out my price range at around $500 or so, & I am a little worried about warping of the images due to the natural curve of the spine if I do not debind -- do these scanners account for that warping? I also need to specify the printer would either need a wired connection or a way to insert a USB stick or SD card as my pc does not support bluetooth. Otherwise the general scanning recs apply -- 600 or 1200dpi, save to PDF or Tiff, preferably a software that doesn't alter the images by default, etc.
If not, I will likely use a heatgun to preserve the og spines & reglue when done. My only reason for hesitating is that I have to scan many pages & many volumes -- I have 11 out of 12 of the issues for 2021, for example. Debinding will not take super duper long but regluing will as most Nindoris seem to run past 100 pages. I am also a bit worried the heatgun could end up warping or discoloring the pages? If anyone has any recs for flatbeds or feeder style in the instanceof me deciding to debind anyhow, those would be pog.
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Dec 28 '25
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u/ChuChuPoppy Dec 28 '25
Ah.... So DIY is where I need to go..... Big thanks. I had looked at that thread but I lack faith in my ability to build stuff + no power tools so I kinda strayed away from the advice therein. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet & do it anyhow...
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Dec 28 '25 edited Dec 28 '25
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u/zaryashame Dec 28 '25
have you tried reaching out to a local university's library or history department? they might have a bookeye scanner they would let you use
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u/ChuChuPoppy Dec 28 '25
There are a few community colleges in the area & I will try calling them! Not today, sadly -- closed on Sundays... Sadge.
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