Sizes
The minimum scan size is 400 pixels wide in "portrait mode" (i.e. a normal cover). For odd formats, the shortest side should be minimum 400 pixels. Maximum size depends on medium - we are happy to receive 2000x3000 scans on CD as we have from some members, but for mail, web and FTP 800-1200 may be a practical max due to file upload times (depending on your connection speed).

Your comic-book should be scanned at 100% @75-200dpi. 75dpi gives a scan close to the minimum requirements (approx. 450 pixels wide), 200dpi gives a larger and better scan. Although we appreciate large scans, there's no need to go beyond 200 dpi, and a sweet point between quality and size lies at around 150dpi. The book should be scanned without any bags or other plastic casings to avoid reflection.

The scan should be perfectly straight and trimmed, i.e. no borders around the book. Some post scan rotation may be needed as not all scanning software do this automatically. Later scanners from Canon and others have a straightening feature in their software. This is ecspecially important for scans uploaded directly to the web as they get published right away.

Save the image as JPEG format, with approx. 70% quality. If in Photoshop, quality settings 5 to 8 is OK. Naming convention should be the comic book title (or appropriate abbreviation), eventual volume id and issue number, with underscores ("_") instead of spaces. Spaces in title may be skipped. The file should have a ".jpg" extension. If submitted by FTP, email or on CD it'll be helpful with a text index with full names. Otherwise, as long as I can dechiper the filename we're fine. Examples of OK names for Adventures of Superman #520 and Fantastic Four vol #10 are:

Adventures_of_Superman_520.jpg
Adv_of_Superman_520.jpg
AdvOfSuperman_520.jpg
advofsuperman_520.jpg
fantastic_four_v3_10.jpg
ff_v3_10.jpg
FantasticFour_v3_10.jpg

For images uploaded via the web it doesn't matter what it's called, but please keep the .jpg extension. The file will be renamed during upload to an internal format and it's full information will be emailed to me.

Submitting the images

1. Via web
   The most convenient way for all parts is simply clicking on the dummy image where the cover should have been. You'll then be transferred to an upload page where you add the image, your name and email and the image will be approriately named, scaled and saved to the multiple resolutions we use as well as keeping your original format for our archives. An email will be sent to me for record-keeping. You'll get a receipt page showing the thumbnail generated. This solution should be able to cope with .bmp, .pcx, .png and .jpg files, but sticking to the .jpg format should make it a no-brainer. Note the above mentioned note on scan size - if your image is too big or your line is too slow you may experience timeouts. As these images are added live to the web it may be the most fun way of contributing (now, I should probably mention that it's free too, to keep in line with the "fun!, easy!, FREE!" way of marketing...). Note that this solution will be fine-tuned with more error-checking and features.

2. Via CD
   Burn all or part of your scan colection on one or more CD-ROM discs and mail to
   Jon Lovstad
   Mikkelveien 10
   N-1709 Sarpsborg
   Norway
   

   PC or Mac format, just make sure you keep the long filenames when doing Windows discs.

   Please try to send original scans or large run collections only as we have been getting web galleries and newsgroup collections for well over 2 years now and have a lot waiting. The web will be updated with this info continuously and I'll try to actively ask for fillers where we have almost complete collections or runs.

   Questions, further info, gripes or whatever may be directed to me at jonal@nostromo.no.