Updated July 21, 2009
1. Scanned images of textual records should meet the following minimum requirements for scanning resolution and pixel (bit) depth to support archival preservation and continued use.
Bitonal (1-bit) scanned at 300-600 ppi (pixels per inch).
This is appropriate for documents that consist exclusively of clean printed type possession high inherent contract (e.g. laser printed or typeset on a white background). Scanning at 6oo ppi is recommended.
Gray scale (8-bit) scanned at 300-400 ppi.
This is appropriate for textual documents of poor legibility because of low inherent contrast, staining or fading (e.g., carbon copies, thermofax, or documents with handwritten annotations or other markings), or that contain halftone illustrations or photographs. Scanning at 400 ppi is recommended.
2. Image type should be set according to the document you are scanning. It is recommended that you use black and white or grayscale and not color.
A simple test scan should be made and the file converted to PDF ready for upload to CM/ECF. This PDF conversion can be done using one of several software packages. A good example would be Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or higher. Simply drag the scanned file onto the Acrobat icon and conversion is automatic. This conversion should not significantly increase the file size. Do a last check of the PDF file to make sure. File size can be viewed by locating the file through Windows Explorer, left-clicking once on the name of the file to highlight it and then right-clicking. Select Properties and the file size will be listed.
CM/ECF has a maximum file size of 5 mg and if your file is larger than this the system will most likely time out.