Last I'll Say On The Subject
Yikes! Is reading comprehension at an all time low? I make a simple post expressing an objective opinion with several suggestions indicating how the project could be improved and a bunch of insults are imagined and pounced upon. I am not going to bother quoting back Mr Roger Corrie {and note I manage to spell your name correctly even though you manage to mangle my nom de plume at two different points - perhaps a Christian might learn that posting too quickly and heatedly does not yield good results, and that includes the rest of the message?), however I will quote myself back and clarify. Before that, a word of thanks to Mr AfxToo, who seems to have a level head.
quote> I am both grateful and at the same time disappointed.
This line shows the dichotomy of the problem. I realize this is unique circumstance and I do appreciate the fact somebody was able to step forward and make the attempt, however, it looks as if little prep work was done, maybe no request for advice and comment and perhaps no consultation with other car model/slot enthusiasts with graphics arts or design skills.
quote> I hate to say this, but it is unforgiveable to lose information.
I'll stand by this. This is a digital age. It is important when planning analog to digital projects to try to keep things intact, particularly...
quote> Are these the only scans that will be done and are meant for all time? Then I'd have to say this isn't good enough.
There are commercial back issue magazine offerings of about the same size, Mother Earth News and Home Power Magazine come to mind, that cost about the same quantity for quantity yet are much better quality PDFs and I made mention of an overall "project" to scan every comic to jpegs. I used the comics as an example because it is a much bigger project with many barely cooperative people who are handling similarly fragile newsprint, some of it 20 years older than Car Model, and doing so on their own time as a hobby. The project will largely be finished in 10-12 years.
Working carefully, colors can be brought back, yellowishness or grayness can be whitened, creases and rolls removed and even pages with flecks and pieces missing can be reconstructed. You would be amazed at some of the work. And yes, most are amateurs who picked up retouching skills while doing the work. Largely black&white Car Model magazines require far, far, far ... less effort.
quote>This looks like the work of graphic(s) sic, amateurs and people who do not understand how powerfully a computer should have aided them in the task.
The use of the term amateurs is not an insult but simply a characterization. You said the same thing using the word "hobbyist". I never assumed this was an all out commercial venture because I do feel these are people who use 10% of the computer's ability, perhaps surfing and emailing, with little understanding of how much the device can aid them.
quote> would encourage those interested to write RMT and indicate they would purchase better quality (at a higher price? 2x
What is insulting about this phrase? If obtaining money, for whatever reason, is an issue, then I simply indicated that I and probably others would consider paying MORE money for a higher quality project.
No I won't be buying them as they are now done, nor am I going to be the one doing a rescan project. My demons will be Popular and Radio Electronics from the 70's and issues of Pop Photography and High Fidelity, Audio and Stereo Review from the same era. I have most of the equipment at this point and I will be spending the next year or two working out the methodologies and making sure quality stays high. As a hint, in addition to having a regular and tabloid size scanner, those interested in seriously doing this kind of work should look into the Fujitsu Snapscan line of scanners - I have no connection to the company.
I'll tell ya, if having a non-insulting yet cogent opinion and the reasoning chops to back it up, is a crime, then find me guilty. I'm sorry to have been Prometheus to your enclave/cave. Is there a moderator or "list mom" or whatever? for these forums?? Please feel free to yank my registration info out of the server, ASAP.
