The architecture industry isn’t the only one that uses blueprints. From engineering and construction to automotive and manufacturing, many industries work with technical drawings on a daily basis. Being able to easily access and share these large-format documents is crucial for the success of any organization. But with blueprints and similar files, physical copies can make the collaboration process difficult.
This is why many businesses have begun to digitize their technical drawings. With the shift to paperless offices and digital document management, scanning blueprints can create more efficient, productive workflows. And when you can find a professional partner to help you go digital, the transition can be virtually effortless.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the challenges of blueprint scanning in-house, how a professional scanning provider can simplify the process, and what steps go into digitizing your blueprints and other large-format documents.
The Challenges of Scanning Blueprints In-House
If you’re considering scanning your blueprints in-house, there are some challenges that might make the process difficult. One of the biggest issues people have is that most technical drawings are wide-format. Therefore, any traditional scanner would have to piece together multiple scans of the same blueprint in order to convert it.
Another potential issue comes from state or federal requirements. Some regulations dictate the type of file and the resolution that your digital blueprints need to maintain. Certain states and federal agencies have specific electronic record-keeping requirements that need to be adhered to for all your digital files. Maintaining compliance with these requirements can be tough on your own.
These and other factors can make blueprint scanning in-house complicated and frustrating. When you partner with a professional scanning provider, the entire process can be much easier.
Scanning Blueprints With a Scanning Provider
When working with a professional scanning service to digitize your blueprints, you can save a lot of time, stress, and money. Instead of managing equipment, resources, documents, and requirements, you can rely on your provider and their expertise through each step of the conversion process. Their strict procedures help ensure an effective, streamlined process from start to finish.
Blueprint Preparation
When you hire a professional scanning service, they can handle much of the document preparation. They’re often able to remove staples and rubber bands, repair damaged blueprints, and carefully prepare older, fragile files. However, keep in mind that additional prep work may add to the total cost of the project. Be sure to ask about the prep work you require when you choose your provider.
Blueprint Conversion
Once you have identified the technical drawings you want scanned, what file type you want them delivered in, and what type of format you require (color, gray-scale, or black and white bi-tonal), the conversion process can begin. Your provider will scan both sides of any blueprint, ensuring complete files with all necessary information included.
Digital File Indexing
One of the biggest advantages of digitizing your blueprints is having the ability to index and store them in any method or manner you choose. This saves you the time that it takes to hunt down the specific blueprint you need. Additionally, indexing frees up more space to store the physical blueprints you might want to keep easily accessible.
Optical Character Recognition Conversion
Many scanning professionals can also create editable blueprints. With Optical Character Recognition (OCR), blueprints and other technical drawings can be electronically edited, searched, stored more compactly, and displayed online. It gives you the ability to create documents that you can easily manipulate and modify without having to re-scan a blueprint you change.
Digital File Delivery
After the blueprint conversion is complete, your provider can deliver them to you in any format you choose. Your files can be loaded onto an encrypted external hard drive, uploaded to a secure cloud storage server, or even sent to you on a disc or USB flash drive.
Blueprint Scanning With Record Nations
A blueprint scanning service can make the transition to digital files easy. No matter what size your technical drawings are or how many you have, Record Nations can help you find local experts who can help. From blueprints and other large-format documents to microfilm and microfiche, our nationwide network has solutions for you. Our providers also offer various document storage solutions, from secure off-site facilities to convenient cloud servers that keep your files safe and easily accessible.
Whether you’re in Spokane, Staten Island, or somewhere in between, we can help. Simply fill out the form, use the live chat, or give us a call at (866) 385-3706. Within minutes of receiving your request, you will have free quotes from experts in your area who can help you.
