Large-format scanning of engineering drawings and technical documents
Short answer: We scan drawings and maps up to 90 cm wide and practically any length, including rolled originals, on our own large-format scanner in Västerås, Sweden. Blueprints, tracing paper, folded and damaged originals are handled. Files are delivered as PDF, PDF/A, TIFF or CALS, named to your template and uploaded to your archive or project network.
What we scan
- Drawings and maps from A4 to A0, in colour or black and white
- Blueprints and diazo copies
- Tracing paper and transparent originals
- Folded drawings, and torn, repaired or mounted originals
- Drawings that have been stored for up to thirty years
Electrical, control and piping diagrams, as-built drawings and machine documentation are typical material.
Formats and resolution
The right setting depends on how the files will be used. Our usual recommendations:
| Use | File format | Resolution | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading and distribution in projects | 200–300 ppi | Black and white | |
| Long-term archiving | PDF/A or TIFF | 300 ppi | As original |
| Colour markings or revised areas | 300 ppi | Colour | |
| Basis for vectorisation to CAD | TIFF or CALS | 300 ppi | Black and white |
| Maps and large colour originals | PDF or TIFF | 400 ppi | Colour |
The highest resolution is rarely the right choice. We help you pick the settings that suit the material.
Old and difficult originals
Blueprints, tracing paper and heavily used drawings are cleaned up after scanning: straightening, background reduction and cropping make old originals readable. If an original cannot be made legible, we tell you before we go further.
From scan to CAD
We offer automatic vectorisation of scanned drawings to DWG. We assess the original first, and the result depends on its quality. For some drawings we recommend manual redrawing instead.
How it works
- Contact. Send an enquiry or a few representative drawings.
- Sample scan. You see the result before ordering the full volume.
- Quotation. A quotation for the full assignment, with a fixed price for larger volumes.
- Scanning. On our large-format scanner.
- Post-processing. Straightening, background reduction, cropping, file names to your template, metadata and OCR where needed.
- Delivery. Uploaded to your archive or project network or a cloud folder, or delivered on USB. Export to your document system is available as an additional service.
Customers outside Sweden send their originals to our facility in Västerås. Originals can be returned, kept in our archive, or shredded with a certificate. Freight, customs and VAT depend on the destination and are agreed in the quotation.
Frequently asked questions
How large drawings can you scan?
Up to 90 cm wide, with practically unlimited length for rolled originals. Formats from A4 to A0.
Which file format should we archive in?
PDF/A or TIFF for archiving, PDF for everyday use, TIFF or CALS if the drawings will be vectorised.
Can old blueprints be made readable?
Usually yes, with background reduction and straightening. We recommend a sample first.
Can scanned drawings become DWG files?
Yes, through automatic vectorisation. The quality depends on the original, and we assess it before any promise is made.
Can you sort the files into our archive?
Yes. We name files to your template and upload them to your archive or project network.
Can we try it first?
Yes. Send a few representative drawings and we scan them as a sample.
See also: document digitisation and as-built documentation.
Send us a few drawings to start with
We scan a sample so you can see the result before ordering the full volume.