yaoi.caBlack & White
Introduction
Please click on images to view its full sized version (so you can see all details).
Output Settings
I tip my hat to Storm in Heaven's Scanlation Guide for this information (and much more besides). I now output black and white with the following parameters/optimization:
- PNG 8
- 100% dither
- 17 colours
- grayscale
- no transparency
I have a saved optimization setting in my graphics program called "Scans" with the above parameters. This is available to me when optimizing manually or when batch processing.
If you are working on an image (i.e. for scanlation), always save the file in its lossless format (TIF or PNG). Output to the above final format once you have finished tweaking the image. Always keep your original working image in its lossless format in case you need to edit it again later.
Batch Processing
I suggest manually modifying any coloured scans so that you can achieve the look that you want with them. However, for black and white pages, simply use the batch process feature in your graphics program. If you are scanning for samples, you can proceed from batch renaming to batch processing without tweaking the images further in the graphics program. If you are scanning for scanlation, it would be prudent to clean and edit the images in a graphics program before batch processing. The settings you choose for batch processing will vary depending on several factors, including the purpose of your scans (i.e. sample vs scanlation).
Select only the files that are black and white (you will probably want to keep a note of those numbers that correspond with colour images as well as retained double pages so that you can deal with them separately from these).
Scale the images to whatever size you wish. I choose 565 pixels for what will ultimately be the width, with the length variable.
If need be, rotate the images in the appropriate direction. Mine rotate in a clockwise direction. You may have to create a script in your graphics program that will rotate the graphics for you -- this script then being available during the batch process.
If you desire, you may wish to create a script that will select the image and then automatically set the levels (colour). If the scan wasn't leveled very well during the scanning process, creating a script to do this for you during the batch process may create a better looking image. If the image was leveled correctly during the scanning process, then this script will not adversely affect the scan even by using it.
Export the images according to whatever parameters you set. I use my created "Scans" optimized setting.
For scanlations, the only batch process I use is the Export since the image has already been tweaked and cleaned.
Save to whichever folder you wish to. For scanlations, I output them to a separate folder labeled "Xout" where X is the chapter number. For samples, I output to a separate folder labeled "out" that resides within the same folder as the originals.
Naturally, the speed at what your batch process takes is dependant upon your computer's speed and specifications. I suggest not accessing the original files until the batch process is complete (to prevent any potential corruption).
Repeat the steps above for black and white double pages except double whatever you designate for the pixel width.
black & white 
