From poster board to digital - map question

[JBryden88]

I wasn't quite sure where to put this but I'll ask it anyway! Whilst on vacation I've been spending the week with a writer friend of mine. I helped her with her map - we got big poster board sheets and she sketched it out. Now, we are looking to figure out .... is there a way to get it effectively on the computer? Taking a picture of it seems out of the question, since it is done in pencil.

My printer isn't big enough to scan the whole thing, would a kincos or the equivalent be able to copy it?

Biggest reason is so that we can look into a commissioned cartographer to do the full thing!

 

[Saigonnus]

Most places like that have wide-format printing and plotting, but not really sure about a wide-format scanner to make it into a digital format. I would *think* if they can print in wide-format, then they could scan as well.

 

[CupofJoe]

You might need to find a photographer [professional or amateur] who has a rostrum stand. Depending on how large your map is they should be able to lay your map on a flat surface [floor or table] and use the rostrum to take an image from directly above. If they are good, they should also be able to light it from all sides to lessen creases, flash-back etc. If you map is huge [6ft+] then you might have trouble finding a [camera] rostrum large enough. You can make them if you feel like being creative...
My other solution is to take lots of smaller images [carefully - square on and slightly overlapping] and then use panorama software to stitch them together. I've used this method to record cathedral ceilings, stone-work and stained windows [at a resolution I couldn't get in a few wider images]. The results are not perfect but can be surprisingly good.

 

[JBryden88]

As it turns out we took it to Staples and it got done and emailed and all! Thanks for the tips anyway!