Comment by pessimizer
7 days ago
Non-destructive scans are at least 10x as much, and tend to lower quality.
https://software.annas-archive.gl/AnnaArchivist/annas-archiv...
Cutting the pages out makes them machinable. Non-destructive scans involves gently turning pages, and paying a lot of attention to the state of the spine. Destructive scans involve guillotine cutting the spine off, scanning the covers by hand, putting the pages into a hopper, clamping them in and hitting a button. While that book is scanning, you're already cutting the spine off the next book. If the machine jams, try to work the jam out gently, scan the pieces, and let the computer stitch it together.
Perhaps this is a use case that's worth investigating, to invent better, less-destructive scanning processes! Or some way to rebind them afterwards.