Scanner Settings
Last Updated: May 7, 2010

For fast and efficient use of CM/ECF, it is critical that software used for scanning documents is configured correctly. The consequences of poor or incorrect setup are significantly increased file size - typically 20 to 40 times. This bloated file size causes:

• Increased file storage requirements, together with a general slowness in handling such files.

• Increased network traffic with very long file upload times.  Your CM/ECF session may time out before the upload of a large file can be completed.  Files over 4 MB will be rejected due to the size limit.

• A very slow download when attempting to access large files already uploaded into CM/ECF.

The optimal method for creating a PDF document for filing in CM/ECF is to create it directly from a word processing application using a PDFWriter. PDF files created in this way have two advantages: they are much smaller in size than documents that have been scanned and they are text-searchable.  

Although some word processing applications, such as Word or WordPerfect, have an option to convert a document directly into PDF format, it is not recommended.  The file created in this way is unnecessarily large.

If you must scan:

For those documents that must be imaged because a word-processed version does not exist, the preferred method is to scan the document directly into PDF format using software that allows for saving as a PDF.

• Resolution (DPI):  set to 300 dpi

• Image or Picture Type:  black and white  (Do NOT use gray scale or color unless scanning a photograph or pay advices, as often, pay advices may include shaded boxes and gray scale may provide a clearer image of the shaded boxes – though, these settings will create a much larger file).

Note:  To check file size:

To determine the file size of a PDF, open it in Adobe Acrobat.  From the File menu, click Document Properties.