Thread:Artful Dodger/@comment-24800939-20151001014455/@comment-61022-20151001123514

I was thinking about this the other day myself since I started using Marvel Unlimited for my research.

I think that a distinction must first be made here in defining the above. If you want to get down to it, technically the comics on MU are "recolored", but the reality is that there are no alterations in the original color scheme. That's not to say Marvel doesn't do that from time to time (usually with anniversary editions like when they reprinted Marvel Comics #1 and Captain America Comics #1 during various 75th anniversary celebrations) by and large they just stick to the original coloring scheme because it's more cost effective. So in that case, I would say if we're making a distinction, there are print copies, digital copies, and digital re-mastered copies.

The only difference between the two images above is the fact that one was printed on low quality paper 54 years ago and is really starting to show it's age. The coloring scheme is exactly the same, the only reason why they look different is one medium physically ages and it shows.

That said I would opt for us using the digital copies for source images whenever possible when moving forward. Primarily because they look fantastic and from a esthetic point of view, it makes things look a little more professional as far as presentation.

I have found that when it comes to using scans -- particularly old comics -- image quality is often a bit problem. And by quality, I don't necessarily mean the dpi/dimensions of the scan, but the quality of the physical document that is being scanned. Especially if people are using some ahem of the less legitimate resources out there. A prime example would be that a lot of particularly old comics (from the 1930s) have bootlegs out there that are pulled from old microfiche archives, which have often been captured out of focus or have aged very poorly.

Then there are just old comics in general... Because let's keep in mind here that people are often using low grade comics to do scans. Anyone with pristine copies of comics are not going to be scanning them -- especially the interior -- because they are likely serious collectors and serious collectors are incredibly anal about the quality of their comics for their reseale value.

Because a lot of our scans come from "reader" comics from the 40 to the mid 1980s brown the cheap papers used in the late 80s and early 90s (which were notorious for being smudgy or bleeding through to the other side of the page), browning or yellowing of pages in older comics, faded coloring, printing problems (the amount of comics I've seen where the coloring plates were off by a small fraction almost make the final product an eyesore to the look at)

When it comes to covers in particular, I find that a lot of the covers we have archived are rarely in good condition because the reality is most people who are scanning covers of old comics are likely using beat copies. (because let's face it, I doubt a serious collector is going to be scanning a near mint copy of anything from the 60s) They've got creases and missing chunks, stains and all sorts of poor keeping.

I've done a comparison of an original comic and the digital reproduction from MU, and really the only differences between the two is the fact that one medium is printed on paper that using dated printing methods that have aged poorly. The visible differences is not because different colors are being employed, it's because the quality of the paper has caused the colors to dull with age due to a combination cheap materials and age. I liken the comparison to comparing a VHS copy of a movie to one on Blu-Ray.

So to reiterate, these digital copies I think look better and we should use them as often as possible since they look good, and most people can easily access them for a low price. Marvel Unlimited isn't a perfect resource: older comic series sometimes have sizeable chunks of their runs missing, and other comics will never see the light of day on Marvel Unlimited due to various convoluted rights issues -- Rom, Godzilla, Shogun Warriors, Conan etc. --- But it's getting better with time, and the library of older comics is just going to grow as time progresses and they get around to making the digital copies.