Patent ID: 8169661

Claim:
A method for electronically scanning and storing the contents of an individual page having a colored portion and a black & white portion of printed matter as a single electronic file of markedly reduced size, said scanning method comprising the steps of: obtaining the entire printed matter contents of an individual page as scanned data in a 24-bit per pixel mode; selectively identifying from the scanned 24-bit per pixel entire printed matter contents which is a colored portion and which is a black & white portion using a prepared grid and analytical color table; downsizing only said selectively identified black & white portion of said scanned 24-bit per pixel entire printed matter contents to a single bit per pixel format; concurrently retaining said selectively identified colored portion of said scanned entire printed matter contents in the 24-bit per pixel mode; and maintaining said downsized black & white portion in the single bit per pixel format together with said colored portion in the 24-bit per pixel mode as a single electronic file of markedly reduced size.