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**MontyP@thon** · 03-08-2010, 09:44 AM

This is a bit technical question so please bear with me. Shukran

As you know Mushafs (the Text of Qur'an) in general are hand-written by a well known calligrapher. Since calligraphy is carried out by a bamboo pens and ink on a paper, how is it possible that handwritten text undergoes a digital process of becoming a book in the end?

Initially I thought a photocopy of some kind would do the job, but I am not convinced about that at all. Because, no matter how perfectly I photocopy a text, there seems to be pixels running here and there. However, on printed Mushafs I don't see any imperfection; the text appears as if it is purely digital (i.e a fontography based print).

The second option that comes to my mind is that, first handwritten page is properly scanned, then the image is vectorized by some tracing software. This option is also not working for me. Although, I used almost all great tracing software available out there and tried this option over and over but to no avail. I simply don't get real life excellent results as it is on Mushafs.

Can a knowledgeable brother explain how it is done?

Here is a scanned page from a Mushaf (which is a handwritten masterpiece by the way). Now, the fonts may not seem crystal clear, however, it looks excellent on a physical Mushaf. The reason behind this technical question is to produce a perfect, resolution-free and high quality PDF Mushaf for everybody for free to use on their digital devices such as (itouch, iphone, kindle, ereaders etc.).

03-08-2010, 09:44 AM	#1
MontyP@thon Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 523 Senior Member	Question to craftsmen, publishers, calligraphers and others: How do you print Mushaf? This is a bit technical question so please bear with me. Shukran As you know Mushafs (the Text of Qur'an) in general are hand-written by a well known calligrapher. Since calligraphy is carried out by a bamboo pens and ink on a paper, how is it possible that handwritten text undergoes a digital process of becoming a book in the end? Initially I thought a photocopy of some kind would do the job, but I am not convinced about that at all. Because, no matter how perfectly I photocopy a text, there seems to be pixels running here and there. However, on printed Mushafs I don't see any imperfection; the text appears as if it is purely digital (i.e a fontography based print). The second option that comes to my mind is that, first handwritten page is properly scanned, then the image is vectorized by some tracing software. This option is also not working for me. Although, I used almost all great tracing software available out there and tried this option over and over but to no avail. I simply don't get real life excellent results as it is on Mushafs. Can a knowledgeable brother explain how it is done? Here is a scanned page from a Mushaf (which is a handwritten masterpiece by the way). Now, the fonts may not seem crystal clear, however, it looks excellent on a physical Mushaf. The reason behind this technical question is to produce a perfect, resolution-free and high quality PDF Mushaf for everybody for free to use on their digital devices such as (itouch, iphone, kindle, ereaders etc.).
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