[reegs]

OK... I did another experiment by scanning a print out of the birth certificate. As you can see from the image below, the scanning software DID seperate elements as can be seen by the Illustrator handles. I was able to move these elements including the black type. Moving the type did leave a white area beneath it.

[hripka]

Maybe this was the procedure???

1. Original document in a bound book.
2. Photocopied out of that book. (curl on left side)
3. Scanned (#2 & #3 could be the same)
4. Copied onto patterned paper
5. Scanned again (causing the white lines around the type due to unsharp masking)
6. Opened in Illustrator
7. Converted to PDF

?????

Comments please