Andy,

This is a good point since any scan will natively be a raster file. Putting the scan into a vector file container (PDF) only achieves that reason for which I request both.

However, the PDF is a much more portable format (hence the name) and most everyone knows how to open a PDF file while not everyone knows how or what to do with a 12 MB or larger TIF. Actually 12 MB is probably on the low side for a 60 size uncompressed 300 dpi plan scan given that uncompressed full HD TIF files (1920x1080) are about 8 MB (at 72 dpi). If one scans at 300 dpi (more is unnecessary since the resolution of printed commercial plans is not that high) I suspect the file is probably going to be closer to ~20 MB in size. The last scans I had done were made at 300 dpi and it was sufficient given the quality of the originals but they were also compressed at source.

One other comment favoring a PDF version of the scan is that we can upload these to RCU (if desired) and given the 6 MB limitation, a compressed PDF version is not a bad option and seems to be the convention as of late on the forum. Personally, I also find that PDF's are much more user friendly (even though I work with raster files at work all day long) as they allow me to annotate and generally "massage" the file in a vector environment much like in any CAD program.

Finally, one of the great things about PDF (and its predecessor - postscript and display postscript - although not defunct) is that it is truly a pervasive format which means that you can work with it (generally speaking) at any level. As an example the entire Apple graphic UI is based on PDF. Jobs' previous gig (well, he started the company), Next, had a one of a kind graphic UI which visually superseded the now standard X11 used in professional workstations. Granted, I do most anything to do with hobby related things on a Windows box nowadays...

I'm not surprised your daughter was the only one who could get it right - if you're lucky, that is generally the case at most Kinko's - one person. I try to get the manager (or whoever looks like they know what they're doing) to get it done.

David.