Tips & Tricks for Bulk Uploads

This article is a quick checklist for bulk-uploading testing sheets. For the full scanner-configuration reference, see Ideal Scanner Settings & Tips for Bulk Uploads.

The Four Golden Rules

If you only remember four things:

1. Scan at 300 DPI — lower resolutions lose detail; higher resolutions just bloat file size.
2. Use grayscale — color works but is 3× larger; black-and-white (1-bit) loses the brightness data the engine needs.
3. One multi-page PDF per batch — the upload form accepts one file at a time.
4. Check one sheet before scanning the rest — catch settings problems before you’ve scanned 100 pages.

Scanner Settings Quick Reference

DPI Matters Most

DPI (dots per inch) is the single most important scanner setting. Get it wrong and scans fail.

Color Mode

Use grayscale. Color also works but produces files about 3× larger with no scoring benefit. Avoid black-and-white (1-bit) mode — it discards the brightness data the engine relies on to detect light pencil fills, and is the most common cause of missed responses on otherwise good scans.

Single PDF vs Multiple Small Files

The upload form accepts one file at a time, so the most efficient approach is a single multi-page PDF:

• Faster upload (one request instead of many)
• Easier to track in upload history
• PaperScorer handles multi-page PDFs natively — each page is processed independently and matched to a student
• Fewer chances for something to go wrong mid-upload

Split into multiple PDFs only if a single file would exceed 250 MB or if your scanner can only output one file per run.

Orientation and Alignment

All sheets in a single batch should be face up and oriented the same way.

• Sort sheets so they’re all oriented the same way.
• Check that none are upside down.
• Remove any with significant folds or tears — scan or reprint those separately.
• Enable auto-rotate on the scanner as a safety net.
• Enable deskew at the scanner if available. (PaperScorer also corrects perspective using corner markers, so this is belt-and-suspenders.)

File Compression: Don’t

Avoid running scanned PDFs through compression tools (Adobe Acrobat “Reduce File Size,” online compressors, etc.). They can:

• Reduce image quality below usable levels
• Change DPI unpredictably
• Distort bubble shapes

If your scan file is too large, reduce DPI at scan time instead of compressing afterwards.

Scanner Maintenance

A clean scanner produces better scans. Two minutes of maintenance prevents a lot of misreads.

Flatbed scanners

• Clean the glass regularly with a microfiber cloth.
• Look for dust, smudges, fingerprints, eraser dust — a dirty platen creates false marks that confuse the engine.

Sheet-fed scanners (ADF)

• Clean the rollers per the scanner’s maintenance guide.
• Fan the stack before loading to prevent double-feeds.
• Remove staples and paper clips before feeding.
• Flatten any folds — folded sheets can jam or misfeed.
• Enable multi-feed detection if your scanner supports it (ultrasonic detection stops the scan immediately when two sheets feed together).

Spot-Check Before Bulk Scanning

Before scanning and uploading an entire class:

1. Scan 2–3 sample sheets.
2. Upload just those sheets to PaperScorer.
3. Check the results in upload history.
4. If all three succeed, proceed with the full batch.
5. If any fail, diagnose the issue before burning time on the whole class.

This small investment prevents you from scanning 30 sheets only to discover your scanner was set to 150 DPI.

Common Problems and Fixes

My scans are upside down.

Enable auto-rotate on the scanner, or rotate the PDF before uploading using any PDF editor. PaperScorer also corrects orientation automatically using the QR code, but consistent orientation processes faster.

My PDF is too large to upload.

Lower the scan DPI from 600 to 300, switch from color to grayscale, or split the batch into two PDFs. Don’t use a compressor — reduce at scan time.

Some pages in my PDF are blank.

Your scanner’s blank-page detection may be removing pages. Disable it — every page matters for PaperScorer.

Scans process slowly.

Use Wi-Fi or Ethernet instead of cellular for the upload. Large batches (100+ pages) take a few minutes — this is normal. If uploads consistently time out, check with your IT team about proxy/firewall limits (see Whitelist Requirements).

The upload fails halfway through.

Your network connection may have dropped — try again. If it keeps failing at the same point, there may be a corrupt page in the PDF; try splitting the file.

Don’t Need to Buy a New Scanner

Almost any document scanner or all-in-one printer can produce 300 DPI grayscale PDFs. You don’t need to invest in new hardware — just configure the scanner you have correctly. For specific scanner settings (color depth, deskew handling, etc.), the canonical reference is Ideal Scanner Settings & Tips for Bulk Uploads.

Related Articles

• Ideal Scanner Settings & Tips for Bulk Uploads — the full scanner-configuration reference.
• Testing Guidelines — what students should know before taking the test for the best scan results.
• Whitelist Requirements — if uploads are consistently failing due to network restrictions.