- Choosing a scanner
- Installing your scanner
- Calibrating your monitor
Installing your scanner
When you first hook up your scanner, you should follow the manufacturer's installation instructions precisely, so that the scanner's software drivers are loaded correctly.
Drivers are the organised routines that allow the scanner and computer to synchronously perform their related tasks. When you install your scanner software, these small files automatically load into the computer. Some software programs install the same driver; this causes older drivers to overwrite the newer versions. However, for your scanner to work, the computer must have correct versions of all relevant drivers.
Your scanner will come with a basic scanning utility program that will allow you to access and control the scanner so you can make setting changes and execute scans. This software displays the scanner image area and allows you to preview the image before the scan finishes and gets saved to your hard drive. It will also allows you to adjust resolution and colour depth.
If you have photo editing software installed on your computer, you may be able to access the scanner directly from within that software as well. This scanner control features usually appears when you select the 'Acquire' option in the photo editing software.
Scanning guidelines
Now that you're ready to begin scanning, keep in mind the following guidelines:
- You can scan images bound for the Web or other computer applications such as PowerPoint slideshows or CD-ROM images at 72 dpi.
- You can scan images bound for inkjet printers at 150 to 200 dpi. On the other hand, you can scan photographs that have a lot of flesh tones or details closer to the 200 dpi range.
- For professionally printed images, for a company brochure or poster, scan them according to the print house's requirements, between 300 and 1200dpi.
- All photographs should be scanned at the highest colour mode possible. Look for a special setting in your scanning software called "Full Color Photograph," "16.7 million colors" or "24-bit Color." Avoid scanning a photograph at 256 colours or 8-bit colour. It will look blotchy and have incorrect colour blends.
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