Scanning Memories

NOTE: There are many different brands and models of scanners. The instructions below are for the EPSON 3170 Scanners in the Computer Literacy Center at Ewing. Nevertheless, they represent general information about scanners and scanning. Read the manual of your own scanner for details in your own situation.

I. Types of Digital Scanners

A. Flatbed – easy to use for digitizing text documents (OCR- Optical Character Recognition), color or black-and-white images, flat artwork transparencies and even scan three-dimensional objects. May include film or transparency adapters.

B. Sheetfed – take up very little room. Not as versatile as flatbed. Good as transportable.

C. Photo – for prints up to 11X17 inches and more expensive ($250+)

D. Transparency – for scanning photographic slides. \

II. How does a scanner work?

A. A moving light source reflects off the object being scanned

B. Prisms and mirrors direct the light through a series of filters

1. Some scanners scan the object three times (once each for red, green and blue).

2. Others scan once but separate the results into three separate images

C. The information is sent to a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), an array of light sensitive diodes

1. The sensitivity of the CCD is measured in dots per inch (dpi)

2. The more dpi, the more detail there will be in the finished picture

D. The varying levels of each of three separate colors (red, green and blue) are converted to numeric values. The resulting digitized information is known as a Raster Image

E. The raster image is sent to the computer to the computer for manipulation and storage

III. Loading a Document into the Scanner

A. Raise the lid of the scanner

B. Place the document face down on the glass plate using the edges to insure proper orientation

C. Lower the lid

IV. There are typically three ways to scan a document

A. Using the Scanner Buttons

1. The simplest

2. The least controllable

B. Using the Scanner Software

1. Somewhat more involved

2. Many more options

C. Using the TWAIN Interface

1. Requires appropriate program software

2. Very straightfoward

V. Using the Scanner Buttons

A. From right to left, they are:

1. Start: Pressing the Start button on the scanner starts EPSON Smart Panel as default. You can assign a desired application to the Start button in the EPSON Smart Panel window; pressing the Start button then starts the scanning process and sends data to the application.

2. Copy: You can use the Copy button on the scanner to scan and then make copies of an image. With a single press of the Copy button, images are scanned and then printed automatically in high quality.

3. Scan to E-mail: You can use the Scan to E-mail button to scan an image and then send an e-mail message with the scanned image attached. Pressing the Scan to E-mail button on the scanner starts the scanning process, transfers the scanned image to a pre-selected e-mail program, and then attaches the scanned image to a new e-mail massage.

4. Scan to Web: You can use the Scan to Web button to scan an image and then upload it to the EPSON photo-sharing site. Pressing the Scan to Web button on the scanner starts the scanning process and transfers the scanned image to the EPSON photo-sharing site.

VI. Using the Scanner Software

A. Open the Epson Smart Panel:

1. Click Start > All Programs (for Windows XP users)

2. Select EPSON Smart Panel, then click EPSON Smart Panel.

B. Applications in the Epson Smart Panel window:

1. Re-Print Photos: Use this application to scan and then print images as photos. You can print in various sizes, or place several photos on the same page. You can also create collages or print several versions of the same image easily. When you launch this application, the following screen appears. Click the Color Restoration button to restore faded photos or negatives.

2. Scan and Save: Use this application to scan, convert, and then save an image to a specific folder. When you launch this application, the image is scanned from EPSON Scan and displayed in the Verify Assistant dialog box.

3. Click Next and the Save File Dialog Box appears

a. Specify a location for the file

b. Specify a name for the file

c. Specify a format for the file. If you select to save the file in the .jpg format, you will see the Quality Options settings in the lower part of the window

4. Copy Center: Use this application to turn your scanner into a digital copy machine. The application looks like a real copy machine, yet its functions are far more powerful and flexible than the conventional copy machines.

5. Edit Text: Use this application to scan and convert images into text. The converted text can be saved or sent to a word processing application.

6. Business Cards: Use this application to scan business cards and then convert the images into text for organizing the business cards in the application.

7. Scan to Application: Use this application to scan and then send images to a desired application for further editing.

8. Scan to E-mail: Use this application to scan an image and send an e-mail message with your scanned image attached.

9. Epson Photo Site: Use this application to scan an image using the PRINT Image Matching technology, and then upload it to the EPSON photo-sharing site.

C. Using the TWAIN Interface

1. TWAIN is an acronym for Technology Without An Interesting Name

2. Most photo editing programs rely on TWAIN technology to import photos directly for editing

a. Picasa

b. Adobe Photo Shop Elements

c. Etc.

3. To scan a document using TWAIN

a. Place the document to be scanned in the scanner

b. Run the photo editing program

c. Choose the Import command (usually on the File Menu)

d. The photo is imported and displayed for editing

VII. Scanning Transparencies and Negatives

A. The light source must be in the lid of scanner

B. The light shines down through the transparency onto the Charge Coupled Device (CCD)

C. The transparencies or negatives will be held in a template (usually 3 transparencies or 2 negatives at a time)

D. After the scan, select them one at a time for saving