User`s guide

E-14 Microtek ScanWizard 5
Quick Tips for Best Scans
Whenever you scan, keep some goals in mind. How do you want the final
scanned image to look? Where will it be used? What image-editing software will
you use? How will the image be reproduced, on what type of printer and what
type of paper?
With these goals in mind, you can then proceed to obtain quality scans. Here are
a few tips to consider to obtain the best scans.
Get the necessary hardware
Take note of the following:
• Make sure you have enough RAM and available storage space in your
computer. Scanned images need more memory than text files, so you may
need to add RAM and storage options. 16MB of RAM is adequate, but more
RAM will speed up your processing.
• Check if your video card and monitor support the resolutions you need to
display high-quality images. For optimal quality, use a 24-bit (also known as
True Color) card that is set to “millions of colors” or “16.7 million colors.”
Use a good original
A good original is still important in determining the final quality of the scanned
image. Even if your scanning software or image-editing package has tools to
improve image quality, they work only up to a point. Images that are out of
focus, dirty, or poorly exposed may never look great — no matter how much
time you spend retouching them.
Also, do not use halftoned images or images that have been printed, such as
those taken from a magazine. If you scan such pictures, you will obtain
something called a moiré, which is an undesirable pattern in color printing. Even
though the ScanWizard 5 software has a feature for removing moirés, it's better
to start out with a clear original in the first place. (For more information on
moirés and to see what they look like, see the color pages and the section on
Descreen in the Reference.)