PC Version User's Manual for Microtek Scanners and the ScanWizard Scanning Software
Copyright © 1997 Microtek Lab, Inc. All rights reserved. Doc. No. M-9142812920-2 Second Edition: August 1997 Microtek Lab, Inc. 3715 Doolittle Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90278-1226 Main: (310) 297-5000 Sales: 800-654-4160 Tech Support: (310) 297-5100 Fax: (310) 297-5050 BBS: (310) 297-5102 AutoTech fax back: (310) 297-5101 Internet: http://www.microtekusa.com Tech Support Web Page: http://www.support.microtek.com Microtek International, Inc.
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Basic Concepts.............................................. 1-1 What is a Scanner ............................................................................................. How scanners work ................................................................................... Components of effective scanning ............................................................ Image Types ...................................................................................................
Chapter 3 Software Installation .................................... 3-1 Chapter 4 Sample Scanning .......................................... 4-1 Overview........................................................................................................... 4-2 Scanning a single-bit image .............................................................................. 4-4 Scanning a grayscale image .............................................................................. 4-5 Scanning a color image ..
Keep Preview Image ..................................................................................... 5-23 Smoked Glass Background ........................................................................... 5-24 How Smoked Glass works with image enhancement ................................. 5-25 More .............................................................................................................. 5-26 The Help Menu.............................................................................
Chapter 5 (cont). Filters tool ...................................................................................................... 5-72 Blur filters .................................................................................................. 5-73 Sharpen filters ........................................................................................... 5-73 Edge Enhancement filter ........................................................................... 5-74 Emboss filter ........................
1 Basic Concepts This chapter covers basic scanning concepts. If you already have basic scanning knowledge, you may skip this section and go directly to Chapter 2 for hardware installation.
What is a Scanner A scanner is a device that captures an image and converts it into a digital form that your computer can display, edit, store, and output. The image may be a photograph, page of text, drawing or illustration, or even a relatively flat, three-dimensional object such as a bolt of fabric.
How scanners work Scanners capture images by shining light onto the document to be scanned. The light then bounces back and is captured by a strip of lightsensitive cells called a charge-coupled device, or CCD. Since dark areas on the paper reflect less light and light areas of the paper reflect more light, the CCD is able to detect the amount of light reflecting from each area of the image.
Components of effective scanning The scanner is only one part of the scanning system.
Image Types For a computer to represent image information in a digital format, the computer uses units of picture elements, or pixels. An image file, for instance, is simply a representation of hundreds, thousands, or even millions of pixels arranged in a grid, and computers record the intensity and color of a pixel in 1 or more bits of data. The greater the number of bits, or bit-depth, of an image, the more information it can store.
Grayscale Grayscale images contain more than just black and white, and include actual shades of gray. In a grayscale image, each pixel or dot has more bits of information encoded in it, allowing more shades to be recorded and shown. For instance, four bits are needed to reproduce up to 16 levels of gray. Going higher, eight bits can reproduce the 256 levels of gray required to represent most black-and-white photos accurately. 16 grays 256 grays Color Color images contain the most complex information.
Selecting an image type Depending on the scanner you have, you will be able to scan different types of images according to your needs. You can scan an image and output it in its original form, or you can output it in another form and get some interesting effects. For instance, you can scan a grayscale photo and output it in its original form as a grayscale photo, or you can output it as a halftone to create a new look.
Getting the Best Results Scanning is an easy process: You simply put the image to be scanned on your scanner, run your scanning software, and click on the Scan button. The image is then delivered to your imageediting software, where it can be stored as a file. For you to get the best results from your scans, however, it helps to be aware of variables that affect the quality of your scanning.
Resolution Resolution determines the level of detail recorded by the scanner, and is measured in dots per inch (dpi). The greater the dpi number, the higher the resolution and the resulting file size. Image quality improves with higher resolution, but only up to a certain point, after which increasing resolution simply makes file sizes unmanageable without yielding any visible improvement to the image. For most applications, scans of up to 300 dpi are adequate.
The table below shows optimal resolution settings for most needs. MPR below stands for "Match Printer's Resolution." Output Device Line Art Grayscale Color Black & white laser printer MPR 75 dpi 75 dpi Color desk jet, ink jet, thermal printer MPR 100-150 dpi 100-150 dpi Color dye-sublimation printer MPR MPR MPR Printing press or imagesetter MPR 150-300 dpi 150-3200 dpi Remember that the higher the resolution, the larger your image file will be. For instance, an 8.
When to use high resolution High resolution is important if you're processing an image through a high-end color system that carries continuous tone data from the scanner through the final film output. This is because high resolution can improve the sharpness and clarity of the dots that make up the image. When to use interpolated resolution Interpolated resolution is useful for scanning line art or enlarging small originals. • For line art: Set the resolution equal to that of your output device.
Scaling Scaling is the process of creating larger or smaller images in your scanning software so that you need not resize the images later when they are delivered to your image-editing program. In the scanning software, scaling has an inverse relation to resolution: The lower the resolution, the larger the image can be scaled. At the highest resolution, images can only be scaled smaller. To illustrate the use of scaling, assume you scanned a 2" x 2" image at 300 dpi.
Color calibration and correction Color calibration is the process of ensuring the accurate reproduction of color for images. Full color calibration is usually a twostep process: calibrating your input device, such as a scanner; and calibrating your output device, such as a printer or monitor. By calibrating your input and output devices correctly, color is captured accurately by your scanner and is reproduced faithfully on your monitor or printer as well.
Image enhancement Several tools are available with your scanning software for adjusting the color and quality of images. Some of these tools include: Brightness, Contrast and Exposure; Shadows and Highlights; Curve; Filters; Tints; Auto; and Color Correction. To see examples of how each tool works in color, see the color pages in this manual. Brightness, Contrast and Exposure This tool changes the brightness and contrast of the entire image.
Shadows and Highlights This tool lets you adjust the shadow and highlight areas of an image, allowing you to select a new shadow point to become the darkest value, or a new highlight point to become the lightest value. The effect of this is to bring out more visible detail in an image, especially if it has only a limited range of grays or colors.
Filters The Filters tool lets you apply or create special effects to your images. The filters include Blur, Blur More, Sharpen, Sharpen More, Edge Enhancement, and Emboss. Below is an example. Original Blur Auto (Automatic Contrast Control) This tool optimizes the contrast of scanned images by adjusting the gamma and shadow/highlight values. This is one of the simplest tools to use, requiring only the click of a button.
File formats You will generally save your scanned images as graphic files. Several graphic file formats are available for use, and each file format has its own advantages and disadvantages. To get the best scans, be familiar with the pros and cons of each file format and how they are compatible with your image-editing software and printing equipment. File format Description TIFF Short for Tagged Image File Format, probably the most popular format.
Storage requirements (in kilobytes) The following chart shows you the storage requirements for black-andwhite images, grayscale images, and color images in different sizes and resolutions. All sizes are in kilobytes (KB); 1,000 kilobytes is equal to 1 megabyte (MB). Example: 1,028KB = 1.02MB; 65,742KB = 65MB; 131,484KB = 131MB; 1,577,813KB = 1.5GB (gigabytes).
Selecting the printing method Scanned images can be printed on a variety of devices. Here are some of the most common ones: • Black and white printers (laser, ink jet, dot matrix) are suitable for producing text and line art, but they are not as good for printing grayscale images. You can use these printers to reproduce photographs for FPO (For Position Only) purposes, as when you need to show a draft of how a document is laid out.
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 Make sure your scanner matches your scanning needs.
Keep your scanner clean Make sure your scanner glass is clean before you scan images. This way, you don't pick up flecks of dust along with the image when you scan. To clean the scanner glass, use alcohol on a lintfree cloth and clean the glass carefully. Select the right image type and settings Choose the right image and set the correct resolution and scaling before you scan. • If you have single-color art (even if it isn't black and white), scan it as line art.
2 Hardware Installation This section provides information on installing the hardware for your scanner and other hardware-related information. Federal Communications Commission Statement This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
Installing the scanner The hardware installation procedure for your scanner will vary, depending on the scanner model you have purchased. For the most up-to-date information on hardware installation of your scanner, refer to the documentation that comes with your scanner (printed on colored paper stock), titled Microtek Scanner Installation Guide. The guide also includes a section on how to use the various software in your scanner package, and provides basic information on how to scan images and text.
Operating the Scanner Once the scanner is properly connected, you can perform a power-on test. To do this, turn on the scanner, and you will see the following: 1 The POWER indicator on the front panel of the scanner lights up. 2 Next, the READY indicator beside the POWER indicator flashes briefly. After a 30-second warm-up period, the scanner carries out a self-test, with the scanner carriage moving back and forth about a half-inch. If no problems are detected, the READY indicator stays lit.
Using scanner accessories Your scanner is a powerful imaging device, but there are scanner accessories available that can add to your scanning efficiency. These accessories include the Transparent Media Adapter and the Auto Document Feeder. • The Transparent Media Adapter (TMA) doubles the power of your scanner as it allows you to scan transparencies.
Returning scanners for repair Your Microtek scanner has been built to exacting standards. Just like any piece of electrical equipment, however, your scanner or the delicate parts in it are subject to wear and tear, and may malfunction for any number of reasons. If your scanner needs to be serviced or repaired, do the following: In the United States (continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii): • Call Microtek Technical Support to get a Repair Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number.
Locking the scanner carriage You need to lock the scanner carriage if you wish to ship back your scanner for any reason. The carriage must be locked to prevent the mechanism from moving during shipping and getting damaged in the process. Important Note Microtek will not be liable for scanners that are damaged during transit because the carriage had not been locked or was not packed in the original or authorized packaging.
Locking models with a latch-type lock 1 Turn the scanner off and then back on. The carriage will move forward a bit and then return to its standby position. When the carriage stops moving, turn off the scanner. 2 Turn the scanner on its side to locate the carriage lock. Pull the latch (the carriage lock) down (or out) until the handle on the side of the latch locks onto the chassis. Make sure the latch is pulled out completely (not just halfway).
Replacing the scanner lamp If the lamp inside your scanner does not come on or if it begins to flicker or dim after some time, the lamp may need to be replaced. If this is the case, call the Microtek AutoTech fax-back system at 310297-5101, then listen to the recorded instructions to request a document on how to replace the scanner lamp.
3 Software Installation The software installation procedure is continually updated to reflect the most current software bundles of your scanner. For the latest information on software installation, please refer to a document entitled Microtek Scanner Installation Guide, which is printed separately and is included with your scanner package.
4 Sample Scanning ScanWizard is easy to use. The following pages show you how to use the software to scan line art, grayscale, and color, as well as how to enlarge your view of an image and use image-enhancement tools.
Overview ScanWizard is the program that acts as a bridge between your scanner and your image-editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop or Ulead PhotoImpact, etc.) ScanWizard captures the image placed on your scanner and then delivers the image when it is scanned to the image-editing application, where the scanned image can then be saved or edited further. Here are some things you can do with ScanWizard: • Select the type of image to be scanned.
ScanWizard: The Four Windows 1 2 Information window Settings window Preview window Scan Job window The four windows of ScanWizard: • The Preview window has commands and tools for controlling the scanner. • The Settings window contains scanning parameters for outputting the image and includes the image-enhancement tools of the software. • The Information window provides information on the preview image, such as pixel and color information.
Scanning a single-bit image (line art or halftone) 1 Go to the Settings window, and from the Type menu, make your selection. • Choose Line Art if you're scanning purely black or white images with no shades of gray, such as pen-and-ink drawings, logos, and sketches. Line art also applies if you're scanning an image with just one color (like a mechanical drawing or blueprint). • Choose Halftone to scan the image as a halftone, and select the halftone pattern from the submenu that appears.
Scanning a grayscale image 1 Go to the Settings window, and from the Type menu, choose 256 shades of gray. 2 Click on the Preview button in the Preview window. In a few moments, a preliminary view of the image will appear in the preview area. 3 Click on the Scan Frame tool. With the pointer now a crossbar, move to the image and define the scan frame (by holding down the mouse and dragging it to draw a box).
Scanning a color image 1 Go to the Settings window, and from the Type menu, choose Millions of colors. 2 Click on the Preview button in the Preview window. In a few moments, a preliminary view of the image will appear in the preview area. 3 Click on the Scan Frame tool. With the pointer now a crossbar, move to the image and define the scan frame (by holding down the mouse and dragging it to draw a box).
Enlarging the view of an image Click on the Preview button. When the preview image appears, do either of the following: Option 1 1 Click on the Magnifying Lens tool (3rd tool from the left in the Preview window). The cursor will change to a magnifying lens with a plus sign in it. 2 Move the cursor to inside the image and click. The area where the cursor is will be zoomed in, enlarging your view of it.
Enhancing images This section discusses how to use the Image Enhancement tools in the scanning software for your images. The image enhancement tools are located in the Settings window and include Brightness, Contrast and Exposure; Shadows and Highlights; Curve; Tints; Filters; and More Options. In addition, you can use the Auto and Color Correction buttons to optimize image quality. • The Auto button optimizes contrast for the image.
Using the Advanced Image Enhancer When you click on any of the Image Enhancement buttons in the Settings window, the Advanced Image Enhancer (AIE) dialog box appears. In this dialog box, you can do the following: 1 Select the scan job and image to which image enhancement controls will be applied. A scan job is a task that you designate the scanner to scan and process, and the scan job in the AIE dialog box corresponds to the scan job in the Scan Job window.
Important scanning notes Here are some tips to help you with scanning. If you're not familiar with the scanning process, review the preceding pages on the individual scanning tasks to get a feel for the software and how it works. Also, if some of the concepts discussed in these pages are not familiar to you, see the Reference section of the manual for a detailed discussion. For previews and scans • Select the image type correctly when you do a preview or scan.
For image enhancement • By default, the Color Correction button is turned on, which means your image is color corrected as a matter of course to compensate for the minor color shifts that normally occur in all scanning. If you have Microtek's DCR installed, the DCR color profile is applied instead of the generic color profile. • One useful image-enhancement control is the Auto button, which optimizes contrast for the entire image.
Auto and Color Correction Original Color Correction applied: Scanned image matches original Auto control applied: Contrast optimized for image A
Brightness and Contrast Original Brightness increased Brightness decreased Contrast increased Contrast decreased B
Exposure and Saturation Original Green exposure increased Red exposure increased Blue exposure increased Saturation increased Saturation decreased C
Shadows and Highlights Original image and original input values Shadows emphasized and correspoding changes to input values Highlights emphasized and corresponding changes to input values D
Curve Original image with straight diagonal curve Image with curve moved up Image with curve moved down Image posterized with corresponding curve E
Tints Original F
Filters Original Blur Blur More Sharpen Sharpen More Edge Enhancement Emboss G
Descreen Before Descreen: Image scanned from a printed page, resulting in moirés After Descreen: Same image scanned with descreen turned on (magazine option, 133 lpi) H
5 Reference This section is a listing of features found in the *ScanWizard for Windows scanning software. The reference information is organized in four parts, following the structure of the software which shows the four major windows of the program (Preview, Settings, Information, and Scan Job). Twain compliance ScanWizard for Windows is a Twain-compliant program.
Overview ScanWizard is the program that acts as a bridge between your scanner and a target application, such as Adobe Photoshop orUlead PhotoImpact. In practical terms, this means you use ScanWizard to scan or capture images placed on your scanner and place them in a target application. Once the images are delivered to the target application, they can be saved or edited further. Some of the things you can do with ScanWizard for Windows • Select the type of image to be processed and scanned.
ScanWizard for Windows ScanWizard for Windows consists of four major windows: Preview, Settings, Information, and Scan Job. The Preview and Settings windows appear automatically after the ScanWizard is started up. The Scan Job and Information windows, however, are hidden, and to see them, go to the View menu in the Preview window and click on the commands Show Scan Job window and Show Info window.
The Preview Window The Preview window is the most prominent window of the four major windows, and it includes the various commands and tools for controlling the scanner. Elements of the Preview window 1 3 2 4 6 1 2 3 5-4 The Menu Bar includes the different menus for setting up the scanner (Scanner menu), controlling view options (View menu), customizing the software (Preferences menu), and accessing online help (Help menu). The Tool buttons simplify the performance of certain tasks.
The Menu Bar Reference: The Preview Window 5-5
The Scanner Menu The Scanner Menu lets you: • Show your scanner model or select a scanner if you have multiple scanners • Get information about your scanner • Get information about the SCSI chain Scanner Model The top of the scanner menu displays the scanner model you're using and its SCSI ID. If you have multiple scanners on your system, all the scanners are shown with their respective SCSI IDs, and the current scanner is indicated by a check. Only one scanner can be accessed at a time.
Get SCSI Chain Info This command allows you to see the SCSI devices on your SCSI chain and the SCSI ID number of the devices. By default, all numbers are selected by the check boxes. To allow ScanWizard for Windows to start up more quickly, select only the boxes that match the SCSI ID of your scanner (or scanners, if you have multiple scanners on your system). This will make the ScanWizard bypass the numbers for your other devices and focus effort on simply detecting scanners.
Exiting ScanWizard To exit ScanWizard for Windows, double click on the close box on the upper left side of the Preview window.
The View Menu The View menu lets you: • Get a full page preview or zoomed-in (enlarged) view of an image • Resize the preview window • Show or hide the Settings, Information, and Scan Job windows Full Page Preview This command shows one of the two viewing modes available for your image (the other being the zoomed preview, explained in the next section). The full page preview is a preview of your image as defined by the parameters set in the Preview Setup command (in the Preferences menu).
Full page preview (8.5" x 11") as determined by dimensions in the Preview Setup 1 Preview area matches dimensions in Preview Setup command Full page preview changes to 6" x 9" because dimensions in Preview Setup were changed 2 Preview area changes as dimensions change. Note new ruler measurements. To use full page preview: 1 Full page preview is the default view. It will be dimmed if the current view is already the full page preview. It is available for use only if you are in zoomed preview mode.
Zoomed Preview This command displays a magnified view of your image when you use the Zoom Preview tool. The zoomed preview is the view of a specific part of the image shown in higher resolution with more visible detail. If you have zoomed preview enabled, the view is stored in memory, and you can easily switch between full page preview and zoomed preview. The zoomed preview is different from the zoomed-in view obtained from the Magnifying Lens tool.
Resize Window to Fit This command adjusts the preview window to fit the preview area. In the example below, the preview window is larger than the preview area, as denoted by the empty space below the vertical ruler. In other instances, the preview window may also exceed the preview area if you manually enlarged the preview window (by dragging on the resize box). To utilize window space more efficiently, use this command to resize the preview window.
Show / Hide commands These commands allow you to switch between showing or hiding the Settings, Scan Job, and Information windows on your screen. The commands also have their tool-button counterparts in the form of three arrowheads on the right edge of the toolbar. To use this feature, do either of the following: • Choose the correct command from the View menu for viewing a window. When the window appears, you can hide it by choosing the particular Hide command for it.
The Preferences Menu The Preferences menu lets you: • Choose the correct scan material • Create effects like invert and mirror • Create cursor lines to help you with alignment • Control the size of your preview window • Keep the preview image even after exiting ScanWizard • Create a smoked glass background to help distinguish the current scan frame • Set other options, such as specify a working directory for files Scan Material This command allows you to select the correct scan material.
To use the scan material feature: Choose the Scan Material command in the Preferences menu. From the submenu that appears, select your scan material; a check will appear next to the selected option. The selected option will also be shown in the Scan Material Status icon (discussed below). Note If your Preview window is close to the right edge of your monitor, the Scan Material submenu may appear on the left side instead of on the right (as shown above).
The appearance of the Scan Material Status icon changes, depending on whether your scan material is reflective, positive, or negative. The positive and negative icons become active only if you're using a Transparent Media Adapter with your flatbed scanner, or if you're using a transparency / slide scanner such as the ScanMaker 45t or ScanMaker 35t. • If you're scanning a reflective (such as a photo or print), the Scan Material status icon appears in the form shown below.
Invert This command creates a negative of an image. The Invert effect is applied to the whole preview image; it cannot be used for only a specific portion of the image. When an image is inverted, the brightness value of each pixel is converted to the inverse value on the 256-step color values scale. For example, a pixel in a positive image with a value of 255 is changed to 0, and a pixel with a value of 5 is changed to 250.
Horizontal Mirror This command allows you to flip the image so that a mirror effect is created. The Mirror effect is applied to the whole preview image; it cannot be used for only a specific portion of the image. Original Horizontal Mirror To use this feature: Choose the Horizontal Mirror command in the Preferences menu. A check appears next to the command when it is enabled.
Cursor Auxiliary Lines This command allows you to create horizontal and vertical grid lines with your cursor to help define a scan frame precisely. Using the grid lines, you can also read the measurements off your ruler more easily. Cursor auxiliary lines on the x and y axis To use this feature: 1 Choose the Cursor Auxiliary Lines command in the Preferences menu. From the submenu that appears, select how the cursor lines will appear.
2 Click on the Scan Frame tool. To see how the cursor lines work, draw a scan frame. Click on the top left corner of the image as your starting point, then drag down to form a scan frame. As you draw the scan frame, cursor lines will appear to help you draw the scan frame precisely. When you release the mouse, your scan frame will be aligned with the cursor lines. Click on the Scan Frame tool, then define a starting point. Cursor lines appear to the top and left of the image.
Preview Setup This command allows you to set the dimensions of your preview area. When the Preview Setup dialog box (below) comes up, click on the option you need or specify your parameters. Options described below Option Description of function Live Preview This option applies only to color scanners. • If Live Preview is enabled, the next option, Color Preview, will be dimmed.
The Preview Area The Preview Area option in the Preview Setup dialog box lets you select the size of your preview area. Choose from the following options: letter, A4, legal, maximum size, or custom size. • Maximum refers to the maximum scan area that can be supported by your particular scanner model. • Custom will appear if you enter your own specifications in any of the edit boxes (Top, Left, Width, Height).
Keep Preview Image This command allows you to retain the last preview image you used; the preview image is kept in the preview window after you exit ScanWizard. The next time you start up ScanWizard, this last preview image is again displayed in the preview window. To use this feature: Choose the Keep Preview Image command in the Preferences menu. A check appears next to the command when it is enabled.
Smoked Glass Background This command helps you distinguish the current scan frame from the rest of the material for greater visibility of the current scan frame. With the Smoked Glass feature turned on, the part of the image within the current scan frame will stand out, while the rest of the image (the "irrelevant" material) is relegated to a background resembling smoked glass.
How Smoked Glass works with image enhancement When the Smoked Glass feature is enabled, it becomes linked with the functions of a scan frame and signficantly impacts the way image-enhancement controls and other settings (such as resolution) are seen. Details follow. • If you have smoked glass on, a scan frame defined, and set image-enhancement and other controls (such as changing brightness, applying a filter, or changing resolution), the enhancements are applied to the scan frame alone.
More This command allows you to specify a working directory where you can save all temporary and data files, including files for job templates. To use this feature: 1 Choose the More command in the Preferences menu. 5-26 2 When the More Preferences dialog box appears, press and hold down the Working Directory box. From the pop-up menu that appears, choose your working directory. 3 If you click on the folder icon, the Directory Browser dialog box appears for you to choose your working directory.
The Help Menu The Help menu lets you access online help for ScanWizard for Windows. The Help menu uses standard Windows conventions for obtaining online help. If you are not familiar with this procedure, refer to your Microsoft Windows user's guide. About This command gives you information on the ScanWizard for Windows scanning software. ScanWizard for Windows is also referred to in the About screen as the ScanWizard scanner controller.
The Tool Buttons Zoom Preview Scan Frame Magnifying Lens Pane Color Picker 5-28 Microtek User's Guide for Windows
Zoom Preview tool Usage To magnify the view of a preview image in high resolution, and to let you switch between full page preview and zoomed preview. The Zoom Preview tool gives you the zoomed preview, which is an enlarged, high-resolution view of an image with more visible detail. The zoomed preview is different from the zoomed-in view, which is not a high-resolution view and is obtained instead by using the magnifying lens tool.
Scan Frame tool Usage To create a scan frame or multiple scan frames in the preview image. The Scan Frame tool lets you create or modify a scan frame, which is the active area on which controls and commands can be applied. The Scan Frame tool can also be used to create multiple scan frames, but only one can be current at a time; the current scan frame is indicated by a marquee (marching ants).
To use the Scan Frame tool: 1 Click on the Scan Frame tool. 2 Move the pointer (now a crossbar) to the preview image, and draw a frame enclosing the area to be selected. When you release the mouse, the scan frame will be in a marquee. To make multiple scan frames (which would add scan jobs), hold down the Shift key and drag the mouse. For more information on scan jobs, refer to the Scan Job section of the Reference.
Magnifying Lens tool Usage To zoom in or enlarge your view of the preview image. The Magnifying Lens tool enlarges your view of the preview image, allowing you to set the scan frame with greater precision if you need to. Only your view of the preview image is changed; the actual size of the image remains unaffected. Each click of the Lens tool magnifies or reduces by a factor of 2. Thus, the magnification levels increase from 100% to 200%, to 400%, and to the maximum 800% (see Note below).
Pane tool Usage To scroll through an image and move parts of it into view. The Pane tool lets you scroll through a preview image, allowing you to move parts of the image into view. The Pane tool can used for zoomed-in images (enlarged through the Magnifying Lens tool), or images not included completely within the frame of the preview window (for instance, if your preview image is 8 inches wide and you resized the width of your preview window to only 5 inches).
Color Picker tool (Set Shadow and Highlight) Usage To sample color from an area and designate new shadow or highlight points. The Color Picker tool allows you to sample color from an area of an image, and to designate a new shadow or highlight point. With the Color Picker tool, you can determine the color values for any pixel in an image.
To change the sample size of the Color Picker: 1 Open the Information window by choosing the Show Info Window command in the View menu. 2 Click on the Sample Size button, located to the right of the RGB values in the Information window. 3 Choose your options. • Select Value or Percent to determine how the pixel information will be displayed. • Select the sample size. For instance, the 1 by 1 option will display the value of one pixel — the one in the middle of the Color Meter Display.
Action buttons The Preview button gives you a preliminary view of the image on your scanner. Previewing an image gives you greater flexibility, as it allows you to apply various controls to the preview image before actually scanning it in. With the preview image displayed, you can apply image enhancements or crop the image before performing the final scan. The Scan button lets you scan the image in your scanner and delivers it to your image-editing software.
Rulers The rulers on both sides of the preview window help you with operations that need precise measurement and alignment of your image. The unit of measurement in the rulers is determined by the unit of measurement you have selected. This can be done either in the Image Dimension controls, located in the Settings window, or by clicking on the ruler unit button at the 0,0 point of the rulers in the Preview window.
Preview Area The preview area is where the preview image appears. The size of the preview area varies, depending on your scanner model. The size can be changed, however, through the Preview Setup command in the Preferences menu. You can increase the size of the preview area to see more detail in your image, or you can reduce the preview area to save on memory. For details on how to change the size of the preview area, refer to the Preview Setup command in the Preferences menu section.
The Settings Window The Settings window contains the commands for outputting your scanned image and includes the image-enhancement tools of the program. Elements of the Settings window 8 1 2 3 4 5 7 6 1 The Type menu lets you select the mode in which your image will be scanned and processed. 2 The Resolution edit box lets you enter a resolution value in which your image will be output (not scanned).
Output Image Parameters The Output Image Parameters include the various controls that determine how your image is scanned and processed. The Output Image Parameters include: • Type • Resolution • Image Dimension controls Type (Image Type or Scan Mode) The Type menu determines what your resulting scan will be. It does not refer to the original image mode. For instance, if you have a color photo but choose 256 grayscale for the scan mode, the photo is scanned and processed as grayscale.
Halftone Patterns The various halftone patterns give you an array of effects for your image. For example, the 53-dot screen works well for most pictures and was designed for printing on a 300-dpi laser printer. The mixed- page pattern is good for displaying images on low-resolution output devices. Other options like horizontal and vertical line provide special effects that add flair to your printouts.
Resolution Resolution in the Settings window refers to the desired resolution for outputting the image to a device, such as a monitor or printer. It does not refer to the resolution in which the image is scanned. The maximum output resolution is dynamically calculated by the system as determined by the maximum scanner resolution and the scaling setting. Resolution is also related to scaling, or how large or small the image will be scanned relative to the original.
Unit Selection The unit of measurement for resolution is in dpi (dots per inch) or lpi (lines per inch). Lpi settings are dimmed if the ruler unit is in pixels. To select your option: • Choose dpi if you know precisely the resolution you need for your image. For more details on resolution, see the Basic Concepts chapter. • Choose lpi Draft to produce resolution that is one times the screen frequency. Draft quality may result in output images that look a little blurred or indistinct at edges.
Image Dimension controls These controls allow you to adjust the various factors that affect the image, including the width and height of your image when it is first scanned (input), the scaling factor, and the dimensions of the image when it is finally output. 3 1 2 4 5 1 This is a mathematical formula expressing the relation of the input dimensions to scaling and how these factors affect image dimensions when the image is scanned.
How to use the Input-Output dimensions The Input-Output dimensions consist of four edit boxes: input width, input height, output width, and output height. These edit boxes are linked to the use of the Aspect Lock, and the boxes may or may not be edited depending on whether the Aspect Lock is on or off. Below are the details.
How to use the Aspect Lock The Aspect Lock preserves the ratio of the image width and height from input to output. For instance, if your image is 2 inches wide by 4 inches high, changing it to 1 inch by 2 inches will maintain its aspect ratio. Changing it to, say, 1 inch by 4 inches, however, will alter its aspect ratio, so that the image will be narrower than the original. The notes below provide more details on how to use the Aspect Lock. The Aspect Lock is a toggle. Click on it to lock or unlock.
Scaling Scaling is the process of creating larger or smaller images in your scanning software so that you need not resize the images later when they are delivered to your image-editing program. To illustrate the use of scaling: Assume that your input dimensions are 4" x 5", then: • If scaling is at 100%, output dimensions will also be 4" x 5". • If scaling is at 50%, output dimensions will be halved — to 2" x 2.5" • If scaling is at 200%, output dimensions will be doubled — to 8" x 10".
Image Adjustment controls The Image Adjustment controls include the Auto button and the Color Correction button, located below the Image Dimension Controls. Auto (Automatic Contrast Control) The Auto button optimizes the contrast of scanned images by making adjustments to the Shadow/Midtone/Highlight values. The Auto button is dimmed if the image type selected in the Type box is line art or halftone.
To use the Auto control: 1 Click on the Preview button to preview the image. 2 Click on the Scan Frame tool, and draw a scan frame of the area where Auto will be applied. 3 Click on the Auto button in the Settings window. The option will be checked when it is enabled. If you do not like the results obtained by Auto, or if you choose not to use it for certain images that have Auto enabled, click on the Auto button again to deselect the feature. Important: Do not use the Auto setting with Color Correction.
Color Correction / DCR This tool applies a generic color correction profile to your images to give it accurate, lifelike color. However, if you have Microtek's DCR (Dynamic Color Rendition) system installed, the Color Correction button will override the generic color profile and apply DCR to the image. A generic color profile is provided with the scanning software to correct the minor color shifts that occur invariably with scanners.
Image Enhancement Tools Brightness, Contrast, and Exposure Tints Shadows and Highlights Curve Filters More Options Reference: The Settings Window 5-51
What the Image Enhancement Tools are The image-enhancement tools are an integral part of ScanWizard for Windows. With the imageenhancement tools, you can adjust the characteristics of your image such as brightness and contrast, or shadows and highlights, right from within the ScanWizard. If these tools were not available, image enhancement would have to be done instead in your image-editing software.
Using the Advanced Image Enhancer dialog box When you click on any of the image-enhancement tools in the Settings window, the Advanced Image Enhancer (AIE) dialog box appears. In this box, you can do the following: 1 This is where you select the scan job to which image enhancement will be applied. (Note: For definition of a scan job, see the Scan Job section of the Reference.
The Action Buttons in the AIE dialog box The Action buttons in the AIE dialog box (item #4 in preceding illustration) carry out a specific action. Below are the details. The OK button. Clicking on this button will apply whatever image enhancements you have performed on the current scan job, and close the AIE dialog box. Clicking OK is not the same as switching to another scan job (if you have multiple scan jobs).
Brightness Contrast and Exposure tool Usage To adjust the brightness,contrast and exposure setting of the entire image. The Brightness, Contrast and Exposure (BCE) tool changes the brightness, contrast, and exposure setting of the entire image. • Brightness is the balance of light and dark shades in an image, • Contrast is the range between the darkest and lightest shades in the image.
The BCE screen (for grayscale and color) 1 2 3 4 1 The Brightness control lets you change the brightness setting. • Too much brightness can make an image look washed out. • Very low brightness levels can make an image look very dark. 2 The Contrast control lets you change the contrast setting. • High contrast can make an image look like a photocopy of a picture with little or no gray shades. • Low contrast can make an image look dull and flat.
The BCE screen (for line art) Threshold In line art mode, the method for determining how gray levels are converted to black and white is through the Threshold adjustment control. The threshold is the dividing line between black and white, with the value 128 (the middle gray level) as the determining point. • Gray levels below the threshold are converted to black, resulting in a low-contrast, black-and-white representation of the image.
How to use the BCE tool 3 1 2 1 2 To change brightness or contrast, choose the Brightness or Contrast control. To change values, drag on the slide bar or click on the arrows on either side of the bar. To change exposure: • Click on the Channel box, and select the color channel to be modified. • Drag on the Exposure slide bar or click on the arrows on either side of the bar. 3 Click on an action button. • Click OK to accept changes and exit the AIE dialog box.
Tints tool The Tints tool adjusts the hue or saturation of colors. Usage To adjust the hue or saturation of an image. • Hue is the aspect of color that distinguishes one color from another (whether it is red, green, or blue). In the RGB color model, hue can be distinguished by its position in the color wheel. • Saturation refers to the intensity of a color (more red in an apple, more green in the grass).
The Tints screen 1 3 4 2 1 The Color Wheel shows you the position of colors — green is across magenta, and red is across cyan. By moving the pointer (a small dot in the center of the wheel) to another place in the color wheel, the hue of the image is altered. For instance, if you move the pointer towards the green area of the wheel, the image will acquire a greenish cast. 2 The Saturation bar lets you change the intensity of the hues (colors) in your image.
How to use the Tints tool 5 1 3 4 2 1 To change the hue of an image, move the pointer in the color wheel to its new color position in the wheel. 2 To change the saturation of an image, drag on the saturation bar. Dragging the slide bar to the left decreases saturation; dragging it to the right increases saturation. 3, 4 For negatives only: • To choose the correct film type for your negative, click on the Film Type Selection box and make your selection.
Shadows and Highlights tool Usage To adjust the shadow and highlight points of an image. The Shadows and Highlights tool lets you change the shadow and highlight points of an image. By using this tool, you can manipulate shades so that the Shadow point becomes the new darkest value and the Highlight point becomes the new lightest value. Shades that are darker than the shadow then become black, and shades lighter than the highlight become white.
The Shadows and Highlights screen 1 2 4 3 1 The Histogram is a graphic representation of how all the pixels in an image are distributed across brightness and darkness levels. The darkest pixels are at the left; the lightest pixels are at the right. • A histogram skewed heavily to the left indicates that the image has many more dark pixels than light. • Conversely, a histogram skewed heavily to the right will indicate a light image as it has more light pixels than dark.
The Shadows and Highlights screen (cont.) 6 7 8 5 5 Output edit boxes show the 0-to-255 pixel range to where the Input levels are mapped. For example, if you modified input values to 30 and 255 and then change output values to 0 to 250, the input values of 30 to 255 will be "stretched" to fit the output range of 0 to 250. This means you have a total of 250 shades (250-0=250).
How to read and correct a histogram A histogram shows how the brightness and darkness levels are distributed in an image. The darkest pixels are at the left, and the lightest pixels are at the right. An image with good contrast will have a histogram with vertical lines spread across the scale from left to right. Here, the histogram is heavily skewed to the left, where the darkest pixels are, indicating a dark image. To change the histogram (and thus the image), use the three triangles below the histogram.
How to use the Shadows and Highlights tool 4 3 1 2 1 Choose the channel in which the histogram will be modified. 3 • Select Master to modify the histogram in the red, green, and blue color channels simultaneously. • Select Original to see the histogram before changes were made to the image. • Select color channels individually (red, green, blue) to modify the histogram in that particular channel. • For grayscale scanners, only the gray channel is available.
Curve tool Usage To adjust the midtones, or mid-level grays, of an image. The Curve tool lets you control the gamma, which measures the intensity affecting the midlevel grays (midtones) of an image. Adjusting the gamma lets you change the values of the middle range of gray tones without dramatically altering the shadows and highlights. In many ways, the Curve tool gives you the most control for adjusting an image's values, but novice users may take some time to master its intricacies.
Sample images and their curves Here, the original curve is a straight diagonal, indicating that input and output values are equal. Here, points along the curve have been moved up, so that pixels are lightened as they are plotted to new points. The net effect creates a lighter image. Here, points along the curve have been moved down, so that pixels are darkened as they are plotted to new points. The net effect creates a darker image.
The Curve screen 2 3 4 1 5 1 The Curve is a graphic representation of the gamma,showing scanner input from dark on the left to light on the right. 2 The Method sets the kind of curve you wish to have. Select from Line, Curve, or Gamma. Line Curve Gamma 3 The Channel allows you to choose the color or gray channel in which the gamma will be affected. 4 Input / Output / Zoom: • Input shows the input value of wherever the cursor is pointing on the horizontal axis of the curve.
Using the Curve buttons The Curve buttons allow you to modify the curve in the Curve screen.The buttons are the Pointer, Zoom Frame, and Hand. • Pointer Use the Pointer button to define points in the curve that will be modified. When you click on any point in the curve, a control point appears to mark your position. To remove a control point, drag it off the graph. Original curve • Use the Zoom Frame button to zoom in on a particular point in the curve.
How to use the Curve tool 5 2 4 1 3 6 1 Choose the channel in which the curve will be modified. 5 • Select Master to modify gamma in the red, green, and blue color channels of the image simultaneously. • Click Cancel to abandon all changes and exit the AIE dialog box. • Click Reset to restore settings to original default values. • Select color channels individually (red, green, blue) to modify gamma in that particular color channel.
Filters tool Usage To create special effects for images. The Filters tool lets you apply or create special effects to your images. This tool is disabled when your image type is set to billions of colors, 1,000 shades of gray (grayscale), line art, and halftone. The filters include Blur, Blur More, Sharpen, Sharpen More, Edge Enhancement, Emboss, and Unsharp Masking. To use the filters: 1 Click on the Filters tool in the Settings window.
For color samples, see color pages Blur Filters The Blur filters eliminate noise in the parts of the image where significant color transitions occur. The Blur filters decrease the contrast between adjacent pixels, making the image appear hazy and out of focus. • Blur smooths out the transitions by lightening pixels next to the hard edges of defined lines and shaded areas. • Blur More produces an effect three or four times stronger than Blur.
Edge Enhancement filter The Edge Enhancement filter gives greater contrast to edges. The filters can do this because edges are usually areas in an image where gray or color levels change abruptly. Original Edge Enhancement Emboss filter The Emboss filter makes a selection appear raised or stamped by suppressing the color within the selection and then tracing its edges with black.
Unsharp Masking The Unsharp Masking filter adjusts the contrast of edge detail and creates the illusion of more image sharpness. This filter can be useful for refocusing an image that has become blurry from interpolation or scanning. To use Unsharp Masking: 1 Choose Unsharp Masking from the Filters menu. The Unsharp Mask dialog box appears. 2 Enter a value in the Amount box to specify the percentage of the filter's effect. The higher the percentage, the stronger the effect of the filter.
More Options tool Usage For additonal controls in adjusting your scanner and image. The More Options tool provides you with additional scanner and image controls. These controls include: • Use Linear Gamma Curve • Velocity • Scan Quality • Gray Scan CCD Filter • Descreen To use the controls in the More Options tool: Click on the More Options tool in the Settings window. When the More Options screen appears, select the particular control to be modified and its option, then click OK.
Velocity The Velocity command adjusts the speed with which the scanner moves during scanning. As the scanner processes the image and sends it to the computer, the scanner is also getting more information continuously from the moving scanner mechanism. If the computer cannot store the image data as fast as the scanner sends it, the scanner mechanism has to stop while the scanner waits for the computer to catch up.
Scan Quality This option allows you to select the quality of your scans. • Choose Draft if you're outputting images as drafts. This option speeds up the scanning process, but the image may be a little coarse (compared to the Final option). • Choose Final if you wish to have a scanned image of better quality. This option, however, is slower than Draft. Gray Scan CCD Filter This option allows you to select a particular color channel when scanning grayscale images and is useful for obtaining certain effects.
Descreen Descreen allows you to remove moiré patterns in images. A moiré is an undesirable pattern in printing that results from incorrect screen angles of overprinting halftones. Moirés usually result when you scan images taken directly from a magazine (instead of scanning a continuous glossy photographic original or a transparency). Before Descreen After Descreen For color samples, see color pages To use Descreen: 1 Click on the More Options tool in the Settings window.
The Window Expansion button The Window Expansion button lets you expand the Settings window to its full size, with the bottom half of the window revealing the image-enhancement controls. Image enhancement tools Settings window before expansion Image enhancement controls Click here to expand Settings window after expansion When the bottom half of the Settings window is open, you can use the image-enhancement functions directly by dragging on the slide bars for each control.
The Information Window The Information window provides information on the cursor and the preview image. It also allows you to change zoom levels directly, in much the same way like using the Magnifying Lens tool in the Preview window. The Information window is a "floating window" and does not appear when you start up the scanning software. To display the information window, click on the Show Info window command in the View menu (in the Preview window).
Using the Zoom Level Display The Zoom Level Display magnifies your view of an image, much like the Magnifying Lens tool in the Preview Window. The magnification factor in both Zoom Level Display and the Magnifying Lens tool is by a factor of 2. Thus, the magnification levels increase from 100% to 200%, to 400%, and to the maximum 800%. To use the Zoom Level Display: Click on the Zoom Level box. From the drop-down menu that appears, select your zoom or magnification level.
Using the Color Meter Display The Color Meter Display is useful if you wish to adjust the shadow and highlight points of an image. As you pass over a point in the image, the Color Meter Display will show the appropriate RGB values of that point in the image. The significance of the numbers is explained below. • The numbers in the Color Meter Display represent color information taken by the scanner.
Pixel-value information is useful especially if you are making color corrections based on color values. Knowing this, you can modify the shadow and highlight points of an image, then come back to the same point in the image, and verify through the Color Meter Display that the RGB values have indeed changed. The Color Meter Display can also be used in conjunction with the Color Picker tool. For more details, see the Color Picker topic in the Preview Window section of the Reference.
Using the Sample Size button The Sample Size button provides options for choosing how extensively the color information will be read — whether the color information will apply to a pixel, a 2-pixel by 2-pixel area, or a wider expanse (maximum 5-pixel by 5-pixel area).
Sample Size Options This determines the expanse of color information to be made available. For instance, if you choose 5 x 5 as your sample area, this means your RGB values will represent color information for a 5-pixel by 5-pixel area. If you choose 1 x 1, the color information pertains to a single pixel — the one in the middle of the Pixel Display. The 1 x 1 sample size means the RGB numbers represent the color value of a single pixel — the one in the middle of the Pixel Display.
The Scan Job Window The Scan Job window is an important feature of the scanning software and provides several key functions in processing your scans. A scan job is simply a task that you designate the scanner to process and scan. For instance, when you first preview an image, the image as a whole has its own parameters (its own brightness and contrast setting, resolution, etc.).
How to read the Scan Job window 1 2 1 The example above shows three scan jobs. • The first scan job, entitled Default Scan #1, is a color image. • The second scan job, entitled Default Scan #2 is a grayscale image. • The third scan job, entitled Default Scan #2-1, is a duplicate that shares the settings of the second scan job (it's also a grayscale image). The current scan job is the third scan job (Default Scan #2-1), as it is highlighted.
The New button The New button lets you create a new scan job; the new scan job will have default settings. This feature allows you to create as many scan jobs as you wish, and each scan job can then have its own settings. The notes below will illustrate this more clearly.
3 Click on the New button in the Scan Job window. When a dialog box comes up, give a title to the new scan job, then click OK. In this example, we will call the new scan job Default Scan#2. The Scan Job window will now have two titles. At the same time, a new scan frame appears in the preview window. New scan frame appears with the addition of a new scan job. Two titles now appear in the Scan Job window. 4 Draw the second scan frame around the right half of the image.
5 With the title bar in the Scan Job window highlighting the second scan job, go to the Settings window, then choose 256 shades of gray in the Type box. Next, go to the Preferences menu in the Preview window and enable the Smoked Glass Background command. You will now see the following: • The second scan job (the upper right half of your image) is in grayscale. • The first scan job (the left half of the image) remains in color.
6 To see how the scan jobs relate to the titles in the Scan Job window, try this. • Click on the first scan job title. The scan job that becomes active will be the left half of the image (in color). In the Scan Job window, the title will be highlighted, indicating that it is the current scan job. • Click on the second title, and the second scan job is activated (upper right-hand part of image, in grayscale). The second title will now be highlighted because it will be the current scan job.
More Applications The above example shows how to use the New button to create different scan jobs. While the example makes use of creating two scan jobs from a single image, with each scan job being a different image type, you can use the same principle in different applications. For instance, you can: • Create two or more scan jobs from a single image. The scan jobs may be the same image type (all color or all grayscale), but each job could have different brightness and contrast settings, resolution, etc.
The Duplicate button The Duplicate button lets you duplicate the settings of a scan job. This function is especially helpful if you have created optimal settings for a scan job and wish to use these settings as a template for other scan jobs. This saves time, as you don't have to create the settings repeatedly for every scan job you make. Before using Duplicate, it is helpful to turn on the Smoked Glass Background feature. This will allow you to see clearly the effects of duplication.
3 To see the effects of duplication clearly in the steps that follow, do this as an experiment. Set the image type of the current scan job to 256 Grayscale. You will see the current scan job as a grayscale job, while the rest of the image behind the smoked glass background remains in color. 4 Click on the Dup button. Draw another scan frame around a different part of the image; this is your duplicate scan job.
The Save button The Save button lets you save the settings in a scan job to a scan job template that can be used for future scan jobs. To use the Save button: 1 Click on the Save button. 2 When a dialog box appears, give a name to the scan job template to be saved, then click OK. The Add button The Add button lets you add a scan job from a scan job template saved previously. To use the Add button: 1 Click on the Add button.
The Delete button The Delete button lets you delete a scan job from the list. To use the Delete button: 1 In the Title area of the Scan Job window, select the scan job to be deleted. 2 Click on the Del button. The scan job is deleted. The Up/Down Position Arrows The Up/Down position arrows allow you to change the sequence in which jobs are scanned through changing the order of the scan jobs in the Title area.
Appendix This section contains important information on product and support policies, troubleshooting, and other scanner-related features.
Appendix A Product and Technical Support In the United States, Microtek is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The AutoTech, fax, and bulletin board lines are open 24 hours a day. Main Office Fax 310-297-5000 310-297-5050 Sales and Product Information Bulletin Board Service (BBS) 800-654-4160 310-297-5102 Technical Support AutoTech* 310-297-5100 e-mail: support@microtek.com 310-297-5101 Internet: Tech Support Web Pages http://www.microtekusa.com http://www.
Appendix B Troubleshooting This section covers some of the more common hardware- and softwarerelated problems you may encounter and the solutions for them. If you have a problem not described in this section, try looking up the Readme file or Click Me file in your scanning software diskette, which contains up-to-the-minute information on the latest changes. 1 If the POWER indicator fails to light up. Solution: Turn off the scanner. Make sure the scanner’s power is grounded and plugged into an AC outlet.
Appendix B: Troubleshooting... 3 The scanner's READY light does not come on; you have a Transparent Media Adapter attached. Solution: Disconnect the Transparent Media Adapter (TMA) and see if the scanner comes ready this time. If not, see the solution outlined in situation #2.If the scanner comes ready on its own but doesn't come ready if attached to the TMA, you may have a problem with the gray template that comes with the TMA, or you may have a problem with the external power supply.
5 When you scan an 8-1/2-inch wide image, the left or right side of the image is cut off. Solution: This may happen if you are using a ScanMaker III scanner, which has a maximum scanning width of 8.3 inches. Therefore, a small margin on each side which will be cut off when you scan. 6 While scanning images, the scanner carriage (lamp) keeps going back and forth or idles, resulting in very long scan times. Solution: This is called backtracking.
Appendix B: Troubleshooting... 9 Color images are washed out with little detail in the light or highlight areas. Solution: Sometimes on certain images that are light, enabling the Color Correction option or the Auto button (both in the Settings window) might make the images very light and thus cause certain areas to wash out. To resolve this, you may want to turn off these options.
13 When you select Acquire, the Microtek scanner software reports that no scanner is connected, or the Scan and Preview buttons are grayed out. Solution: This problem usually happens when the software cannot see the scanner. This situation could be resolved by any of the following: • Make sure the scanner has a solid green light on and that the lamp inside is continuously and solidly on (no flickering). If not, see troubleshooting for situation #2.
Appendix B: Troubleshooting... 15 Problems with the Transparent Media Adapter (TMA). Solution: If you have a ScanMaker III scanner, make sure the TMA cable is connected on the back of the ScanMaker III scanner and that the screws are very tight. Otherwise, it is possible that the TMA may not work. 16 The Color Correction button is grayed out and you cannot select it. Solution: This button turns gray when the DCR or Dynamic Color Rendition files are missing from the Windows/Twain/Microtek/DCR directory.
Appendix C Glossary Cross-referenced entries are indicated in bold type. Bit The smallest unit of memory in the computer. A bit can be either off or on, representing a value of 0 or 1. Greater bit-depth translates to more complexity in image information. Some examples: Single-bit Single-bit images use just one bit of data to record each pixel — either black or white. 8-bit grayscale Images that contain 256 (28=256) possible shades of gray needed to represent most black-and-white photos accurately.
Appendix C: Glossary... Color calibration The process of ensuring accurate reproduction of color for images. Full color calibration is usually a two-step process: calibrating your input device, such as a scanner; and calibrating your output device, such as a printer or monitor. By calibrating input and output devices correctly, color is accurately captured by your scanner and is reproduced faithfully on your monitor or printer as well.
Dynamic range The ability of a scanner to register a wide range of tonal values — something from near white to near black. A scanner with good dynamic range is able to map input shades correctly to output shades, making images look brighter and with more visible detail. Generally, the number of bits determines the maximum dynamic range of a scanner. For example, a 36-bit scanner has a higher dynamic range than a 24-bit scanner. Exposure The amount of light in an image.
Appendix C: Glossary... Histogram A graphic representation of how brightness and darkness pixels are distributed in an image. A histogram skewed heavily to the left indicates a dark image, while a histogram skewed to the right indicates a light image. Hue The aspect of color that distinguishes it from another color (what makes a color red or green or blue). Hue is distinct from saturation, which measures the intensity of the hue (more red, more green).
Lpi (lines per inch) The resolution of printed images. Lpi is distinct from dpi, which measures the resolution of electronic images. Midtones The parts of an image between the lighter and darker areas, at around 50% gray. Moiré An undesirable pattern in color printing that results from incorrect screen angles of overprinting halftones. Moirés usually result when you scan a halftone or when you scan images taken directly from a magazine (instead of scanning a photographic original or a transparency).
Appendix C: Glossary... RGB The color model in which every color is composed of a varying amount of the three colors of red, green, and blue. Saturation The intensity of a color, or the amount of color in a specific hue. For instance, the image of a bright red apple will appear to be "more red" if the colors are saturated. Scaling The process of creating larger or smaller images in ScanWizard, so that the images don't have to be resized later when they are delivered to the imageediting program.
Shadows The darkest areas of an image. Single-bit image Single-bit images are the simplest kind of image, using just one bit of data to record each pixel. Single-bit images come in two types: line art, and halftone. Text scanning One of the most common uses for scanners, as it eliminates the need for retyping. Scanners scan text through the use of OCR software and deliver text to your word processor.
Specifications for Flatbed Scanners (PC) Media: Reflective color or black-and-white originals Image Sensor: • ScanMaker V600, V310, and V300: Linear array CCD with cold cathode lamp. • ScanMaker E3 Plus: Linear array CCD with daylight fluorescent lamp. Scanning Modes: • ScanMaker V600, E3 Plus, and V310: Single scanning pass; 30-bit color internal process (24bit color external process); 10-bit grayscale internal process (8-bit grayscale external process); 1-bit black and white; 12 built-in halftones.
ScanMaker 35t Plus Specifications (PC) Media: Color and black-and-white slides and negatives Scanning Speed (35 mm/line): 2.8 milliseconds to 64 milliseconds per line (depending on the scanner settings) Image Sensor: Linear array CCD with daylight fluorescent lamp. Scanning times vary greatly, depending on image dimensions, resolution, memory capacity, disk access speed, and display time.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Statement This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
