What is it a scanner? An optical input device that uses light- sensing equipment to capture an image on paper or some other subject. The image is translated into a digital signal that can be manipulated by optical character recognition software or graphic software.

Evolution of Scanning Scanning was first proposed in 1850 as a method of transmitting photographs over telegraph lines. In 1863, a Catholic priest named Caselli achieved the first facsimile transmission. The first fax was sent 13 years before the invention of the telephone.

The first devices closely related to modern scanners were developed in 1937 to produce color separations for graphic applications. Desktop scanners arrived on the scene at about the same time as desktop computers.

Desktop scanning did not take off until late 1980s. Now you can purchase a color scanner for a few hundred dollars that outperforms many of the best desktop units of half a decade ago. Scanners are everywhere.

Types of scanners Drum scanners (high-price, high- resolution) Sheetfed scanners (low cost, great option for processing documents and sending faxes) Slide scanners ( 35mm slides) Video and true digital cameras Flatbed scanners (the most popular)

Flatbed scanners Size ( 8.5”x11”, 11”x17”) Resolution ( 300 spi, 400spi or 600spi) True optical resolution VS. interpolated resolution. Software bundles: Although scanners are provided with their own controller software, most can also be driven from other software packages that provide TWAIN features. Color depth ( 30 or 36-bit scanners, producing billions of colors)

Optical resolution: 1200 x 2400 spi 1200=number of sampling points scanned from left to right 2400= number of sampling points per inch from the top to the bottom of the page (given resolution) Interpolated resolution=the software resolution Manufacturer’s resolution specs

Hardware requirements 64 MB RAM 1024x768 monitor 10 GB hard drive Removable storage Pentium II, III, IV Mac G3 A graphics card capable of displaying millions of colors

What you can scan. Non-transparent work that you can fit and you can not fit on the glass platen. Three-dimensional objects that you can fit on the glass platen. Transparency originals (with a help of slide scanner or attachments for a flatbed scanner).

Pixels and Color Depth Pixel= a picture element Pixels, samples and dots 300 ppi and 1200 dpi 1 bit=2 shades, 2 bits=4 shades, 8 bits=256 shades, 32 bits=billions of shades

Getting Started Calibrate your monitor Adjust light sources in the room Clean the glass platen Position images Tape them if necessary Close the scanner lid ( over it with fabric or press on it).

Resolution and file formats 300 ppi PSD, TIFF (for print) lpi x 2 = ppi ppi PDF (for texts) 72 ppi JPG or GIF (for and the web)

Cataloging Use built-in cataloging help. (Format, file size, date, name, description or copyright information) Keep original scans in a special file Last name_first name_location Use acid-free paper for hard copies

Be creative Scan textures, use them as backgrounds Crop images Create frames Add text Collage images Color grayscale images

Additional Information Perfection 2450 Photo Scanner 2400 x 4800

Books The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Digital Photography by Steven Greenberg, 1999 Hewlett-Packard Official Scanner Book by David Bush, Susan Krzywicki, Laurel Burden, 1999 New books: How to Do Everything With Your Scanner (How to Do Everything Series) by Jill Gilbert The Scanning Workshop by Richard Romano Digital Photography by Steven Greenberg