Introduction
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. A 36-bit scanner will produce superior colour and grayscale results to scans made by a 24-bit scanner. In addition, 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.
�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 Colour) card that is set to "millions of colours" or "16.7 million colours".
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 application 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 moir� (mwa-ray'), an undesirable pattern in colour printing. Even though your ScanWizard scanning software has a feature for removing moires, it's better to start out with a clear original in the first place.
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 lint-free cloth and clean the glass carefully.
Select the right image types and settings
If you have single-colour line art (even if it isn't black and white), scan it as line art.
For black and white photos, scan these as grayscale (not colour) to generate smaller files.
If you plan to print a colour scan in black and white, scan it in grayscale.
Finally, when scanning (whether in colour or another mode), choose the correct resolution. For most laser-printed photographs, 75 to 100 dpi is enough. For more details, refer to the section on resolution for determing the best resolution setting for your scanning needs.
Use your tools
Use the Colour Correction feature in the ScanWizard scanning software when scanning colour images to obtain more accurate colours. Certain scanner models come with a target and the Microtek DCR colour calibration system, which you can use to calibrate your scanner and create colour-correction profiles. For scanner models that do not come with a target of DCR, a generic colour profile is still included to ensure accurate colours when scanning. DCR, however, is recommended if you wish to maintain the integrity of your colour-scanning process over time.
In addition, experiment with the other image-enhancement tools in ScanWizard. Use brightness and contrast, for instance, to adjust the look of the image as a whole, or use either the shadows and highlights tool or the curve tool to work on specific areas of an image (such as lightening up an excessively dark area).
Microtek Europe B.V. phone: +31/(0)10/2425688 fax: +31/(0)10/2425699