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It's REAL EASY
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First you need a scanner, and it's
associated software, to make it work.
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Then you need to figure out how to use
it to get a good picture.
Unfortunately, there is usually
a little more to it then this.
The following steps show the main steps
for using a Twain scanner interface - a very common one. Most scanners will have
the same or similar options.
Step 1
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Usually under [FILE] on your graphic
or picture software's menu bar is [Acquire] or [Scan]. It may be under a
different menu item, or you may have a specific scanner icon. Find
it, then select
this option. You should get a small dialog bog something like
this.
Step 2
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Click on [Panel] to open the
scanner's "Control Panel" (below)
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Select the Scan Mode from the
dropdown list - color (RGB), B/W, Grayscale
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Select the Resolution - DPI -
Dots Per Inch (see below)
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Select the Scale (size of the result
- 25%, 50%, 150%, etc.)
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Select Contrast and Brightness
(typically leave at 50%)
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You do not have to close the control
panel to continue
| Remember that if you
scan a 3" x 5" picture at a resolution of 200 dpi that's
equal to a 600x1000 SCREEN display of the picture (most displays have
a FULL SCREEN of typically 800 x 600, or 640 x 480
- in other words, the picture won't fit.
For pictures to be DISPLAYED on the
WEB try scanning at a resolution 200 dpi but at a SCALE of 50%, or use
a resolution of 100 - you get good internet quality, smaller file
size, and about the size of the original.
If you intend to PRINT the picture,
typically the higher the resolution the better (most printers are AT
LEAST 300 dpi. |
Step 3
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PRE-SCAN the image. This is a
single "fast" scanner pass, to locate the picture on the scanner bed,
and only shows the image in the scanner dialog box window
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Note the dotted lines (right and
bottom have been pulled in from the edge so they are easier to see)
They are used to set the ACTUAL area to be scanned - a FULL BED scan for a
3" x 5" picture results in a LARGE image (the size of the
scanner bed!) and a wide white background area around
the picture. You want the dotted box around just the area you
want to scan.
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Adjust the scan area box in by placing your
cursor over the dotted line - it becomes a double headed arrow (to drag left or
right up or down) or a 4 headed arrow to "move" a smaller "box"
around inside the window).
Step 4
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Click SCAN. You will scan JUST
THE AREA in the dotted scan area box
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When scan is complete, the picture
will be displayed - crop, adjust size or color as needed and SAVE
Brandon
| Save the picture as a jpg file
format if it is in (many) colors or in gif format if text or a few
solid colors. Try both to see the difference in
quality and file size.
Save the file with a name of your
choice (name.jpg or name.gif)
in a folder of your choice.
Remember WHERE you saved it
(c:\my_pictures\me.jpg)!!!!
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Step 5 (optional but "nice" to
do before e-mailing)
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