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November 7, 2009 |
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Created and Maintained by: The Photoimaging Information Council |
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Articles |
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Although digital imaging is becoming increasingly popular, most folks are still using conventional cameras. Even those who have traded film for memory cards, still have hundreds of prints, slides and negatives. Are many of your own pictures stashed away in the back of a drawer, in little yellow boxes, or in old photo albums that you rarely view? If so, why not give them new life by making them into digital images?
 Photo Scanner Basics Resembling a photocopier used for documents, a print scanner has a lid that opens to reveal a glass plate and a fluorescent light source. Place a picture on the plate, press a button or start up the software in your computer. Within a minute or two, a CCD line sensor reads the image, turning it into a digital file that will appear on your computer monitor. Before making the scan, you can decide whether you want a very large image file with high resolution for making prints, or a small file with resolution that’s just right for e-mail and other Internet use. Photo sharing web sites
After giving this file a name, save it and later open it in the imaging software that came with the scanner. Now, you can "edit" the picture: crop it, adjust color and brightness, add special effects, if desired … and so on. Once you’re happy with the final result, attach it to an e-mail and send it to friends and family. Or, upload it to a photo gallery on a web site and tell your friends where they can view it. If you own one of the affordable photo printers, you can also use the "edited" digital file to make a print, greeting card or postcard.
 Peter K. Burien Photo Scanner Features You’ll find two types of scanners: the flatbed for scanning prints and the film scanner for slides and negatives. Film scanners tend to be expensive, making the flatbed scanners the most popular by far for home use. Most flatbed models are intended strictly for prints. Their 600 to 800 dots per inch optical resolution is fine for scanning a print but not for scanning tiny 35mm or APS format negatives and slides. Such models also cannot focus properly on a small piece of film.
Recently, several manufacturers have released flatbed scanners with a film adapter. These also offer higher optical resolution (1200 or more dots per inch) plus focusing that can handle slides and negatives too. However, they are certainly more expensive. In a basic flatbed scanner for your prints -- or other flat artwork up to 8.5x11" in size -- consider the following features and hints when selecting an affordable ($100 to $200) scanner. In the next article, "How to Choose the Right Scanner", we’ll offer a lot of additional specifics and more insights into the technical aspects. Optical resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi) or higher. The higher the dpi, the larger the prints you’ll be able to make. For now, ignore the "Hardware Resolution" figures such as 600x1200 dpi. A dynamic range of at least 3.0 . The higher the number, the better the scanner will do in reproducing detail in the very bright and very dark areas of a print. Color depth of at least 36 bits. This information is sometimes given in smaller numbers such as 12 for red, green and blue, totaling 36. Scanners with 42 bit color depth produce an even truer rendition of colors. USB connectivity to a computer -- if your computer has a USB port. Most recent Mac and Windows based systems do, but do check your own computer. If it does not, then you’ll need a scanner that accepts a conventional serial cable; these not nearly as common today. USB connectivity allows for faster transfer of data from the scanner to the computer. The USB cable may be an optional accessory, but these are not expensive. The software bundled with the scanner should include scan software and some image-editing program such as Adobe PhotoDeluxe.  Note: Before buying a scanner, check the Specs on the manufacturer’s web site re: System Requirements. This will provide information as to the type of processor your computer should have: "Pentium equivalent or higher processor" or "Macintosh computer with System 8.5 or later" for example. Naturally, you’ll want to confirm compatibility with Mac or Windows based systems.
 Hint: Most scanners’ Specs suggest that your computer needs at least 32MB RAM but a minimum of 64MB RAM is usually recommended. You may want to upgrade your computer with additional RAM, preferably to 128MB. If it does not have a USB port for connecting a USB cable, consider adding one; most computer retailers offer such upgrade services.
 Restore and preserve your pricless memories This old snapshot of my daughters at a younger age was buried in a drawer and had become faded and dog-eared over the years. By scanning the 4x6 print and restoring it up with photo editing software, we can enjoy it again, reliving memories of the girls when they were much younger.
 PHOTO: Peter K. Burien From the shoebox to you PC If you have prints, negatives and slides that are stashed away, consider buying a scanner to make them into digital files. Almost as simple to operate as a document photocopier, a scanner allows you to digitize old photo albums like this or to make digital images from more recent pictures.
 PHOTO: Peter K. Burien What is the right scanner for you? Some new flatbed models offer high scanning resolution (such as 1200x2400dpi with this CanoScan D1230U) and accept an accessory slide/negative adapter unit. While serious photographers need a dedicated film scanner that produces pro caliber image files, the flatbeds with film adapter are ideal for most home use.
 CanoScan D1230U Options, options, options! Photo scanners vary in size, price and features, but even the affordable models will scan prints as large as 8.5x11" to make either small or large digital files. The file size and resolution depends on the end use of the picture: small/low for e-mail or Web use and large/high if you plan to make prints from your "edited" digital image files.
 PHOTO: Peter K. Burien Scanners aren't just for photos! My daughters have found many uses for our flatbed scanner, besides simply digitizing photographic prints. They regularly scan everything from old artwork and scrapbooks such as this, to technical diagrams for homework assignments, and postcards from friends. If you plan to scan something thicker than ¼", ask a photo retailer to recommend a scanner that will handle such items When it comes to software, keep it simple. Although scanner software varies significantly from brand to brand, they are generally very straightforward with well-marked controls. You need not be a computer programmer to start scanning and enhancing images within 30 minutes of installing your new scanner.
 PHOTO: Peter K. Burien Show and tell, it's the best part! After a vacation trip, a scanner allows you to digitize your best pictures and share them with distant friends and family. Attach a JPG file to an E-mail message or upload the images to an album on a photo sharing web site
 PHOTO: Peter K. Burien Use image editing software basics will to enhance the end result. Nearly every scanner comes with a highly versatile image editing and enhancing software. However, some allow you to make basic corrections – cropping, color, brightness and contrast adjustment – with the scanner software, saving an extra step later. (Image cropped and corrected in Epson Twain software.) PHOTO: Peter K. Burien Conclusion Even if you already own a digital camera – or plan to buy one – it makes a lot of sense to own a scanner as well. In addition to digitizing photographs, your family will find lots of other uses for the new equipment. Because a flatbed model can scan anything that’s flat, use your imagination: scan a gorgeous autumn leaf, pages from a scrapbook or other crafts, pictures or diagrams that your children need to illustrate a school essay, and so on. 
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