Quick Tips For Best Scans - Microtek ScanMaker IIG User Manual

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. A 36-bit
scanner will produce superior color and grayscale results to scans
made by a 24-bit scanner. For example, setting a 36-bit scanner to
the scan mode Millions of colors will produce a far better 24-bit
image than if a 24-bit scanner used the same Millions of colors
setting.
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. 16MB of RAM is adequate, but more RAM will
speed up your processing.
• 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 Color) card that is set to
"millions of colors" or "16.7 million colors."
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 package 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 moiré, which is an
undesirable pattern in color printing. Even though the ScanWizard
software has a feature for removing moirés, it's better to start out
with a clear original in the first place. (For more information on
moirés and to see what they look like, see the color pages and the
section on Descreen in the Reference.)
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