Scanner

About This Book

Each chapter in this book has been written as a reference on a specific topic relating to your scanner. Note that you can begin anywhere because each chap­ter is self-contained. Unless you’ve already had some experience with installing and using a scanner, however, I think that you’ll benefit the most from reading from front to back. The book also includes a glossary of computer and scanner terms and an appendix with information about manufacturers of scanning hardware and software.
How This Book Is Organized

After careful thought (read that “flipping a coin”), I’ve divided this book into six major parts. If additional coverage of an important topic appears elsewhere, it’s cross-referenced for your convenience.


Part I: The Scam on Scanners

In Part I, I introduce you to what a scanner does and how it’s constructed, discuss the various types of scanners on the market, and establish important concepts, such as color depth and resolution. For those shopping for a scan­ner, I discuss features, show you how to evaluate your scanning needs, and help you decide whether to buy your new toy online or from a local store.

Part II: Surviving the Installation

You will survive your scanner installation unscathed! The chapters in Part II cover the installation of different types of scanners: USB, FireWire, parallel port, and SCSI models. I also provide guidelines for installing your software and testing your new scanner as well as a number of side issues you should consider, such as the addition of a printer, a CD-RW or DVD-RW/+RW drive, and a hard drive to your system.

Part III: Bread-and-Butter Scanning

You can’t build without a solid foundation, and the chapters in Part III pro­vide a thorough tutorial in basic scanning techniques. I cover the scanning process, of course, and include tips on scanning different types of materials, procedures for configuring your scanning software, and an introduction to my favorite Windows image editor, Paint Shop Pro.

Part IV: The Lazy Expert’s Guide to Advanced Scanning

That’s me, all right! In Part IV, you discover the advanced stuff you’ll be crav­ing if you read the first three parts first: image formats, Internet and Web tips and tricks, advanced image editing, scanner maintenance and troubleshoot­ing, and even a chapter devoted to projects such as creating a custom T-shirt, creating a slide show CD-ROM of your images, using an OCR program, and sending a fax using a scanned image.

Part V: The Part of Tens

The four chapters that make up the famous “Part of Tens” section are a quick reference of tips and advice on several topics relating to your scanner. Each list has ten tips. I especially recommend Chapter 17, where I introduce you to my top ten favorite special effects. In fact, skim that chapter first so that you get an idea of the magic you can perform on your scanned photographs! A little inspiration never hurts when you’re just getting started!

Part VI: Appendixes

The appendixes feature a scanner hardware and software manufacturer list, a glossary of computer terms and (mostly unnecessary) acronyms, and a description of the programs on the companion CD-ROM.
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