Scanners - Not the SciFi Thriller

The main tools used for scanning a photo are the computer and the scanner. You need a computer in order to have a connecion point for the scanner. It is important if you want to see the preview of the scan, set the proper adjustments, and have a place for the scanned file to land.



The scanner is not too intimidating a device. Once you connect it to your computer and install the software that arrives with it, you are just about ready to go. Hit the power switch and open the top of the scanner. The diagram above reflects the main parts of flatbed scanners. #1 is the document cover; in our case it is the photo cover. Make sure it is in place when you copy photos. You will remove it if you are scanning negatives or transparencies (slides or positives). You can figure this out on your own. I'm going to focus on scanning photos. #2 is the scanner bed. This is where you will place the photos - face down. #3 is where the scanning actually happens. It is the scanning sensor. It is under the scanner's glass/plastic bed. It is much like the sensor found in many digital cameras. Usually, it is a CCD type sensor. This sensor moves under the bed capturing the pixel information.

I added this photo of my middle brother because it looks scholarly.

Here are a couple of things that I would like to mention before we start scanning. First, a scan will not improve the sharpness or focus of the photo that you are scanning. There are sharpening features on most scanners, but these actually increase contrast. Often, this is an improvement, but you can't make an out-of-focus photo in-focus. Second, you will likely need to use the manual rather than the auto scan controls on the scanner.

Scanner selection has some importance which will vary with your need to enlarge image beyond their original size. The most economical scanners (cheapies) have an optical or hardware resolution of 600 ppi to 1200 ppi. IMPORTANT NOTE: Scanner companies report resolution as dpi, dots per inch. This is actually incorrect, but it has become an industry standard term. For our purposes, if the scanner specs indicate dpi, consider them the same as ppi. If you wish to know my opinion of how this all came about, add a comment.
Scanner specs may list another resolution, like 'effective resolution', this means there is interpolation going on in the scanner program. Personally, I don't like this automatic interpolation. If I must do interpolation, I'll do it in a photo editing program like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. The scanner that I use (Epson 4870) has a hardware or optical resolution of 4800 ppi; for my purposes, this works well for me. This type of scanner is in the $100 to $150 price range.


I'll use some screen captures to walk through my scanning process. This may be a little bit of an eye test depending on the size of your monitor. I added some additional screen shots since the originals are so, so small. Clicking on the images doesn't always show them in a larger format. (added to post at 9:32 AM CST)

Start by turning on the scanner and opening the scanner software. Place the photo that you wish to copy on the scanner bed, face down in the upper left hand corner. If the photo on the scanner bed is not visible when the software opens, select #6 to generate the preview. Look for something like #1; if your software has multiple modes/options, select the one with all the manual options. In this instance it is the Professional mode (not the Auto or Home modes). #2, this is a reflective, photo, document - choose those settings. I'm skipping to #5; use your mouse cursor to outline the area of the image to be scanned. I normally attempt to minimize the white or dark borders, but you might like the "soiled edges" of the original. #3, select the bit depth and resolution. For most people that are digitizing family images 24 bit for color and 8 bit for grayscale (black & white) will work fine. If you are going to print the images, select 300 ppi/dpi unless you have your heart set on something else. Make sure your alternate setting is between 240 and 360 ppi/dpi. #4, if you know the maximum size you might print the image, enter it here; normally, the aspect ratio will be automatically maintained.

Re-check the output sizes and resolution, #7. In #8, I often add a low amount of Unsharp Mask. The name is confusing as it is a carry over from the offset printing industry. It doesn't actually sharpen, but it gives a slight illusion of sharpness by increasing contrast at the edges throughout the photo. If you are working with a slightly discolored, color photograph, You may wish to try #9. This control attempts to fix color shifts:normally you see the adjustment in the preview. Use it or not; you be the judge. Click on #10 to generate the scan.

You will likely be confronted with one more dialog box. This time the software is asking where to put the scan, and what to name it. #11 allows the selection of the folder to place the scan. #12 is the place to name the file and add a sequence number if you are planning to use the same file name multiple times (like, John_1, John_2, John_3, etc). #14 may offer other options depending on the software. Click OK and the scan will be placed and named as you determined.

Here is the scan from my example. Perhaps, I'll send this to my youngest brother as a Christmas card next year. Let's talk about archiving tomorrow!