Fully updated to cover new hardware and technologyHere s how to choose a scanner, set it up, and start capturing images
Flatbed or sheet-fed? USB or FireWire? And what the heck is a dpi, anyway? This handy guide tells you all that and more -- everything you need to know to get the most use, and fun, out of your scanner. Choose the right image editing software, share photos online, even get the scoop on tricks the experts use.
All this on the bonus CD-ROM
- Evaluation versions of Paint Shop Pro® and Photo Album
- Adobe® Photoshop® Elements and Acrobat® Professional tryout versions
- Mac® GraphicConverter and VueScan trial versions
- SnapCopier™ and Ulead PhotoImpact® XL trial versions
Discover how to:
- Buy the right scanner for your needs
- Choose your software
- Fine-tune your scans
- Select and install extra equipment
- Edit images like a pro
- Keep your scanner happy and healthy
Digital cameras have encroached upon the territory of scanners a little bit, but scanners remain eminently useful for digitizing the family photo album, archiving documents, and sending kids' artwork to distant family members. They're also absolutely essential for serious design work. Scanners for Dummies shows you how to get the most from your scanner by guiding you through everything from basic hookup and software installation to moderately advanced graphics-editing techniques. The author, Mark Chambers, patiently explains terminology and concepts that have to do with translating a physically recorded image (such as a photograph) into a digital file (such as a JPEG or GIF image).
Most readers will be able to get a lot from this book by simply reading chapters straight through, since the explanations of traditionally nebulous concepts such as resolution and color depth are accurate and easy to follow. Even the quality of the illustrations--often a shortcoming of trade computer books--is high, which is important in sections that show how to adjust contrast, sharpness, and resolution. Chambers deserves kudos for doing many of his tutorials in Jasc Paint Shop Pro, an excellent yet inexpensive editing package. Some readers might prefer coverage of one of the freebie editing suites; they should look for a software-specific book to supplement this one. --David Wall
Topics covered: Digitizing images via a scanner connected to a computer running Microsoft Windows. Hardware connectivity (via parallel, SCSI, USB, and FireWire) is covered before the author explains the scanning procedure and how to manipulate images in an editing program. Suggestions for craft projects and some troubleshooting tips round out the volume.
