xv PART I The Basics of Scanning CHAPTER 1 What You Can Do with Your Scanner.. 42 Types of Scanner Software.. CHAPTER 3 Selecting the Right Scanner.. 45A Basic Shopping List of Scanner F
Trang 1Acknowledgments xiv
Introduction xv
PART I The Basics of Scanning CHAPTER 1 What You Can Do with Your Scanner 3
Scanners Transform Paper Images into Digital Ones 4
Why Scanned Images Are Better than Paper Ones 4
You Can Touch-Up and Correct a Scanned Image 4
You Can Cut and Crop a Scanned Image 9
You Can Combine Multiple Scanned Photos 12
You Can Import Scanned Photos into Project Templates 14
You Can Email Scanned Photos and Post Them on the Web 19 You Can Organize Images into Easily Accessed Databases 20 Other Uses for Your Scanner 21
A Logical Approach to Getting Started 22
CHAPTER 2 How Scanning Technology Works 23
The Scanning Cycle 24
The Science Behind a Scan 25
Images Consist of Pixels 25
Recognize the Common Parts All Scanners Have 31
The Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) 31
Other Key Scanner Components 31
The Role of Resolution 33
Factors that Determine Resolution 33
Be Sure to Look at the Optical Resolution of a Scanner 34
Avoid Comparisons of Interpolated Resolution 34
Testing the Tonal Sensitivity 35
Coordinating Your Scanner with Your Printer and Monitor 36
Measuring the Monitor’s Resolution 36
Matching Scanner and Printer Specifications 40
Different Originals Require Different Scan Techniques 41
Software to Optimize Your Scan 42
Types of Scanner Software 42
The Important Role of Software During a Scan 43 Copyright 2001 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Click Here for Terms of Use
Trang 2CHAPTER 3 Selecting the Right Scanner 45
A Basic Shopping List of Scanner Features 46
Pick the Right Port Connection 48
The Common Contenders: Parallel and USB Connections 49 SCSI Connections 49
The Furor over FireWire 50
Be Realistic about the Kind of Resolution You Need 51
What the Resolution Numbers Mean in a Scanner Description 51
You Can Skip the Interpolated Resolution Specs 52
Pay Only for the Resolution You Really Need 52
Match the Resolution to What You Actually Do 53
How Resolution and Hard-Drive Space Affect Each Other 53
Deciding on the Right Bit Depth 55
What to Consider When You Compare Sensors 55
Research and Shop for a Scanner on Line 56
Survey the Market with CNET 56
Compare Prices and Features on ZDNet 57
Get Details from the Scanner Manufacturer Sites 58
Bargains at Overstock.com 58
Buying a Scanner in Person 62
Narrowing Down the Choices 62
CHAPTER 4 Install Your Scanner and Inventory Your Hardware 65
Hardware Requirements for Successful Scanning 66
Speed and Power 66
The Microprocessor 66
RAM 67
Storage Space for Your Images 69
Printer Capability 76
Installation Made Easy 81
Step 1: Inventory Your Scanner Components 81
Step 2: Connect Your Cabling and Power Source 82
Step 3: Install the Driver 82
Step 4: Check the Status of Your Scanner 85
Troubleshooting the Installation Process 85
How to Get Help 86
PART II The Techniques of Scanning and Editing CHAPTER 5 The Basics for Your First Scan 91
Overview of the Scanning Process 92
Be Sure to Unlock Your Scanner Carriage 92
vi Contents
Trang 3Pushing Buttons and Programming Commands 94
Why Have Manufacturers Added External Buttons? 94
How to Identify What the Buttons Do 95
Programming Your Scanner’s Buttons 95
Choose the Best Original 98
The Two Ways to Perform a Scan 99
Open Your Scanner Software 99
Use the External Buttons 100
Select the Right Image Output Type 100
Sending Your Image to Its Final Destination 101
CHAPTER 6 Scanning Techniques for Different Types of Images 103
Overview of the Different Types of Images 104
Scan Clear, Clean, Line-Art Images 106
Scan Line Art at a High Resolution 106
How to Capture Black-and-White Bitmaps and Vectors 108
Produce High-Quality Grayscale Images 111
Capture Vibrant Color Images 112
Maximize Quality with the True-Color Setting 112
Optimize Your 256-Color Images 112
Save File Space with the Spot-Color Option 113
Working with Half-Tone Images 113
Why You Need to Know about Half-Toning 113
How to Scan Previously Half-Toned Images 114
Scanning Text and Images that Contain Text 114
CHAPTER 7 Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks 115
Where Is the Manual? 116
Locating Your User Guide 116
Questions Answered by Your Guide 118
When the Buttons Won’t Do Anything 119
How to Interpret a Flashing Lamp 119
When Your Computer Doesn’t Recognize a Connection to Your Scanner 121
Look for a Conflicting Software Driver 121
Slow Scans, Saves, and Edits 125
Conflicting Scanner Drivers 125
Other Programs Competing for Resources 125
Checking Your System Resources 127
Recommendation for Cleaning Your Scanner: Don’t! 128
CHAPTER 8 Formats for Saving and Storing Files 129
Files Saved on Your Computer Have Different Formats 130
Programs Write Files in Their Native Formats 130
Trang 4Image-Editing Programs Support Different Formats 132
Identifying Image File Types 133
Selecting an Image Format 134
JPEG: The Most Common Internet Format 135
GIF: The Graphics Interchange Format 135
PNG: An Alternative Graphics Format 135
TIF: A Very Portable Format 136
BMP: The Most Versatile Format 136
The Costs and Benefits of Compression 136
How Compression Works 136
Compression Techniques 137
Choosing the Right File Format 139
CHAPTER 9 Selecting the Right Image-Editing Program 141
Start by Looking at Bundled Software 142
Decide Whether the Bundled Software Is a Bargain 142
Graduating from the Bundled Software 143
Shopping for the Right Program 143
Make a Shopping List of Features You Require 143
Read the Reviews 144
Survey the Software Market 144
Adobe: Targeting Three Different Types of Users 146
PhotoSuite: Extensive Features and Versatility 151
Other Good Imaging Products 152
Exploring the World of Shareware 154
Making the Right Software Choice 155
CHAPTER 10 Which Photo-Editing Tools Are Useful for Specific Tasks 157
A Disclaimer about this Chapter 158
An Overview of Your Image-Editing Toolbox 159
Cropping and Resizing Your Photos 160
Locating a Cropping Tool 160
Resizing a Photo 163
Altering the Angle and Inverting Your Subjects 168
Straightening a Crooked Shot 168
Creating a Mirror Image of Your Photo 169
Correcting the Red-Eye Effect 173
Airbrushing Flaws from a Scanned Photo 173
How Cloning Works 175
Tips for Making Retouching Less Obvious 177
Fixing Scratched, Torn, Wrinkled, and Stained Photos 180
Other Useful Touchup Tools 182
Sharpening Blurry Photos 183
Improving Photos with Soften and Blur Effects 184
viii Contents
Trang 5Correcting Under- and Overexposed Photos 188
How Exposure to Light Affects Photo Quality 188
Enhancing an Entire Photo 188
Working on Light and Dark Areas of a Photo 191
Colorizing and Tinting Images 192
Using a Color Adjustment Filter 193
Artistically Colorizing Your Photos 195
Trying Your Hand at the Drawing Tool 195
Cutting and Combining Photos 196
Making a Cutout 196
Stitching Photos Together for a Panoramic Effect 199
Artistically Layering Photos 199
Image-Editing Continues to Evolve 199
Increasing Your Skill with Image-Editing Tools 200
PART III Practical Uses for Your Scanner CHAPTER 11 Scanning Instant Images: JoyCam, i-Zone, and Other Polaroid Products 203
How Does Instant Imaging Work? 204
The Interesting Development of Instant Imaging 205
The Land Legacy 205
Today’s Instant Cameras 205
The Continuing Need for Instant-Image Cameras 208
The Ideal Cameras for Teens and Kids 208
Sending Photos to People Who Don’t Have Computers 209
Foreign Travel Adventures 209
Scanning to Enhance the Quality of Instant Images 209
Using the Polaroid Mini-Photographic Scanner 211
The i-Zone Website: A Perk for Young Scanner Users 212
Site Safety for Kids 212
Uploading Photos to the i-Zone Website 214
CHAPTER 12 Scanning Negatives and Slides 221
Advantages of Being Able to Scan from Negatives and Slides 222 Understand More about What Transparencies Are 222
How Negatives Are Made 223
The Niche Filled by Slides 225
Tips for More Effectively Scanning Transparencies 225
A Look at Some of the Top Flatbed Transparency Scanners 226
Deciding Whether to Invest in a Transparency Attachment 228