Scanner Optimization

Dan KrahnHardware Products Manager

Document ScanningGetting the most from your Scanning

Resources Everyone is challenged with doing more with less.

Is document scanning a burden or an Asset?

Can the efficiency and quality of scanning be improved?

Plug and Play

Typical Scenario Install scanner drive software Install scanning application Connect the scanner Start scanning

This usually works with respectable results But can some fine tuning make it even better?

Todays Topics

Image Quality EfficiencyBest PracticesTroubleshooting

Interactive Format

Questions and Comments are welcomed at anytime!

Image Quality

Image Quality Areas

Body or Content How well can you read the information Barcode and OCR Read rates

Clean-up Making the image look like the original

document

EnhanceMaking the image look better than the

original

Improving Content Readability Brightness

Auto or Fixed Auto is best most of the time Fixed is better is some cases for

consistent Barcode or OCR recognition

Contrast More or less

Higher to eliminate shading Lower to pick up light print

Gamma What is it

Has similar results to changing contrast in Black & White Has more function in grayscale or color

Image Clean up

Deskew Straighten crooked images Can be done based on document edges or content

Crop Removing the portion of image that extends beyond the

document

Border removal Crops the image by finding the edges of the document

Edge Clean-up Eliminates edge lines but slightly over cropping the image Can cause data loss if information runs to the edge

Image Enhancement

Hole Fill Fill in paper punch holes on images

Edge Repair Fill in missing or folded corners Remove jagged edges

Background removal Eliminate background pictures or watermarks

Color Drop-out

Possible legal ramifications

Image Resolution

Myth: Higher resolution equals a better quality image

Increasing the resolution because the image quality is poor, typically results in a higher resolution poor quality image.

200 DPI (Dots Per Inch) is the “industry standard” resolution for black & white (bitonal) images

Explore methods of improving the image through other settings before increasing the DPI

An uncompressed image file is 2.25 times larger at 300 DPI than at 200 DPI. Consider image storage when increasing Resolution

Downstream Benefits to Quality Images

Higher Barcode and OCR read rates

Less manual data entry and validation

Smaller file sizes

Greater user satisfaction (internal and external)

Efficiency

Throughput

Every scanner has a “pages per minute” (PPM) throughput rating Panasonic KVS5055C – 90 PPM Fujitsu fi-5950 – 135 PPM IBML ImageTrac Lite – 286 PPM

But what is actual “real world” throughput? Likely somewhere between 10 and 80 percent of rated speed

A 2013 Audi RS4 Avant has a rated top speed of 174 MPH, but who will ever go that fast

Orientation

Landscape vs. Portrait If you are able to scan in landscape…….Do it! Portrait scanning reduces throughput by ≈ 20%

Image rotation Fixed rotation – 90˚ Auto Orientation – Performs OCR check of text

(may reduce throughput speed)

How much of the time is the scanner actually transporting paper?

How much of the time is the scanner idle while batches being opened and closed?

What can be done to increase the size of a batch? Automated document recognition and separation Intermixing multiple document sizes and types

Batch Size

Reduce Scanner Stops

How often does a scanner stop for an error condition?

Jam conditionsMulti-feed stopsVRS QC check

Best Practices

Regular Maintenance Clean scanners on a regular interval

What is the correct interval?

Have available and replace consumable items when needed

Service Contracts with PM’s are recommended

Ask for training and recommendations.

Don’t let problems creep up without noticing

Benchmarks

When a scanner and capture application have been configured and validated collect some benchmark data Save a sample set of documents; especially

documents with barcodes or extracted data fields

Save image files of these documents Record the amount of time it takes to

scan a batch

Document

Keep records of your settings Take screen shots of your setting windows Save copies of profile/settings files.

Keep records of logs, volume counters, consumable changes

Be aware of and note changes on the network, applications or operating systems

Troubleshooting

Problem Resolution

When an issue comes up, narrow the possible causes Use a test/utility application to isolate the scan application Scan to a location on the local PC rather than to a network Test with known good documents Test multiple batch classes or scan jobs

Reboot - Reset The number of times this resolves issues is high

Awareness

When something stops working or changes its behavior What may have happened prior to this?

Windows Update New Virus scan software implemented New equipment plugged into the same circuit Environmental conditions Equipment moved Cleaning

Common Issues and Solutions

Feeding problems (Poor feeding and/or Multi-feeding) Clean or replace consumable components

No Communication between PC and Scanner Reseat connecting cable Reboot scanner and PC Check the status of the scanner in device manager

Not reading Barcodes Check the image for lines, voids, or other quality issues Test with known good documents

Engage Security MicroImaging for end to end capture solutions!

Content Manageme

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Capture Application

Capture Hardwar

e

Thank You!