seniornet.co.nz · Web viewThis will give us a Word document that can be edited rather than a picture file. To do this in the centre we will use the Microtek Scan Maker Switch on

SeniorNet Papatoetoe

Prepared by Alwynne Wedgwood

SeniorNet Papatoetoe ScanningFebruary 2011/revised October 2014

Types of scanners

There are two kinds of scanners available these days.1. Flatbed scanners2. All-in-one printer/scanner/copier

The scanners in the suite here are flatbed scanners, HP Scanjet 3500 Series, Microtek Scan Maker, and a special one for scanning slides and film which is box shaped, Silverfast Plustek Scanner

You will more than likely have an all-in-one of some kind. Every scanner has its own software to operate from, and there will be differences between each kind. However these differences will be relatively minor. The steps which we will follow during these lessons will be basically universal to any software package.We will be using Picasa as our scanning software. At home you will have the option of using Picasa as we will do here or using your printer’s own software.

To begin with we will look at: Scanning Photos.....1-12 Scanning a coloured photo...............................2-5 Scanning a black and white photo....................5-6 Scanning a magazine picture............................6-8 Scanning slides or film negatives (optional).....8-12

Then we will move on to: Scanning documents (including OCR)........12-15 Scanning 3D objects......................................16-17 Creating patterns/designs to scan...............17-19 What Next?...................................................................19

Finally we will review, revise, or revisit what we have been doing so far.

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanning

Photos and PicturesWhy do we want to scan photos and pictures? What is the point?

There is less danger of the photos/pictures fading and/or becoming damaged in any way.

Digital storage devices are far less bulky and much easier to carry around with you.

You can edit your pictures, improving the sharpness, brightening the colour, even changing the colour, and generally produce an even more attractive picture than the original.

You can add captions, notes, and anecdotes. You can email them to family and friends. You can project them through your computer, your TV, or on to

a large screen.

You can post them on Facebook, which is one of the easiest ways to share your pictures.

You can save recipes, articles, pictures from magazines and newspapers, and store them digitally.

Scanning a colour photo

When you are using your scanner at home you can still work through Picasa as we are doing in the suite, or you can use your scanner’s own software. If you don’t have Picasa on your computer, you can download it free. Go into the Picasa website and you will see the download button in the top right hand corner.

1. Turn on the computer.2. Plug in your flash drive. 3. Double click the Picasa icon on the desktop, to open

up Picasa.

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanning4. At home you may need to go into: Start/All Programs/ Picasa5. Lift the scanner lid and place a colour photo face down on the

glass surface of the scanner, in the centre of the Platen. Make sure there is at least 1cm of space between the photo and the edge of the glass.

6. Click on Import in the top left of the Picasa screen.7. In the bottom left check the Import to box. It should read My

Pictures. You may choose to click on Browse and select your Flash drive at this point.

8. Check the Folder Title box. It needs to show today’s date.9. Go back to the top left to the Import from dialogue box. Click

on the down arrow.10. Choose HP Scanjet 3500 Series. Double click. You will get a

new dialogue box.11. What do you want to scan?

12. Check out the options, then choose Colour Picture.

13. Click on Preview.14. The dotted border around

the picture may need

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanningadjusting. You can crop your picture here to cut out any unnecessary detail.

15. Now go to Adjust the quality of the scanned picture.16. Advanced Properties.17. Look at the Resolution options. If you think it necessary,

increase the resolution. The default resolution in this software is 200 dpi (dots per inch). I have found that a resolution of 300 dpi gives the best result for most purposes. Experiment with this and see what you think. The higher the resolution, the longer the scan takes.

18. Now check out whether Brightness and Contrast need adjusting.

19. When you are happy with your settings click OK.20. Now click Preview again. 21. Repeat 16- 20 until you are happy with the result.22. Every time you make an adjustment you need to Preview. Unfortunately it doesn’t automatically show you the changes.23. Click Scan. Wait.24. Click Import All at the bottom right of the screen.25. The picture will go into Picasa or your Flash drive if you

selected that earlier.26. If not save your picture to your Flash drive as set out below.27. You can also Email your scan straight from Picasa. Highlight

the picture, click on Email, and follow the directions.28. You can also Print and Export it in the same way.29. You can make any other editing alterations you wish to in

Picasa, using the skills you have learned from the Picasa course.

Saving to a flash drive from Picasa

1. In Picasa highlight your scanned picture.2. Go to File/Save as, double click.3. Name your picture. Until you do this it will be named Top.4. Go to Computer in the left hand drop down menu, double click.5. Scroll to your flash drive, double click.6. Click Save.

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Saving to your computer from a flash drive

1. Plug the flash drive in to a USB port on your computer box.2. Double click on Open folder to view files.3. Select your files.4. Right click and select copy or cut.5. Go to Pictures/My Pictures in your computer, or wherever you

wish to store these files.6. Choose a folder/new folder/name.7. Open folder.8. Right click and select Paste.9. Or drag and drop the files into your chosen destination.

Scanning a black and white photo

We are into a slightly different ball game here.1. Lift the scanner lid and place a black and white photo face down

on the glass surface of the scanner, in the centre of the Platen. Make sure there is at least 1cm of space between the photo and the edge of the glass.

2. Double click the Picasa icon on the desktop, to open up Picasa.3. Click on Import in the top left of Picasa.4. In the bottom left check the Import to box. It should read My


5. Check the Folder Title box. It should show today’s date.6. Go back to the top left to the Import from dialogue box.7. Choose HP Scanjet 3500 Series. Double click. You will get a

new dialogue box.8. What do you want to scan? 9. This is where we change

direction.10. Check out the options, and

then choose Colour picture, Black and

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe ScanningWhite Picture, or Greyscale, whichever you think seems best for your picture.

11. Greyscale generally seems to give the best result if it is a photo or picture.

12. Line drawings, plans, etc. may be better in black and white.13. Click on Preview. 14. Decide which choice will give the best result.15. The dotted border around the picture may need adjusting.16. Now go to Adjust the quality of the scanned picture17. Advanced Properties18. Check the resolution for the best result, at the lowest figure.19. Brightness and Contrast

don’t seem to me to be so relevant here, but check them out and see what you think. When you are happy with your settings click OK.

20. Click Preview.21. Repeat steps 12-19 until

you are happy with the result.

22. Click Scan.23. Click Import All at the

bottom right of the screen.

24. It will go into Picasa or your Flash drive if you selected that earlier.

25. If not save your picture to your Flash drive as outlined on P. 3

26. You can make any other editing alterations you wish to in Picasa, using the skills you have learned from the Picasa course

27. You may want to look at the Sepia option and see if it is relevant or will give the kind of result you want.

Scanning a Magazine Picture

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1. Lift the scanner lid and place a magazine page face down on the glass surface of the scanner in the centre of the platen.

2. Double click the Picasa icon on the desktop, to open up Picasa.

3. Click on Import in the top left of Picasa.4. In the bottom left check the Import to box. It should read My


5. Check the Folder Title box. It should show today’s date.6. Go back to the top left to the Import from dialogue box.7. Choose HP Scanjet 3500 Series. Double click. You will get a

new dialogue box.8. Click on What do you want to scan?

9. Choose Colour Picture.10. Click on Preview.11. Now you can adjust the dotted border to select only the section

of the magazine page that you want. You can decide to scan only the picture, only the text, or some of both.

12. Now go to Adjust the quality of the scanned picture

13. Advanced Properties

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14. Magazine pictures are printed in a different way from photographs; therefore it will be necessary to look again at what adjustments are needed to Resolution, Brightness and Contrast.

15. Look at the Resolution options. If you think it necessary increase the resolution, however I have found that a resolution of 300 gives much the same result as a higher one for most purposes.

16. Now check out whether Brightness and Contrast need adjusting.

17. When you are happy with your settings click OK.18. Now click Preview again.19. Repeat steps 15-18 until you are happy with the result.20. Click Scan.21. Click Import All at the bottom right of the screen.22. As before it will go into Picasa or your Flash drive if you

selected that earlier.23. If not save your scan to your Flash drive as outlined on

P.3. Check out the different file formats offered here.24. You can make any other editing alterations you wish to in


25. Some scanning software programmes have an option called Descreen for scanning magazine pictures. If you have this on your scanner make use of it.

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Scanning Slides (If you wish to explore this activity. There are two scanners in our suite which will do this.)

Using the Microtek Scanmaker

1. Switch on the switch at the back of the scanner2. Place the slide holder on the scan bed, positioned against

the top right edge of the bed, with the slot for slides running down the centre. Make sure the red arrow marks are lined up against each other.

3. Place slides in the slide holder, facing down4. Double click on Scan Wizard on the desktop5. This will bring up the Advanced Control Panel dialogue

box and the Settings dialogue box. If not click on the icon on the right hand side of the ribbon to bring it up

6. On the ribbon select Positive Film7. Check the settings8. Scan Job: Name the picture9. Type: Select Colour10. Resolution: 30011. Check Keep Proportion12. Check Automatic Colour Restoration13. Double click on Prescan14. Adjust edges to select only the first slide.15. Move the zoom slide towards + to give a larger view.16. Adjust any settings you think may need improving.17. Double click on Overview.18. Prescan again.19. Once you are happy with the settings double click on Scan

on the ribbon.20. Save in: Choose your Flash drive.21. File name: Name the picture.22. Save as Type: JPEG23. Double click on Save. The picture will go into your Flash

Drive.

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanning24. The next slide will now be selected. Repeat steps 15-23 until

all the slides are scanned and saved.25. Edit as required, using the skills you have learned in your

Picasa Course.

Scanning Film (optional)

Using the Microtek Scanmaker

1. Switch on the switch at the back of the scanner.2. Place the film holder on the scan bed, positioned against the

top right edge of the bed, with the slot for film running down the centre. Make sure the red arrow marks are lined up against each other.

3. Place film in the film holder, facing down.4. Double click on Scan Wizard on the desktop.5. This will bring up the Advanced Control Panel dialogue

box and the Settings dialogue box. If not click on the icon on the right hand side of the ribbon to bring it up.

6. On the ribbon select Negative Film.7. Check the settings.8. Scan Job: Name the picture.9. Type: Select Colour.10. Resolution: 30011. Check Keep Proportion12. Check Automatic Colour Restoration13. Double click on Prescan14. Adjust edges to select only the first picture.15. Move the zoom slide towards + to give a larger view.16. Adjust any settings you think may need improving.17. Double click on Overview18. Prescan again19. Once you are happy with the settings double click on Scan

on the ribbon.20. Save in: Choose your Flash drive.21. File name: Name the picture.22. Save as Type: JPEG

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanning23. Double click on Save. The picture will go into your Flash

drive.24. The next picture will now be selected. Repeat steps 15-23

until all the pictures are scanned and saved.25. Edit as required, using the skills you have learned in your

Picasa Course.

Scanning Slides (Optional)

Using the Silverfast Plustek Scanner

1. Switch on the scanner, the button is on the front.2. Load your slides into the slide holder. Some slides will say View

this side. Place this side facing up in the holder.3. Load the slide holder into the scanner with the first slide in

position.4. Double click on SF Launcher on the desktop. 5. Click in the middle of the dialogue box on the screen.6. Close Welcome to Silverfast.7. Use the Silverfast SE Plus dialogue box.8. Go into General.9. Scan Mode, select Normal.10. Positive/ Negative, select Positive film.11. Go into Frame.12. Scan Type, select Colour.13. Output Resolution, select Other.14. Move the dpi arrow to about 1200.15. Click on Pre-Scan. 16. If you haven’t positioned the slide correctly the Pre-Scan will

show this. Try again to put it in the right place, then click on Pre-Scan again.

17. Adjust or crop the borders.18. If you wish you can at this point adjust Brightness and

Contrast.19. Click Scan.20. Name the picture.21. Select your flash drive as the save destination.

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanning22. Click Save.23. The picture will now be scanned and placed on your flash drive.24. Move the slide holder into position for the next slide.25. Repeat steps 12-18 until all your slides are scanned and saved.

Scanning Film (Optional)

Using the Silverfast Plustek Scanner

1.Switch on the scanner at the front of the software.2.Load your film into the film holder.3.Load the film holder into the scanner with the first picture in

position. 4.Double click on SF Launcher on the desktop.5.Close Welcome to Silverfast.6.Use the Silverfast SE Plus dialogue box.7.In the General dialogue box select Negative film.8.Go into Frame.9.Scan Type, select Colour or Black & White.10. Name, type a file name.11. Output Resolution, select Photo Print.12. Move the dpi arrow to about 1800.13. Click on Pre-Scan.14. If you haven’t positioned the film correctly the Pre-Scan will

show this. Try again to put it in the right place, then click on Pre-Scan again.

15. Adjust or crop the borders.16. If you wish you can at this point adjust Brightness and

Contrast.17. Click Scan.18. Name the picture.19. Select your flash drive as the save destination.20. Click Save.21. The picture will now be scanned and placed on your flash drive.22. Move the film holder into position for the next picture.23. Repeat steps 12-18 until all your pictures are scanned and saved.

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Why do we want to scan documents?

To have important documents such as passports, licenses, and birth & marriage certificates, digitally saved in case the original is lost

To be able to carry copies of these important documents on a small flash drive

To save postage by filling in forms digitally and emailing them to their destination

To be able to safely email important documents in PDF format To have historic documents such as old letters digitally saved to

prevent deterioration

Scanning a Document


2. Lift the scanner lid and place a document face down on the glass surface of the scanner, in the centre of the Platen. If possible, leave 1cm of space between the document and the edge of the glass.

3. Click on Import in the top left of Picasa.4. In the bottom left check the Import to box. It should read

My Pictures. You may choose to click on Browse and select your Flash drive at this point.

5. Check the Folder Title box. It should show today’s date.6. Go back to the top left to the Import from dialogue box.7. Choose HP Scanjet 3500 Series. Double click. A new

dialogue box will appear.

8. What do you want to scan?

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9. Preview each of the three options, then choose the one which best suits your document.

10. Grayscale seems to work best in most cases.11. If you wish, now go to Adjust the quality of the scanned

picture. 12. Advanced Properties

13. Remember to preview again each time you make any changes to the settings.

14. Click Scan.15. Click Import All at the bottom right of the screen.16. The document will go into Picasa or into your Flash drive if

you have already chosen that option. 17. If not save the picture to your flash drive, as outlined on P 3.

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanning18. You can make any other editing alterations you wish to in


Scanning a Document in OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

This will give us a Word document that can be edited rather than a picture file.To do this in the centre we will use the Microtek ScanMaker

1. Switch on the switch at the back of the scanner.2. Place the document on the glass, in the centre of the

platen.3. Place the white mat on top of the document.4. Click on T (for text) at the front of the scanner.5. A preview of the document will be scanned.6. Check the settings.7. Scan Job: Name the document.

If you wish to check the settings further:1. Type: Select Gray Scale.2. Resolution: 3003. Check Keep Proportion4. Uncheck Automatic Colour Restoration.5. Adjust edges if necessary.6. Adjust any settings you think may need improving.7. Double click on Overview.8. Prescan again.9. Once you are happy with the settings double click on OCR.10. Save in: Choose OCR or your Flash drive.11. File name: Name the document.12. Save as Type: Rich Text Format.13. Check Send document to application after saving:

Microsoft Word.14. Double click on Save.15. The document will be on your Flash drive or in the OCR

shortcut on the desktop.

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SeniorNet Papatoetoe Scanning16. Edit as required, using the skills you have learned in your

Word Processing Courses, and the original document as a guide.

To Scan Multiple pages into one document1. When the first page has been scanned, click Continue in

the Save Multiple Pages as a single Document dialogue box.

2. Repeat this step until all your pages are scanned.3. Click Close in the Save Multiple Pages as a single

Document dialogue box.

If the original document is in a font that is not recognised by the computer you are using, you will need to select another similar font and correct all the incorrect interpretations. It will not be a huge problem, just a few letters not recognised.

Many of you will have a scanner that has the OCR software. Sort out from your instructions how your one will work. Not all of them will recognise and scan in any pictures in your document in the way that Microtek Scan Maker does.

If you wish your document to be saved in PDF (Portable Document Format) after editing, click File, Save as, Save as Type, PDF. You will not be able to do any further editing in this format.

Portable Document Format (PDF) is an open standard for document exchange. The file format created by Adobe Systems in 1993 is used for representing two-dimensional documents in a manner independent of the application software, hardware, and operating system.Adobe soon started distributing its Acrobat Reader (now Adobe Reader) program at no cost, and continued supporting the original PDF, which eventually became the de facto standard for printable documents on the web (a standard web document).

Ref. Wikipedia 5 February 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_Document_Format

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_document

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto_standard

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Systems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_format

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_standard

SeniorNet Papatoetoe ScanningWhy would we want to scan 3D objects?

To keep a record of valuable objects for insurance purposes. To show off the best flowers in your garden To seek help in identifying plants, flowers, or interesting looking

artefacts To create a unique pattern/picture/design which belongs only to

you To use your scans to illustrate a document or presentation/make

cards/make wall plaques/etc. To have a permanent digital record of your grandchildrens’ art,

handwork, stories, certificates etc.

Scanning a 3D object


2. Lift the scanner lid and place an object face down in the centre of the glass surface of the scanner.

3. Place your box, which is painted on the inside with matt black paint, over the object.

4. Make sure the box is covering all of the glass surface of the scanner.

5. Click on Import in the top left of Picasa.6. In the bottom left check the Import to box. It should read My


7. Check the Folder Title box. It should show today’s date.8. Go back to the top left and click the Import from dialogue

box.9. Choose HP Scanjet 3500 Series. Double click. A new

dialogue box will appear.

10. What do you want to scan?

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11. Preview each of the three options, then choose the one which best suits your object.

12. If you wish, now go to Adjust the quality of the scanned picture.

13. Advanced Properties

14. Remember to preview again each time you make any changes to the settings.

15. Click Scan.16. Click Import All. The picture will go into Picasa or into your

Flash drive if you have already chosen that option. 17. You can make any other editing alterations you wish to in


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SeniorNet Papatoetoe ScanningSometimes some other form of cover will give a better/more interesting result. We have tried a white painted box, a piece of material, sacking, or coloured paper

Getting Creative

Now let’s experiment and have some fun.First:

Compose a pattern/picture/decoration with flowers, leaves, fruit, vegetables, buttons, ribbons, lace, etc., directly on to the glass of the scanner.

Choose the colour/texture of your background and place it carefully over your pattern, so as not to disturb your arrangement. Carefully cover it all with the black painted box, or whatever colour you wish. Just make sure all light is excluded from the scanner platen.

Now proceed as usual to scan into Picasa, and save on to your flash drive.

With a soft cloth gently clean the glass of the scanner.

Second:Try a collage, use scissors, magazine pictures, and coloured paper, anything you can think of. But this time fasten it on your chosen background. Place your collage upside down on the glass. Scan as before. With a soft cloth gently clean the glass of the scanner.

Third:Place a border or decoration around a photograph. Do you want to try a 3D pattern or picture? OK! Do it!

Are you any good at origami? OK, scan it for posterity.

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Fourth:How do you think scrapbooking by computer would go? Try it.

Now what are we going to do with all these wonderful designs/patterns that we have made?

Using all the editing tools in Picasa, tweak it around, give it a caption, change its shape, put a border around, etc.

Put it in a Word document, and use the picture tools there as above.

Make cards. Make scrapbooks. Illustrate documents, fliers, cards, letters, emails, and so on.

Happy Scanning Everyone

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Documents

seniornet.co.nz · Web viewThis will give us a Word document that can be edited rather than a picture file. To do this in the centre we will use the Microtek Scan Maker Switch on