Flat Bed Scanner

Introduction

Drawings, photographs, or any other piece of flat art can be scanned. The scanner we will be examining here is called a flat bed scanner, for obvious reasons. While there are different scanners and different types of applications, they all work in a similar fashion. Here we will be using the HP IV4 scanner with HP's DeskScan II software.

Let's Go!

1. Before you do anything, the scanner needs to be turned on before the computer. Restart the computer if necessary.
   
   
2. Start DeskScan II by double-clicking on its icon.
   
   
3. Place your picture in the scanner. Simply lift the lid and place it on the scan window. The edges of this window should be used to line up your picture.
   
   
4. Click the PREVIEW button as shown below. This will start the scanner and it will make an initial low quality scan.
   

    

5. This scan displays a representation of the entire scan bed as shown below. Notice, the small size of the image. To enlarge it, hit the Zoom button at the bottom. This will enlarge the area within the dotted lines or "marching ants."
   

    

6. Use the double-edged arrows to select the area to be saved. If the cursor is moved across the selected area, it will change to either a four-edged arrow () or double-edged arrow (). Use either of these to crop and select the area to be saved. If you only want a small portion of the image scanned, select only that part. Make sure to get only the image, and none of the white background.
   

    

7. Click Final (next to Preview and Zoom), once you have decided upon an area to save, click final. The scanner will take a few moments to make the final scan of the image.
   
   
8. After the scan has been completed you will get a Save dialogue box (shown below). Fill it out appropriately with a name. Make sure in is in a PICT format. Check to be sure you are saving in the correct place (probably the Desktop or your own disk). Once you have finished hit the Save button.
   

Exercise

1. Use a provided image or an image of your own and place it on the scanner.
2. Using DeskScan II and the HP scanner, digitize the image.
3. Save it as PICT.