Decide
if you need high speed or high quality scanning most of the time. If
you need high quality scanning, opt for a 1200 dpi scanner. If your
scanning needs are pretty basic, a 300dpi scanner will do.
•
Do you need to
scan films frequently? Then you need a film adapter unit (FAU). If you
don't need to use the FAU regularly, choose one that comes with a detachable
FAU rather than one that comes built-in with the scanner.
•
Do you need to
scan frequently? If not, get a printer with sheet-fed scanning options
or a multifunctional fax that has printing, faxing and scanning functions.
•
Do you need to
scan from books frequently? If so, get a scanner with Z-lid double hinge
cover which allows you to place the page of the book flatly onto the
scanning unit.
•
Check which interface
your PC is designed for. The scanner has to be compatible with your
PC.
•
Do you need to
scan on the go? If so, choose a portable bubble jet printer that has
a scanning option.
Make sure the scanning glass is clean and free of
dust.
•
Ensure the document is flat against glass for optimal
sharpness.
•
Use USB whenever possible for faster scan speeds.
•
Ensure scanner settings is correct for image type
(e.g. colour or b/w).
•
Get the scan right the first time : No amount of
Photoshop magic can fix a botched-up scan job.
•
Scan at proper resolution for maximizing scanning
speeds - you don't have to use the full 1600 dpi quality stated in the
specifications because you would need more RAM and it takes up more
time in scanning. Speed of scanning is highly dependent on he computer
that you are using. See Point 5 for the optimal resolution size.
•
Get the colour calibration right : Scanned job look
different on the screen of different monitors because of different colour
calibration.Use a proper CMS (Kodak's CMS and Apple's ColourSync for
monitors) to overcome this niggling problem.
The speed of scanning depends on the computer that
you are using.
For faster scanning speed, users should always try to use a faster PC
with more memory / RAM and work with as little data as possible.
•
Choosing a scanner with a fast preview speed will
also help.
•
Scan at the optimal resolution which means depending
on the type of printout you want, the scanning resolultion differs.
Check Point 5 for optimal resolution size.
•
Narrow down the area for scanning during pre-scan
stage so the scanner will not need to scan the entire document.
If the image you want to scan is meant for
screen display (like Powerpoint, web or email attachments), an image
at 72 dpi is sufficient. This is called screen resolution. With this
size, it will not take long for visitors at your website or your audience
watching your powerpoint presentation to download the graphics.
To scan a document for archival purpose, 150 dpi will suffice.
To scan bar charts and newspaper clippings for business reports,
a 200 dpi is a nice compromise in file size and resolution. But if
you want to print out the document in good quality, scan it at 300
dpi.
To scan and print high quality images and photographs, do it at 600
dpi to ensure enough data and details are captured. If you plan to
enlarge the printout, then scan the original document at a higher
resolution of 1200 dpi. But do bear in mind that a higher resolution
requires a larger storage space. So do ensure that you have sufficient
free hard-disk space and memory. Also, close all other programmes
to avoid any software crashes. You may also want to narrow down the
area for scanning during the pre-scan stage so that the scanner need
not scan the entire document, taking up precious space.
What are the differences between CIS and CCD scanners?
With Canon's innovative
and patented CIS technology, the SlimLine N-Series of scanners are extremely
slim and compact, making it suitable for both offices and homes. The
extremely low-power consumption of the SlimLine scanners makes it possible
for the USB-models to be powered by the USB cables alone, eliminating
the need for a bulky A/C adaptor which takes up another wall socket.
The latest SlimLine N-Series comes with 3 EZ-Buttons (tm) to simplify
tasks like multiple photo-scanning and scan to e-mail, to one-touch
operations!
CCD scanners such as Canon's D-Series scanners have the ability to
scan three-dimensional subjects, making it convenient to scan small
objects on the scanner. In addition, most of the D-Series scanners
have optional or integrated film scanner adapters, so users can scan
their negatives or film directly. With the two technologies and various
levels of resolution, various levels of users can select the models
most suitable for their needs. Featuring both CIS and CCD technology,
there is a Canon scanner for everyone!
USB
2.0 is forward and backward compatible. This means that USB 2.0 products
are able to work in PCs with USB 1.1 or 2.0 interface. As such these
products can be operated in 3 different specifications.
•
USB 2.0 Low
Speed - USB operation at 1.5Mb/s (same as USB 1.1 normal transmission
speed)
•
USB 2.0 Full
Speed - USB operation at 12Mb/s (same as USB 1.1 maximum transmission
speed)
•
USB 2.0 High
Speed - USB operation at 480Mb/s in PCs with USB 2.0. Its maximum
speed is only 480Mb/s, which is 40x faster than USB 1.1. And the normal
transmission speed is 60Mb/s, which is 5x faster than USB 1.1.
Due to the above information, there are vendors who
have changed their upcoming USB 1.1 products to USB 2.0 full speed instead.
In fact, these products are actually operating at the speed of USB 1.1 and
not the actual speed of USB 2.0. Therefore, you may wish to double check
if the product you're buying is certified as USB 2.0 high speed.
