Scanner

Scanners- Scanners allow you to transfer pictures and photographs to your computer. A scanner 'scans' the image from the top to the bottom, one line at a time and transfers it to the computer as a series of bits or a bitmap. You can then take that image and use it in a paint program, send it out as a fax or print it. With optional Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software you can convert printed documents such as newspaper articles to text that can be used in your word processor. Most scanners use TWAIN software that makes the scanner accessable by other software applications.


different types of scanners

There are five different types of scanners: flatbed, sheetfed, photo, film, and handheld. The five kinds differ greatly, so choosing the type you need is simply a matter of asking yourself a few questions about how you will primarily use the scanner. Will you usually be scanning text documents? Will you need to scan odd-sized pages? Do you only need it for scanning pictures of the kids to your mother-in-law? Start with these questions, and look at they types below.

Flatbed: The most popular type of scanner, because it comes in a wide range of prices for an equally wide range of uses. Generally, flatbed scanners are best for scanning regular-sized documents or photos. The only possible downside to the versatile flatbed is size: if you are very limited when it comes to desk space, or if you will need to scan legal-size documents or newspaper clippings (flat bed scanners don't always have legal or tabloid settings), a sheetfed scanner may be a better choice.

Sheetfed: A generally inexpensive scanner, but as the prices drop on the faster flatbed scanners, so does the demand for sheetfed models. Sheetfeds are unique in their compact size and ability to accommodate larger, more irregular-sized documents, such as legal papers and newspaper clippings. If you aren't concerned with speed or volume, but your priority is scanning basic text documents that won't fit the confines of a flatbed, this may be the scanner for you.

Photo: For those consumers strictly scanning photographs, a photo scanner may be a good option. Also, if you aren't sure about making the leap from your old 35-mm to a digital camera, photo scanners allow you to stick with your old favorite and still take advantage of high technology. Photo scanners tend to be very compact in size, which is good for those with limited desk space; however, the size of the scanner also limits the size of photographs you are able to scan. (Most photo scanners limit size to 5"x7" photos.)

Film: If you are obsessed with having crisp photographic quality, a film scanner may be what you're looking for. Most film scanners rival digital cameras not only in price (film scanners are less expensive overall) but also in image quality (higher resolution). Because film scanners scan the negative itself rather than the photo, they can scan at outrageously high resolutions, making images cleaner and sharper. The main downside ? you can only scan film or slides, not paper or photos. If you will need to scan more than just film, you may want to consider a flatbed scanner with a transparency attachment that supports 35-mm film and slides. (It may be a more economical choice as well.)

Handheld: As the name implies, handheld scanners are best if you're constantly on the go. While portability is a plus, the downside to most handheld scanners is that they can only scan a few lines at a time, and only in grayscale. Some higher-end handheld scanners include special software that enables the user to straighten out and connect the scanned lines of the document, but for some consumers, this may seem like more of a hassle than a convenience. Akin to the handheld is the business card scanner.