Skip directly to: content | main navigation | functional navigation | sub navigation

Scanning Technologies

Scanned images have many purposes. PDF files are a stable format for sharing documents (usually textual) with a class or colleague, especially when no editing is desired. Scanned pictures enrich both print and electronic publications such as newsletters, web pages, or Power Point Presentations. There are some important differences when scanning for print or electronic media. Usually a print image works best at 300dpi resolution; digital, including Power Point work best at 72dpi. In cases where a print will be enlarged, using 600dpi is sometimes warranted.

Adobe Acrobat Standard Version for Mac and PC

Most personal computers have a read-only version of Acrobat which is free to download from the Internet. Both of our computers in the reference room have the standard version of Acrobat which allows creating and writing on PDF documents. The program also allows for a limited amount of image manipulation. In other words, Acrobat works for both pictures and text but in a more limited way than either Photoshop or Omnipage Pro.

For the Mac

• Open Adobe Acrobat on bottom toolbar
• Go to File > Create PDF > From scanner
• Choose Create a new or Append a current file and click Scan
• On this screen make sure the mode is "Office"
• Make appropriate choices: for print that is usually Black & White with 300 dpi resolution. Document source can be Auto or Document Table for books.
• Place original on scanner, orienting to top right and click Scan
• To scan another page click Next & repeat the above
• (Or the automatic document feeder can be used as directed below.)
• When finished click Done. Save file.

For the PC

• Open Adobe Acrobat on desktop
• Select appropriate source (Try the ADF this time.)
• Make settings selections based on end use (300dpi for print, 72dpi for web or digital)
• Place document face down in feeder and hit Scan.
• When the entire document has been scanned, click Done. Save file.

Photoshop for Mac and PC

This software is recognized as industry standard for photographic image manipulation and works with both black & white and color originals. We have the educational version on both reference computers: version 6.0.1 on the PC and 7.0 on the Mac.

• After opening Photoshop, choose Import, then From scanner.
• Make a choice to use ADF or flatbed.
• Orient your original picture to the bottom left corner of the screen.
• Set up the scanner for the input characteristics: size, color, dpi.
• In addition to the correct resolution, color mode for print is CMYK and for digital RGB.
• Scan and close scanner. Image appears in the Photoshop canvas for manipulation.
• When finished adjusting the image, save the file to flash drive or burn to CD.

Omnipage Pro for PC

One of the most amazing software programs related to scanning is optical character recognition (OCR). Using this program you can scan text which is not in digital form and create an editable digital document. No need to retype old papers or spend hours looking for a digital file when you need to correct the hard copy at hand. This software has an automated process which is easy to use and an OCR correcting component which is as intuitive as any spell checker.

Instructions for Optical Character Recognition

• Open Omnipage Pro
• Place your document on the screen, oriented to the bottom left (or use ADF)
• Go to Process > Workflows
• Make sure 123 is selected & click start
• Scanner configuration should be:
  • Image type OCR
  • Destination OCR
  • Resolution 300
• Click Scan
• Select Stop Loading Pages or Add More Pages as appropriate
• When finished. . .
• Workflows will proceed to perform OCR in a way that looks like proof reading.
• You will make corrections just like in a spell checker.
• Click OK when finished
• Workflows proceeds to export and save file.
• If you toggle the “text” box, the file will be saved as RTF (Rich Text Format) in a location of your choice.
• It can then be opened and edited with MS Word.