ScanMate/Color PRO Window
Move the mouse pointer to the graphic and when the pointer changes to a hand shape, click for more information.


Control-menu Box

Click here to move or close the ScanMate/Color PRO window.


Preview Window

This window displays the scanned image. You can crop the image in the Preview Window.


Scroll Bar

Click here to view portions of the image that can not fit in the Preview Window.


Ruler

The sliders on the ruler set the width of the scan. You can change the ruler's measurement unit from the Settings dialog box.


Left Margin Slider

Drag this slider to set the left scanning margin.


Right Margin Slider

Drag this slider to set the right scanning margin.


Margin Reset Button

Click here to move the left and right Margin Sliders to the left and right boundaries. Clicking on this button sets the scan width to 4.1 inches.


Scan Length

Enter the length of the scan, or use the spin buttons to change the value.


Margin Display

Displays the position of the left and right Margin Sliders.


Scan Button

Click here to start the scanning process.


Scan Left Button

Use this button to scan images wider than the scanner. Click on this button to scan the left half image.


Scan Right Button

Use this button to scan images wider than the scanner. Click on this button to scan the right half image.


Stop Button

Click here to stop the scanning process before reaching the selected scan length. This button is very useful when you set the scan length longer than what you actually want to scan.


Transfer Button

Click here to transfer the image in the Preview Window to the application.


Settings dialog box
Settings Button

This button allows you to set the scanning options, configure, test, and calibrate the scanner. Click on the graphic below to get more information.

Related topics

Setting the initial Start Button status

Configuring the system

Testing the scanner

Calibrating the scanner

Changing the ruler unit


You can scan directly without pressing the Start Button on the scanner.


You have to press the Start Button on the scanner before scanning.


Select the ruler and scan lenght measurement unit to inch or centimeter.


Select a IRQ channel not used by the system. The default setting is 10. It is not necessary to change the setting unless the setting conflict with another interface card installed in the computer.


Select a I/O port address not used by the system. The software automatically detects the addresses available in the computer.


Click here to save the settings and return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window.


Click here to close the dialog box without saving the changes made.


Click here to test the communication between the scanner and your computer.


Click here to calibrate the scanner.


Quit Button

Click here to close the ScanMate/Color PRO window and return to the application.


Help Button

Click here to open this file.


Status Bar

Displays the calibrating and image transferring status.


Information Bar/ Scan Speed Indicator

Displays descriptions on the active function when the scanner is not scanning and shows the scanning speed during scanning.


How To

Adjusting the image size

Adjusting scanning speed

Calibrating the scanner

Changing the ruler unit

Configuring the system

Cropping images

Maintaining the scanner

Quit scanning

Scanning an image

Scanning tips

Scanning wide images

Selecting a scan mode

Setting the initial Start Button status

Setting the resolution

Start scanning

Testing the scanner


Adjusting the image size

The left and right Margin Sliders on the ruler determines the width of the scan. As you drag the sliders, the margins are displayed below the Scan Length box. For example, in the graphic below, the left margin slider is set 1 inch from the left boundary and the right margin slider is set 0.8 inch from the right boundary. Here you will scan an image 2.3 inches wide.

The maximum scan length depends on the amount of free disk space in your computer. You can either enter a scanning length into the Scan Length box or use the spin buttons to select a length.


Click here to move the left and right margins to zero, setting the scan width to 4.1 inches.


The left margin slider is set 1 inch from the left boundary.


The right margin slider is set 0.8 inch from the right boundary.


Adjusting the scanning speed

The purpose in the marginal alert is to warn you to slow down the scanner. Even at marginal speed, however, the scanner is able to fully capture the image that it is passing over. It is not until the scanner moves past the speed limit that parts of the image is lost. By observing the marginal alert during scanning, you can prevent image data loss from occurring.

Scan more slowly when you use higher resolutions, such as 300 or 400 dpi. If you scan too fast, the scanner can't capture all the information, and the image may become distorted.


Green - indicates that your scanning speed is safe and the scanner captures the image without data loss.


Yellow - indicates that your scanning speed is a little too fast and should slow down a little.


Red - indicates that you are scanning too fast and the scanner captures the image with possible data loss.


Calibrating the scanner

Calibrating the scanner is the process of scanning a predetermined image to generate a set of internal values that on future scans compensate for any unevenness in the scanner's image capturing ability. These internal values constitute a calibration result that is applied to future scans. If you did not calibrate the scanner during installation, do so before doing any scanning.

To calibrate, do the following:

1. Place the scanner on the Calibration Sheet.

2. Rotate the notch of the Brightness Control Dial on the scanner to the middle.

3. Click on the Settings button and the Settings dialog box appears.

4. Click on the Calibrate button.

5. Click OK and move the scanner over the Calibration Sheet. Moving the scanner too fast or too slow will cause the scanner to generate a set of inaccurate values which will affect future scanned image quality. After the calibration, the Settings dialog box appears.

6. Click OK to close the dialog box and return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window.


Configuring the system

The settings under Configuration in the Settings dialog box determine the channel your scanner communicates with the computer. The software detects and displays the I/O addresses available in your system. The default setting for IRQ are 10. It is not necessary to change the default settings unless the settings conflict with another interface card installed in your computer. Make sure you run the test program each time you change the settings under Configuration. To change the system configuration:

1. Click on the Settings button and the Settings dialog box appears.

2. Under Configuration, select the IRQ or I/O address that is not used by the system.

3. Click on the Test button to check if the scanner and computer can communicate.

4. Click OK to save the setting and return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window. Or click Cancel to return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window without saving the changes made.


Changing the ruler unit

The ruler and scan length's measurement unit changes according to the unit selected in the Settings dialog box. To change the measurement unit:

1. Click on the Settings button and the Settings dialog box appears.

2. Under Unit, select inch or cm.

3. Click OK to save the setting and return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window. Or click Cancel to return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window without saving the changes made.


Cropping images

When you scan an image, you can crop parts of the image that you do not want to transfer to the application. To crop an image in the Preview Window:

1. Scan an image.

2. Move the mouse pointer to the part of the image you want to crop in the Preview Window.

3. Press and hold the mouse, the mouse pointer changes to a crop tool.

4. Drag diagonally across the image you want to retain.

5. Release the mouse and a frame appears around the part of the image to be retained.

6. Click on the Transfer button to transfer the cropped image to the application.

To redraw the frame, click anywhere in the Preview Window to deselect the frame and redraw.


Maintaining the scanner

The scanner contains optical and electronic parts that can be damaged by shock, excessive heat, or liquid.

   Do not drop the scanner, nor let it hang off a table from its cable, nor bang it against hard surfaces.

   Do not store the scanner in direct sunlight for long periods of time.

   Do not open the scanner case.

   Always operate the scanner with clean hands, and scan on clean surfaces only.

   Clean the Scan Window with the Blower Brush periodically.

   Do not spray cleaning fluid or water directly on the Scan Window.


Quit scanning

Click on the Quit button to close the ScanMate/Color PRO window. You can also choose Close from the control-menu box or double click on the control-menu box. When you exit the ScanMate/Color PRO window, you will return to the TWAIN-compliant application.


Scanning images
Scanning an image

If you have not yet confirmed that the scanner and computer can communicate, run the test program before continuing with the steps below. If the system can't communicate, you won't be able to do any scanning.

1.	Run Windows.

2.	Run the TWAIN-compliant application.

3.	Open the ScanMate/Color PRO window. The ScanMate/Color PRO window will appear and the scanner's lamp will light up.

4.	Place the image you want to scan on a flat surface and place the scanner on the image. Align the scanning guides with the point you want to start scanning.

5.	Click on the Scan button.

6.	Press and release the Start Button on the scanner.

7.	Move the scanner in a straight and steady manner. Glance at the scan speed indicator as you scan to control the scanning speed. After scanning, the scanned image is displayed in the Preview Window.

Click on the Stop button anytime during scanning to complete the scanning process.

8.	Click on the Transfer button to transfer the scanned image to the application. Depending on the application you are using, the ScanMate/Color PRO window might appear after transferring the image for you to scan another image.

If the ScanMate/Color PRO window appears, click on the Quit button to close the window and return to the application.

At this point, you can edit or save the scanned image using the application's commands.


Scanning tips

You can save a lot of time and effort if you pay attention to the following:

Holding the scanner: Hold the scanner in a relaxed manner.

Moving the scanner: Roll the scanner over the image slowly and steadily. Do not press too hard on the scanner.

Scanning straight: Scan in a straight line. If you have trouble scanning straight, use the ruler to guide your scanning path.

Scanning speed: Scanning speed varies with the speed of your system and the software you use.

Related topic

Adjusting the scanning speed


Scanning wide images

You can scan images wider than 4.1 inches by using the merge feature. Before merging an image, make sure you have read the Merging Guidelines and fully understand the overlap feature. An easier way to remember the guidelines is:

   If the width of the image is between 4.1 and 7.2 inches, align the scanner 3.1 inches from the left edge to scan the second pass.

   If the width of the image is between 7.2 and 7.7 inches, align the scanner 3.6 inches from the left edge to scan the second pass.

Here is an example of scanning an image 6 inches wide:

1. Place the image on a flat surface and place the scanner on the image.

2. Align the scanner's front-left scanning guide with the left edge of the image.

3. Open the ScanMate/Color PRO window.

4. Click on the Scan Left button and move the scanner down the image. The left half image is displayed in the Preview Window.

5. When the scan is complete, align the scanner's front-left scanning guide 3.1 inches away from the left edge of the image.

6. Click on the Scan Right button and move the scanner down the image. When the scan is complete, the merge dialog box appears.

7. Click OK to merge the left and right images together. Or click Rescan to return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window to re-scan either of the two halves of the image.

Here we have scanned the left half image first, this is not a rule, you can always scan the right half image first.

Related topics

Merging Tips


Merging Tips

   When merging two halftone images, a line will appear where the images are joined. This is due to the nature of dithered images, unless a different scan mode is used, the appearance of such a line is unavoidable. We recommend you to scan and merge the image in grayscale mode then convert the image to halftone in an image editing application.

   Merge-scanning at high resolutions requires more time and disk space than merge-scanning at low resolution.

   Merge-scanning full color images takes longer processing time and more disk space.

   The amount of time required to merge depend on the overall performance of your computer. For example, a 80486-based computer will complete a merge-scan much faster than an 80286-based computer.


Merging Guidelines

Follow these guidelines will increase the probability of successful merge scans.

   The maximum scanning width is 7.7 inches.

   The overlap area of the left and right images must be between 0.5 and 1.5 inch. The software finds the common points in the overlap area and merge the two images together.

   The starting points of the two images must not differ by more than 0.5 inch vertically.

   The ending points of the two images must not differ by more than 1 inch vertically.

   The tilt of one image must not differ by more than 6 degrees from the other.


Selecting a scan mode

Selecting the appropriate scan mode depends on the image you want to scan.

Scanning color images

Scanning in color scan mode will create the most accurate representation of the original image. Color image files are larger than gray and lineart image files.

Scanning grayscale images

Grayscale images are excellent for use in desktop publishing. Grayscale image files are smaller than color image files but they are still larger than lineart or halftone image files.

Scanning lineart images

Select Lineart scan mode to scan text or black-and-white graphic. Lineart image files are much smaller than grayscale and color image files because Lineart images does not contain shades of gray or color.

Scanning halftone images

Halftone images consist of tiny black and white dots. The size and shape of the dots combine to form shades of gray. Seven dither patterns are provided in the Scan Mode drop down list box. Use the dither patterns to scan gray or black-and-white image. Choosing the appropriate pattern requires some experimentation on your part. Halftone image files are much smaller than grayscale and color image files.


Setting the initial Start Button status

The software allows you to set the initial Start Button status from the Setting dialog box. You can either scan directly or press the Start Button on the scanner then scan.

1.	Click on the Settings button and the Settings dialog box appears.

2.	Under Initial Start Button, if you select:

On - To scan, click on the Scan button.and move the scanner down the image.

Off - you will have to press the Start Button on the scanner after you click on the Scan button. Then move the scanner down the image.

3.	Click on the OK button to save the settings or click on the Cancel button to close the dialog box without saving the changes.


Setting the resolution

Higher scanning resolution produces better image, but the images take more disk space and longer to process.

When you scan in color mode, try setting the resolution to 200 dpi. Although scanning at 400 or 600 dpi can create a higher quality image, you may not need it unless you plan to enlarge the image significantly.

Scanning at a lower resolution has the advantage of creating smaller image file. Small image files can be better if you have a document that contains many images. The disadvantage is that the image may have a lesser quality, and you will not be able to enlarge the image.


Start scanning

To scan an image to the TWAIN-compliant application:

1. Run Windows 3.0 or above.

2. Run a TWAIN-compliant application.

3. Load ScanMate/Color PRO.

Select the source or scanner you want to use to scan an image by opening the Select Source dialog box. Different applications have different ways of opening the Select Source dialog box.

This needs to be done only once unless you use other TWAIN peripherals on your system. If you want to use another TWAIN source that exist in the system, you can switch between the TWAIN sources simply by selecting it from the Select Source dialog box.

4. Open the ScanMate/Color PRO window to begin the scanning process.

Different applications have different ways to open the ScanMate/Color PRO window. In most application, choose Acquire from the File menu and the ScanMate/Color PRO window will appear.


For example: Photoshop, PageMaker, ReadIRIS, OmniPage, or ImagePals. Refer to the application's manual for specific instructions on using the application.


Testing the scanner

You should test the scanner if the software installation is not complete or when you add cards into your computer after installing the scanner and software or anytime you change the settings under Configuration in the Settings dialog box. The test checks whether or not the scanner and computer can communicate.

If the scanner and computer can not communicate, change the settings under Configuration, and run the test program. The selected IRQ setting must not conflict with another card in your computer.

Before testing the scanner, make sure you have saved your spreadsheets in the running application(s). Because running the test program with improper configuration settings may cause system crash.

To test the communication between the scanner and computer:

1.	Place the scanner on an image.

2.	Click on the Settings button and the Settings dialog box appears.

3.	Click on the Test button and move the scanner down the image. If a message appears indicating there is a conflict or system crash, consult your computer user's manual of any other cards installed in your computer. You may need to select another IRQ and click on the Test button again.

4.	After the test, the Settings dialog box appears.

5.	Click OK to close the dialog box and return to the ScanMate/Color PRO window.


Glossary

Acquire

Application

Brightness Control Dial

Calibrate

Crop

Dither Pattern

DPI

Grayscale

Halftone

Image

IRQ

Lineart

Resolution

Scanner

Select Source

TWAIN

TWAIN-Compliant


One of the TWAIN commands in the File menu of a TWAIN application. Its purpose is to get an image from the current TWAIN source. If the ScanMate/Color PRO is the current source, this command opens the ScanMate/Color PRO window. This window then allows you to scan images with the ScanMate/Color PRO.


A Microsoft Windows computer program. The application must be TWAIN-compliant to work with the ScanMate/Color PRO.


A dial located on the left side of the scanner used to control the lightness of the scanned image.


A procedure that allows the ScanMate/Color PRO software to compensate for minor idiosyncrasies in the scanner's hardware image capturing ability.


Trimming and discarding parts of the outer edges of an image.


A pattern of dots used by software to simulate shades of gray when scanning in a halftone mode.


Dots Per Inch. A measurement of resolution.


A range of grays with regular density intervals from black to white. A grayscale image is an image that contains various levels of gray.


The method of making a black-and-white image appear to have shades of gray.


The bitmapped result of scanning an image.


Interrupt Request. This is a platform resource which generates an interrupt to the platform CPU when active. The interrupt forces the platform CPU to process the task sending the request.


A drawing that contains only black and white, no grays.


A measure of the detail of a digital image. The higher the resolution, the more detail can be expressed.


A device that converts artworks or photos into electronic form that can be loaded and manipulated by a software program.


One of the TWAIN commands in the File menu of a TWAIN application. This command allows you to select the TWAIN source module (or program) that is activated by the Acquire command.


TWAIN is a standard application programming interface for imaging hardware and Windows-based imaging applications. According to this standard, any application that is TWAIN-compliant can communicate with any imaging hardware that is TWAIN-compatible.


Used to refer to a Microsoft Windows application written to recognize and work with TWAIN source programs.