SCANNING BASICS FOR EPSON SCANNERS When using EpsonScan software with any of the Epson flatbed scanners in Labs 1, 2, 3 or 4, the following steps must be followed in order to properly save files. Select Professional Mode. Click on Configuration. Click on Other then Select Scratch. This configuration only needs to be performed once, at the beginning of your scanning session.
SCANNING BASICS FOR EPSON SCANNERS 1 The labs have several Epson flatbed scanners: the 4990, 1640XL and 10000 XL. The 4990 scanners have a maximum can area of 8 x 10 and the 1640 and 10000 scanners have a maximum scan area of 12 x 17. All scanners have transparency adapters for scanning negatives and slides (adapters can be checked out from cage). In order to use the transparency feature YOU MUST REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE COVER from the UNDERSIDE of the SCANNER LID. Please replace this cover when you are finished scanning. There are TWO ways to use the EPSON SCAN software. First is to use it directly from the applications menu. The second way is to use the import command in PHOTOSHOP FILE > Import > EPSON There is NO difference in quality of scan or options in the scanning software. The ONLY difference between the method of operation is that when you scan via PHOTOSHOP, the scan image is opened in PHOTOSHOP. When you scan using the EPSON SOFTWARE directly, the scan is SAVED to a USER SPECIFIED LOCATION. The process for the direct scanning method is is described below. First in the scan control window click on the folder icon (this icon ONLY appears when using the EPSON software directly) Then, you will get the dialog window shown to the left. Its pretty self explanatory, you choose where the file is saved to, the name of the file and a numbering sequence. In this example, the files are being saved to the Desktop The naming structure will be img001. So subsequent files will be saved as img002, img003, etc. Below that you choose your file format (JPEG, TIFF, PSD, PDF or PICT). Click OK and you are done. The scan destination and naming structure will remain the same until you change it. Again, this is only necessary for scanning directly with the EPSON software.
SCANNING BASICS FOR EPSON SCANNERS 2 As mentioned earlier, there is NO difference in quality of scan or options in the scanning software. The ONLY difference between the method of operation is that when you scan via PHOTOSHOP, the scan image is opened in PHOTOSHOP. The following steps describe the basic options in the EPSON scan software and are the same no matter which method you use for importing (via Photoshop or the EPSON software directly). When you open the software you will see a window that looks something like the window below. Mode: Switches mode between: Home Office Professional Mode (The Professional Mode gives you the most options) Original Section - tells the scanner what KIND of image is being scanned Document Type: Reflective or Film Document Source: Will either be the flatbed table or film holder Auto Exposure Type: Switches between Photo (continuous tone images) and Document (Hard B&W little grey) Destination Section - tells the scanner what size and type of file to save the scan Image Type: Switches between 48/16-bit color/bw, 24/8-bit color/b/ W. Scanning Quality -should simply be left on Best. Resolution - Pixel density of the final scan. Document Size - The Original size of the image being scanned (the original size affects how large of a scan you can create. Target Size determines the final output dimensions (more on this later) Adjustments Allows you to change tone, contrast, etc of the image before you scan. The controls are similar to the ones in Photoshop (Levels, Curves, etc.) so it wont be covered in this handout. You can see what the functions are in EPSON"S help menu. Preview and Scan Buttons - Preview creates a preview of your image that you can crop and adjust prior o scanning. The scan button finalizes your selection and scans the image. Help Button, Epson help menu Configuration Button, changes the hardware settings of the scanner. Close Button, closes the scanner software and returns the user to Photshop (or quits the program if you are using the software in standalone mode).
SCANNING BASICS FOR EPSON SCANNERS Load Scanner (Documents) To load documents, prints and flatbed objects, simply place the item FACE DOWN on the scanner. For most document scans, its recommended that you line the corner of your original with the scanners origin point on the upper right corner of the scanner bed. paper/document Load Scanner (Film) To load film in the Epson Scanners you will need the plastic film holders for the particular model scanner you are using. So be sure to note which scanner you are working with before going to the cage to check out a film holder. All of Epson Scanners will scan 35mm strip film and slides; 6cm film and 4 x 5. The 1640 and 10000 scanners can scan 8 x 10 negatives and full contact pages For the film scanning to work you need to be careful to NOT block the scanners calibration guide (shown to the right) DON"T BLOCK GUIDE if you are using film holders Choose Film settings Before scanning and after loading, be sure to pick what kind of document you are scanning. Reflective is for documents and flat objects of course. Film (with Film Holder) is for film scans using the film holders. Film (with Film Area Guide) is for film without the holder - like scanning contact pages of 8 x 10 negs. Film type is of course color, B&W negative or Transparencies. After all that, click on the Preview button to open the preview window so you can crop and scale your image 3
SCANNING BASICS FOR EPSON SCANNERS 4 PREVIEW WINDOW When you click on the preview button you are presented with the Preview Window. Here you can use the Marquee tool to select the parts of the original you want to scan. For reflective objects you will drag around the parts of the image you need to scan and for film you drag the marquee tool around the frame you need to scan. The Marquee tool looks like this: +. It is automatically called up when you drag your cursor over the preview area. The example below shows an image with MULTIPLE MARQUEES. The SOLID LINE marquees represent a different area to waiting to be scanned. The DOTTED LINE marquee is the ACTIVE marquee. Which basically means that its tonalities, color, etc. can be adjusted as well as its target size. If you click the SCAN button, the ACTIVE marquee will be the only area that is scanned. Eraser deletes selected marquees Copy Duplicates selected marquee Inactive Marquee Duplicates selected marquee Auto Find Locates image on scanner bed. All Marquees will select all the marquees you created and make them active. If you click scan when all marqees are active, they will all be scanned Active marquee Print Dimensions of selected marquee Pixel Dimensions of selected marquee RGB value (corresponds to cursor location)
SCANNING BASICS FOR EPSON SCANNERS 5 Some final tidbits about resolution. The scanning software gives you several options for final resolution and output size. For printing, rule of thumb for for scans is that you scan for a ppi/dpi of 300 for whatever your print size is up to 16 x 20 (this is not RULE, just a good starting point-your milage may vary). Choose a resolution Your maximum resolution will change according to your ORIGINAL IMAGE SIZE and your TARGET SIZE. Choose an Target/Output size There are several preset output sizes available (for custom sizes simply use your marquee tool and select what you want to scan OR type in an output size). By default, the measurements are CONSTRAINED which means that if you change the height, then the width will change as well to maintain the same proportion. To deactivate this click on the LOCK icon next to the target size drop down menu so that it appears unlocked. in the example above, the image scanned will be 11 x 17 at 300 ppi/dpi - which gives it a pixel dimension measurement of 3300 x 5100. Good luck and have fun scanning.