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Open-Licensed Instructional Guides for Learners
Lesson: Scanning Images Using a Microtek Flatbed
Scanner and VueScan
Summary of Process
1 Make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and is turned on.
2 Place the image to be scanned flat and in the proper orientation on the scanner bed.
3 Launch the VueScan software application to perform the image scan.
4 Make sure the appropriate scanning preferences are selected within VueScan prior to performing a scan.
5 Perform a Preview scan prior to an actual file scan to make sure all preferences have been selected correctly.
6 After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device (flash drive, CD, etc.) for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks.
Before You Begin
Before beginning to perform an image scan with the scanner, review these instructions prior to logging onto the workstation and utilize them as a reference during the scanning process. If during the scanning process you find that you have questions, ask your instructor or the Technical Assistant on duty for additional assistance.
Turning On the Scanner
Before launching the scanner software and proceeding to perform an image scan, the scanner itself must be turned on and finished with its power-on test process.
To turn on the Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL flatbed scanner, make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and follow these steps:
1 Locate the rear of the scanner.
2 When facing the rear of the scanner, flip the toggle power switch located in the lower-left corner of the rear scanner body. Once the scanner performs its power-on test, which takes approximately 30 seconds to complete, an indicator light will illuminate on the front of the scanner. The scanner is ready for use.
Placing the Image on the Scanner Bed
Once the scanner has been turned on and has completed its power-on test, the next step prior to launching the scanner software is to place the image to be scanned onto the scanner bed. For best results, the image must be placed flat and in the proper orientation on the scanner bed.
To properly place an image on the bed of the Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL flatbed scanner in preparation for a scan, follow these steps:
1 Locate the front of the scanner.
2 Using the handle molded into the lid of the scanner, lift the lid upward toward the rear of the scanner. The hinges for the lid are located on the rear of the scanner.
3 Once the scanner lid has been lifted, face the front of the scanner and look down onto the clear, glass-like scanner bed.
4 Place your image facedown onto the scanner bed. The corner of the image should be placed into the upper-right corner of the scanner bed. You will see an arrow molded into the case in the upper-right corner of the scanner bed, depicting where the corner of the image should be placed. If the image is smaller than the scanner bed itself, this is okay as the scanning software can select the image itself and avoid scanning any empty area of the scanner bed.
5 Make sure that the image to be scanned is laid flat onto the scanner bed, and that no part of the image that is to be included in the scan is outside of the clear, glass-like scanner bed area.
6 Once the image has been laid flat and properly oriented onto the scanner bed, lower the scanner lid on top of the image. The image is now ready to be scanned using the scanner software.
Overview of VueScan Software
VueScan is an independent scanning software application created by Ed Hamrick of Hamrick Software. Supporting Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS X and various versions of Linux operating systems, VueScan provides robust scanning support across most platform environments found within digital photography environments. To date, VueScan supports over 1200 flatbed and film scanners, as well as over 140 digital camera raw file types. Features include built-in color calibration of scanners, support for over 100 brands of negative film, built-in options for scanning faded slides and prints, IT8 color calibration and ICC color profile support, RAW and TIFF file support, support for file sizes greater than 2GB, simultaneous editing of photos within a photo editor such as Adobe Photoshop while VueScan is in use, and much more.
Launching the VueScan Software Via the Dock
To launch the VueScan software via the Mac OS X Dock, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the VueScan software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner” for additional information)
2 Launch the VueScan software by clicking its icon within the Dock located at the bottom of the Mac OS X Desktop.
Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder
To launch the VueScan software via the Mac OS X Application folder, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the VueScan software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner” within this section for additional information)
2 To launch the VueScan software, click on the Go menu within the Finder menu, and select Applications from the menu options that appear.
3 When the Applications folder window appears, double-click on the VueScan application icon located in the list of applications that appear.
Selecting Adobe Photoshop as the Default External Viewer
VueScan is a scanning application that is independent from all other manufacturer scanning software and photo editing applications. This has enabled VueScan to earn its reputation for performing fast, reliable scan jobs. However, some users are accustomed to using a TWAIN driver to perform a scan directly from a photo editing application, such as Adobe Photoshop, so they have the convenience of having a scanned image ready for editing without having to import an image from a separate scanning application.
While VueScan is not designed for use with a TWAIN driver within a photo editing application, VueScan does provide the ability to select a default viewing application. When a scan job is completed within VueScan, you can instruct VueScan to automatically launch Adobe Photoshop or another application and have the scanned image ready for viewing and editing.
To select Adobe Photoshop as the default external viewer application for editing purposes once a scanning job has been completed, follow these steps:
1 If you have not already done so, launch the VueScan application. (See the sections titled “Launching the VueScan Software via the Dock” or “Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
2 When the VueScan application window appears, click on the Prefs tab located in the upper-left corner of the application window.
3 When the Prefs options appear, find the External Viewer preference option and place a check within the checkbox provided.
4 Underneath the External Viewer selection checkbox, the Viewer selection area popup menu lists all available applications for selecting as your default viewer of scanned images. Click on the popup menu and select Photoshop from the list provided. The selection of Adobe Photoshop as the default external viewer is complete.
Selecting Basic VueScan Preferences Via the Guide Me Wizard
VueScan has two mode types, or operation types, in which scanning tasks can be performed. These two types include the Guide Me wizard and the Advanced Mode. For general scanning tasks where color management is not a necessity at this stage of the production cycle, or where the majority of the editing tasks will be performed using a photo editing application such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, then the Guide Me wizard is sufficient for producing a quality scan. However, if at any time during the scanning process you should decide you need to select additional preferences above and beyond what the Guide Me wizard provides, you may enter the Advanced Mode to do so. (See the Section titled “Selecting Advanced VueScan Preferences for Scanning Output” for additional information.)
To perform a basic scan using VueScan’s Guide Me wizard, follow these steps:
1 Place the image or page you wish to scan onto the scanner bed. (See the section titled “Placing the Image on the Scanner Bed” for additional information.)
2 If you have not already done so, launch the VueScan application. (See the sections titled “Launching the VueScan Software via the Dock” or “Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
3 By default, VueScan will launch in the Guide Me wizard mode. However, if for some reason the application appears to be in the Advanced Mode, you can return to the Guide Me wizard by clicking on the GUIDE ME button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
4 The first step in the wizard asks what type of scan, or task, you wish to perform. Among the tasks listed includes the Scan to file option. This task will allow you to perform a scan and save it in a file type of your choice for later editing using your favorite photo editor, such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, or to include in a slide presentation. Make sure you select the Scan to file option using the popup menu provided and click the NEXT button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
5 In the second step, VueScan will ask you to select which type of media you will be scanning. These media options include Color photo, B/W (Black and White) photo, and Line art. Text, Magazine or Newspaper. Select the media type for the original material you are scanning using the popup menu provided and click the NEXT button.
6 The third step in the VueScan wizard asks you to select the output quality you wish your scan to be. Higher quality (higher resolution) selection options include Print, Edit and Archive. Lower quality (lower resolution) selection options include E-mail or Web. For example, if you are performing a scan with the intent to perform additional editing of the image within a photo editing application such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, you will want to select the Edit quality selection option. Or if you wish to perform a scan for use within a slide presentation using a computer monitor or projection screen, you can select the Web quality selection option. Select the quality type for the final, saved file you are creating from the scan using the popup menu provided and click the NEXT button.
7 After clicking the NEXT button, the scanner will proceed to perform a Preview scan of the image. This step allows you make adjustments to the area you wish to include in the final, saved file you create from your scan. The area inside the dotted-line box shown in the Preview window is the area that will be included in the final, saved file. To make adjustments to this area, place your mouse pointer on one corner of the dotted-line box. When the mouse pointer is on top of the dotted-line box, it transforms itself into a target icon. At this point, hold down the mouse button (the left mouse button if using a two-button or three-button mouse) and drag the box to include or delete areas you wish to include in your final, saved file. Repeat this process for each corner of the dotted-line box, if necessary. You can fine-tune your selection area using the predetermined crop sizes using the popup menu provided in the application window. Once you have made any necessary adjustments to the image area you wish to be included in your final image file, click the NEXT button and VueScan will proceed in performing the actual scan.
8 Once VueScan has performed the scan, a dialog window will appear asking you to enter a file name for your final, saved image file. The dialog window will also ask you to select the location you wish to save the file on your computer workstation, as well as the file type you wish to save the image file as. Depending on the quality option you selected in Step #6, you may be provided with only one file format option that best suites the quality you desire. For easy access for opening and/or editing your file using a photo editor, or for saving your image file to a removable storage device such as a flash drive or CD, select the Desktop as the location you wish to save your image file. Enter an appropriate file name for your image file using the Save As field provided and click the SAVE button. If you are in a digital lab or other work environment where multiple users are using the workstation you performed your scan on, be sure to save your image file to a removable storage device when completed as your scanned file may get deleted.
9 In the final step, VueScan may present a dialog window asking whether you intend to edit or print the file you just scanned. Click the NO button to exit the VueScan application. This will allow you to select the application you desire to perform your editing and/or printing tasks without relying upon the default application VueScan has selected. (NOTE: If you plan to perform multiple scans and wish to change the default application VueScan has selected for editing or opening image files, you can select the default application by clicking on the Prefs tab located in the upper-left side of the application window)
Selecting Advanced VueScan Preferences for Scanning Output
VueScan has two mode types, or operation types, in which scanning tasks can be performed. These two types include the Guide Me wizard and the Advanced Mode. For specialized scanning tasks where color management is essential at this stage of the production cycle, or where certain editing tasks such as restoring faded colors or specifying image resolution, then the Advanced Mode is the operation type you need to select. However, if at any time during the scanning process you should decide you do not need the myriad of options the Advanced Mode provides, you may enter the Guide Me wizard to perform an easy, basic scan of high quality. (See the Section titled “Selecting Basic VueScan Preferences Via the Guide Me Wizard” for additional information.)
To perform a scan using VueScan’s Advanced Mode operation, follow these steps:
1 Place the image or page you wish to scan onto the scanner bed. (See the section titled “Placing the Image on the Scanner Bed” for additional information.)
2 If you have not already done so, launch the VueScan application. (See the sections titled “Launching the VueScan Software via the Dock” or “Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
3 By default, VueScan will usually launch in the Guide Me wizard mode. To enter into the Advanced Mode, click the ADVANCED button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
4 A list of advanced options will appear within the application window for you to select. However, to view all of the advanced options VueScan provides, click the MORE button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
5 In the upper-left corner of the application window, there are six tabs available where you can select advanced scanning options within the Advanced Mode: Input, Crop, Filter, Color, Output and Prefs. Beginning with the Input tab, select the appropriate options for your scanning task. Once you have selected the appropriate Input options, proceed with selecting the remaining options by clicking on the appropriate tabs within the application window. Cropping options could be skipped until a preview scan has been performed in Step #6.
6 After selecting the appropriate advanced scanning preference options, click the PREVIEW button in the lower-left corner of the application window to perform a preview scan. This step allows you make adjustments to the area you wish to include in the final, saved file you create from your scan. The area inside the dotted-line box shown in the Preview window is the area that will be included in the final, saved file. To make adjustments to this area, place your mouse pointer on one corner of the dotted-line box. When the mouse pointer is on top of the dotted-line box, it transforms itself into a target icon. At this point, hold down the mouse button (the left mouse button if using a two-button or three-button mouse) and drag the box to include or delete areas you wish to include in your final, saved file. Repeat this process for each corner of the dotted-line box, if necessary. You can fine-tune your selection area using the predetermined crop sizes using the popup menu provided in the application window. Once you have made any necessary adjustments to the image area you wish to be included in your final image file, click the SCAN button and VueScan will proceed in performing the actual scan.
7 Once VueScan has performed the scan, the scanned image may appear on your monitor for reviewing using the Default Viewing application selected under the Prefs tab in Step #5. The actual scanned file is saved in the Default Folder location you selected under the Output tab in Step #5. At this time, it advisable to save a copy of the scanned image to a secure location for safekeeping. (See the section titled “Completion of Image Scanning” for additional information.)
Completion of Image Scanning
Once you have completed the scanning of an image using either the Guide Me wizard or the Advanced Mode, you are ready utilize the image file for your intended purpose (ie editing within a photo editor, printing the image, importing image into a slide presentation, etc.).
After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device, for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks. If you are in a digital lab or other work environment where multiple users are using the workstation you performed your scan on, be sure to save your image file to a removable storage device when completed as your scanned file may get deleted. Suitable removable storage devices include USB flash drives / thumb drives, external USB / FireWire hard drives, CD-R / CD-WR disks, or DVD-R / DVD-RW disks.
Summary of Process
1 Make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and is turned on.
2 Place the image to be scanned flat and in the proper orientation on the scanner bed.
3 Launch the VueScan software application to perform the image scan.
4 Make sure the appropriate scanning preferences are selected within VueScan prior to performing a scan.
5 Perform a Preview scan prior to an actual file scan to make sure all preferences have been selected correctly.
6 After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device (flash drive, CD, etc.) for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks.
Before You Begin
Before beginning to perform an image scan with the scanner, review these instructions prior to logging onto the workstation and utilize them as a reference during the scanning process. If during the scanning process you find that you have questions, ask your instructor or the Technical Assistant on duty for additional assistance.
Turning On the Scanner
Before launching the scanner software and proceeding to perform an image scan, the scanner itself must be turned on and finished with its power-on test process.
To turn on the Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL flatbed scanner, make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and follow these steps:
1 Locate the rear of the scanner.
2 When facing the rear of the scanner, flip the toggle power switch located in the lower-left corner of the rear scanner body. Once the scanner performs its power-on test, which takes approximately 30 seconds to complete, an indicator light will illuminate on the front of the scanner. The scanner is ready for use.
Placing the Image on the Scanner Bed
Once the scanner has been turned on and has completed its power-on test, the next step prior to launching the scanner software is to place the image to be scanned onto the scanner bed. For best results, the image must be placed flat and in the proper orientation on the scanner bed.
To properly place an image on the bed of the Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL flatbed scanner in preparation for a scan, follow these steps:
1 Locate the front of the scanner.
2 Using the handle molded into the lid of the scanner, lift the lid upward toward the rear of the scanner. The hinges for the lid are located on the rear of the scanner.
3 Once the scanner lid has been lifted, face the front of the scanner and look down onto the clear, glass-like scanner bed.
4 Place your image facedown onto the scanner bed. The corner of the image should be placed into the upper-right corner of the scanner bed. You will see an arrow molded into the case in the upper-right corner of the scanner bed, depicting where the corner of the image should be placed. If the image is smaller than the scanner bed itself, this is okay as the scanning software can select the image itself and avoid scanning any empty area of the scanner bed.
5 Make sure that the image to be scanned is laid flat onto the scanner bed, and that no part of the image that is to be included in the scan is outside of the clear, glass-like scanner bed area.
6 Once the image has been laid flat and properly oriented onto the scanner bed, lower the scanner lid on top of the image. The image is now ready to be scanned using the scanner software.
Overview of VueScan Software
VueScan is an independent scanning software application created by Ed Hamrick of Hamrick Software. Supporting Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS X and various versions of Linux operating systems, VueScan provides robust scanning support across most platform environments found within digital photography environments. To date, VueScan supports over 1200 flatbed and film scanners, as well as over 140 digital camera raw file types. Features include built-in color calibration of scanners, support for over 100 brands of negative film, built-in options for scanning faded slides and prints, IT8 color calibration and ICC color profile support, RAW and TIFF file support, support for file sizes greater than 2GB, simultaneous editing of photos within a photo editor such as Adobe Photoshop while VueScan is in use, and much more.
Launching the VueScan Software Via the Dock
To launch the VueScan software via the Mac OS X Dock, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the VueScan software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner” for additional information)
2 Launch the VueScan software by clicking its icon within the Dock located at the bottom of the Mac OS X Desktop.
Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder
To launch the VueScan software via the Mac OS X Application folder, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the VueScan software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner” within this section for additional information)
2 To launch the VueScan software, click on the Go menu within the Finder menu, and select Applications from the menu options that appear.
3 When the Applications folder window appears, double-click on the VueScan application icon located in the list of applications that appear.
Selecting Adobe Photoshop as the Default External Viewer
VueScan is a scanning application that is independent from all other manufacturer scanning software and photo editing applications. This has enabled VueScan to earn its reputation for performing fast, reliable scan jobs. However, some users are accustomed to using a TWAIN driver to perform a scan directly from a photo editing application, such as Adobe Photoshop, so they have the convenience of having a scanned image ready for editing without having to import an image from a separate scanning application.
While VueScan is not designed for use with a TWAIN driver within a photo editing application, VueScan does provide the ability to select a default viewing application. When a scan job is completed within VueScan, you can instruct VueScan to automatically launch Adobe Photoshop or another application and have the scanned image ready for viewing and editing.
To select Adobe Photoshop as the default external viewer application for editing purposes once a scanning job has been completed, follow these steps:
1 If you have not already done so, launch the VueScan application. (See the sections titled “Launching the VueScan Software via the Dock” or “Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
2 When the VueScan application window appears, click on the Prefs tab located in the upper-left corner of the application window.
3 When the Prefs options appear, find the External Viewer preference option and place a check within the checkbox provided.
4 Underneath the External Viewer selection checkbox, the Viewer selection area popup menu lists all available applications for selecting as your default viewer of scanned images. Click on the popup menu and select Photoshop from the list provided. The selection of Adobe Photoshop as the default external viewer is complete.
Selecting Basic VueScan Preferences Via the Guide Me Wizard
VueScan has two mode types, or operation types, in which scanning tasks can be performed. These two types include the Guide Me wizard and the Advanced Mode. For general scanning tasks where color management is not a necessity at this stage of the production cycle, or where the majority of the editing tasks will be performed using a photo editing application such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, then the Guide Me wizard is sufficient for producing a quality scan. However, if at any time during the scanning process you should decide you need to select additional preferences above and beyond what the Guide Me wizard provides, you may enter the Advanced Mode to do so. (See the Section titled “Selecting Advanced VueScan Preferences for Scanning Output” for additional information.)
To perform a basic scan using VueScan’s Guide Me wizard, follow these steps:
1 Place the image or page you wish to scan onto the scanner bed. (See the section titled “Placing the Image on the Scanner Bed” for additional information.)
2 If you have not already done so, launch the VueScan application. (See the sections titled “Launching the VueScan Software via the Dock” or “Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
3 By default, VueScan will launch in the Guide Me wizard mode. However, if for some reason the application appears to be in the Advanced Mode, you can return to the Guide Me wizard by clicking on the GUIDE ME button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
4 The first step in the wizard asks what type of scan, or task, you wish to perform. Among the tasks listed includes the Scan to file option. This task will allow you to perform a scan and save it in a file type of your choice for later editing using your favorite photo editor, such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, or to include in a slide presentation. Make sure you select the Scan to file option using the popup menu provided and click the NEXT button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
5 In the second step, VueScan will ask you to select which type of media you will be scanning. These media options include Color photo, B/W (Black and White) photo, and Line art. Text, Magazine or Newspaper. Select the media type for the original material you are scanning using the popup menu provided and click the NEXT button.
6 The third step in the VueScan wizard asks you to select the output quality you wish your scan to be. Higher quality (higher resolution) selection options include Print, Edit and Archive. Lower quality (lower resolution) selection options include E-mail or Web. For example, if you are performing a scan with the intent to perform additional editing of the image within a photo editing application such as Adobe Photoshop or GIMP, you will want to select the Edit quality selection option. Or if you wish to perform a scan for use within a slide presentation using a computer monitor or projection screen, you can select the Web quality selection option. Select the quality type for the final, saved file you are creating from the scan using the popup menu provided and click the NEXT button.
7 After clicking the NEXT button, the scanner will proceed to perform a Preview scan of the image. This step allows you make adjustments to the area you wish to include in the final, saved file you create from your scan. The area inside the dotted-line box shown in the Preview window is the area that will be included in the final, saved file. To make adjustments to this area, place your mouse pointer on one corner of the dotted-line box. When the mouse pointer is on top of the dotted-line box, it transforms itself into a target icon. At this point, hold down the mouse button (the left mouse button if using a two-button or three-button mouse) and drag the box to include or delete areas you wish to include in your final, saved file. Repeat this process for each corner of the dotted-line box, if necessary. You can fine-tune your selection area using the predetermined crop sizes using the popup menu provided in the application window. Once you have made any necessary adjustments to the image area you wish to be included in your final image file, click the NEXT button and VueScan will proceed in performing the actual scan.
8 Once VueScan has performed the scan, a dialog window will appear asking you to enter a file name for your final, saved image file. The dialog window will also ask you to select the location you wish to save the file on your computer workstation, as well as the file type you wish to save the image file as. Depending on the quality option you selected in Step #6, you may be provided with only one file format option that best suites the quality you desire. For easy access for opening and/or editing your file using a photo editor, or for saving your image file to a removable storage device such as a flash drive or CD, select the Desktop as the location you wish to save your image file. Enter an appropriate file name for your image file using the Save As field provided and click the SAVE button. If you are in a digital lab or other work environment where multiple users are using the workstation you performed your scan on, be sure to save your image file to a removable storage device when completed as your scanned file may get deleted.
9 In the final step, VueScan may present a dialog window asking whether you intend to edit or print the file you just scanned. Click the NO button to exit the VueScan application. This will allow you to select the application you desire to perform your editing and/or printing tasks without relying upon the default application VueScan has selected. (NOTE: If you plan to perform multiple scans and wish to change the default application VueScan has selected for editing or opening image files, you can select the default application by clicking on the Prefs tab located in the upper-left side of the application window)
Selecting Advanced VueScan Preferences for Scanning Output
VueScan has two mode types, or operation types, in which scanning tasks can be performed. These two types include the Guide Me wizard and the Advanced Mode. For specialized scanning tasks where color management is essential at this stage of the production cycle, or where certain editing tasks such as restoring faded colors or specifying image resolution, then the Advanced Mode is the operation type you need to select. However, if at any time during the scanning process you should decide you do not need the myriad of options the Advanced Mode provides, you may enter the Guide Me wizard to perform an easy, basic scan of high quality. (See the Section titled “Selecting Basic VueScan Preferences Via the Guide Me Wizard” for additional information.)
To perform a scan using VueScan’s Advanced Mode operation, follow these steps:
1 Place the image or page you wish to scan onto the scanner bed. (See the section titled “Placing the Image on the Scanner Bed” for additional information.)
2 If you have not already done so, launch the VueScan application. (See the sections titled “Launching the VueScan Software via the Dock” or “Launching the VueScan Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
3 By default, VueScan will usually launch in the Guide Me wizard mode. To enter into the Advanced Mode, click the ADVANCED button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
4 A list of advanced options will appear within the application window for you to select. However, to view all of the advanced options VueScan provides, click the MORE button located in the lower-left corner of the application window.
5 In the upper-left corner of the application window, there are six tabs available where you can select advanced scanning options within the Advanced Mode: Input, Crop, Filter, Color, Output and Prefs. Beginning with the Input tab, select the appropriate options for your scanning task. Once you have selected the appropriate Input options, proceed with selecting the remaining options by clicking on the appropriate tabs within the application window. Cropping options could be skipped until a preview scan has been performed in Step #6.
6 After selecting the appropriate advanced scanning preference options, click the PREVIEW button in the lower-left corner of the application window to perform a preview scan. This step allows you make adjustments to the area you wish to include in the final, saved file you create from your scan. The area inside the dotted-line box shown in the Preview window is the area that will be included in the final, saved file. To make adjustments to this area, place your mouse pointer on one corner of the dotted-line box. When the mouse pointer is on top of the dotted-line box, it transforms itself into a target icon. At this point, hold down the mouse button (the left mouse button if using a two-button or three-button mouse) and drag the box to include or delete areas you wish to include in your final, saved file. Repeat this process for each corner of the dotted-line box, if necessary. You can fine-tune your selection area using the predetermined crop sizes using the popup menu provided in the application window. Once you have made any necessary adjustments to the image area you wish to be included in your final image file, click the SCAN button and VueScan will proceed in performing the actual scan.
7 Once VueScan has performed the scan, the scanned image may appear on your monitor for reviewing using the Default Viewing application selected under the Prefs tab in Step #5. The actual scanned file is saved in the Default Folder location you selected under the Output tab in Step #5. At this time, it advisable to save a copy of the scanned image to a secure location for safekeeping. (See the section titled “Completion of Image Scanning” for additional information.)
Completion of Image Scanning
Once you have completed the scanning of an image using either the Guide Me wizard or the Advanced Mode, you are ready utilize the image file for your intended purpose (ie editing within a photo editor, printing the image, importing image into a slide presentation, etc.).
After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device, for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks. If you are in a digital lab or other work environment where multiple users are using the workstation you performed your scan on, be sure to save your image file to a removable storage device when completed as your scanned file may get deleted. Suitable removable storage devices include USB flash drives / thumb drives, external USB / FireWire hard drives, CD-R / CD-WR disks, or DVD-R / DVD-RW disks.