1. Session 703 Book to Computer: Scanning Basics
CTEBVI 2013
11/30/2018
Session 703 Book to Computer: Scanning Basics
Gaeir Dietrich
Director High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges

2. Overview Scanning and scanners Understanding scanning terminology
Scanning workflow
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3. Scanning Scanning takes a picture.
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Scanning
Scanning takes a picture.
The better the picture, the less editing later on
Similar technology to the copy machine but outputs to a digital file, not paper.
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4. Stand Alone vs. Multi-use
Stand alone scanners…
Provide more control over scans
Result in better scans
Multi-use machines are copiers first, scanners second.
Final products require more editing during production
But it is still better than a flatbed scanner
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5. Scanners When buying a scanner think about these issues:
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Scanners
When buying a scanner think about these issues:
Duplex (two-sides at once)
Automatic feed (pages per minute)
Color (for color dropout)
We like Canon, followed by Fujitsu.
Canon DRC-125, DR-3010C
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6. No Money?
A $ page-per-minute scanner is a far better deal than four $100 flat-bed scanners
If you can only afford a flat-bed, look for one with automatic document feed (ADF)
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7. Scanning Outputs Color scanning usually creates a JPEG.
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Scanning Outputs
Color scanning usually creates a JPEG.
JPEGs are single pages only!!
Black and white scanning creates a TIFF.
TIFFs can be multiple pages.
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8. What is a TIFF? TIFF files are graphics, i.e., pictures of text.
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What is a TIFF?
TIFF files are graphics, i.e., pictures of text.
Tagged Image File Format (TIFF)
Robust, stable standard file type
No version issues
Any program that can open multipage graphics can open a TIFF
Good archival graphical format
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9. But I scan to…
If you get anything other than a TIFF or JPEG, you have used software to convert.
If you scan to PDF, you have used software to transform your file.
Scanning hardware does not create PDFs.
Conversion runs the risk of losing data and increasing editing time.
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10. Converting TIFFs
TIFF can be converted to other formats, including other graphic formats like PDF.
To get to the text you must run a TIFF file through an optical character recognition (OCR) program.
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11. Scanning Is the First Step
Settings for your scan will be determined by the end-format you want to create
For text, you will scan then run OCR
Optical Character Recognition
See session 901 on Sunday
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12. Scanning Terms Duplex vs. simplex Skew/deskew Margin control
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Scanning Terms
Duplex vs. simplex
Skew/deskew
Margin control
DPI (Resolution)
Mode
Brightness
Contrast
Threshold
RGB color
Color dropout
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13. Duplex vs. Simplex Double-sided vs. single-sided
Duplex = two sides at a time (one pass)
Simplex = one side at a time
Flatbed scanners are simplex scanners
Look for true duplex (one pass)
Not two passes with the program interleaving the scans
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14. Skew Skew is slant Snug the feed guides! Use deskew settings.
i.e., the page is not straight
Snug the feed guides!
Use deskew settings.
The computer can correct for some skew—too much and the text cannot be recognized
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15. Margin Control Scanner determines page size
Avoids large black areas around the edge of the page
On better machine, also removes need for measuring
Better scanners will also have margin adjustment
Note that usually *all* edges are adjusted the same amount.
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16. DPI (Dots per Inch) “Dots” in scanning are really pixels
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DPI (Dots per Inch)
“Dots” in scanning are really pixels
Little squares like on graph paper
Imagine drawing by filling in squares on graph paper…the more squares, the smoother the lines
Higher DPI = better resolution
However, more is not always better!
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17. DPI Comparison
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18. Resolution—DPI Standard for text is 300 DPI
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Resolution—DPI
Standard for text is 300 DPI
Small text may require 400 DPI
Thin paper may require DPI
Really large text may require 200 DPI
Infty Reader for math requires 600 DPI
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19. Mode Black & white Grayscale Color Looks like line art
Only choices for pixels are black or white
Grayscale
Looks like black & white photo
Also called “halftone”
Color
Comes in different “bits”
The more bits, the more color information
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20. Black and White Image scanned in B/W—file size 474 KB 11/30/2018
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21. Black and White ED
Image scanned in B&W ED (Canon DR 5080C)—file size 474 KB
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22. Grayscale Image scanned in Grayscale—file size 3,731 KB 11/30/2018
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23. Choosing the Mode Black and white Black and white ED (error diffusion)
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Choosing the Mode
Black and white
Best for text; smallest file size
Black and white ED (error diffusion)
Better for graphics; slightly larger files
Usually best to avoid grayscale
Large files that do not OCR as well
Color
Sometimes necessary; large files
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24. Which Mode to Choose? It depends on how important the graphics are!
Is it for a student who has some usable vision and needs enlargement?
Grayscale or color may be needed
Is it to create braille?
Black and white will usually give the best OCR results.
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25. Brightness Overall darkness or lightness of page Balance Scale 1-255
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Brightness
Overall darkness or lightness of page
Balance
Not too dark, not too light
Scale 1-255
Lower numbers decrease brightness
Down into darkness
Higher numbers increase brightness
Up to the light
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26. Brightness Example
It’s just like turning on lights over an entire room.
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27. Adjusting Brightness Default is 128 Too dark Too light
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Adjusting Brightness
Default is 128
Too dark
Letter shapes run together
Too light
Letter shapes are thin or broken
Newsprint type papers often need increased brightness
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28. Brightness Guidelines
Check the appearance of the scan
If characters are thick and touching (running together) > increase brightness
If characters are thin and broken (lines thin/missing areas) > reduce brightness
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29. Sample Scans Too bright Just right Too dark 11/30/2018
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30. Contrast Difference between light and dark on page Scale is 1-13
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Contrast
Difference between light and dark on page
Scale is 1-13
Higher number increases contrast
Darks darker, lights lighter
Lower number decreases contrast
Darks get lighter, lights get darker
Becomes more uniform
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31. Contrast Example
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32. Adjusting Contrast Default is 7 Low contrast High contrast
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Adjusting Contrast
Default is 7
Low contrast
Entire page is either “muddy” looking
Or washed-out looking
High contrast
Extremes of light and dark
May lose midrange detail
Newsprint-type paper oftens need increased brightness
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33. Threshold In black and white mode Sets where gray will be seen
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Threshold
In black and white mode
Sometimes just see brightness (contrast settings disappear)
Sets where gray will be seen
Increased threshold adds more white
More grays seen as white
Decreased threshold adds more black
More grays seen as black
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34. Despeckle “Erases” speckles Helps with small stray black dots
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Despeckle
“Erases” speckles
Helps with small stray black dots
Works really well when having to scan a photocopy or newsprint
Beware of going too far and erasing periods and umlauts
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35. Gamma…it’s complicated…
Adjusts the middle tones
Usually more useful for scanning graphics than text
Can be altered to bring out more detail in shadows in photos
Usually only on high-end hardware
Try everything else first!
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36. Settings Summary Brightness = overall tone
Contrast = difference in highs and lows
Gamma = adjustment in midtones
Threshold = on or off switch for grays
Grays seen as white or black
May appear as just the “brightness” bar
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37. RGB Color RGB = Red, Green, Blue
RGB color system is used by TVs, computers, and scanners!
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38. “Additive” Color System
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39. Color Scanners Many color scanners for documents allow “color dropout”
The scanner “ignores” a particular color
“Erases” the color
Red, blue, or green
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40. Color Dropout Drop out colored markings Yellowish pages
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Color Dropout
Drop out colored markings
Orange highlighter (drop out red)
Blue pen (drop out blue and despeckle)
Yellowish pages
Drop out red (improves contrast)
Tinted backgrounds
Watch out for dropping out text
Be aware of color with white text on it
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41. Scanned Page with Orange Highlighter
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42. Same Page with Red Drop-out
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43. Scanning Workflow Remove spine from book
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Scanning Workflow
Remove spine from book
Separate any pages still glued together
Choose a few representative pages for a test scan
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44. Procedure Continued Scan representative pages to TIFF
Check image on screen for possible adjustments
Run OCR on sample pages
Error rate should be no higher than one per page
Higher errors mean you need to adjust the scanner settings
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45. Ready to Scan With the settings determined, scan the entire book
Now that you have a good picture, your OCR and editing should go quickly!
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46. Advanced Ideas
Be aware of individual pages that may need additional adjustment
A few pages may need to be scanned separately
A few pages may need color
Reassemble in your OCR program
While checking test pages, also create OCR templates as appropriate
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47. Suggestion on Organizing Files Structure
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Suggestion on Organizing Files Structure
Label chapters (or chapter folders):
01 Chapter
02 Chapter
Label front matter to place it first:
00 Front Matter
Label back matter just with its name:
Back Matter
This file structure will create a logical order.
Be aware of how computers handle numbers
numbers first for screen reader
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48. Example CTEBVI 2013 11/30/2018 www.htctu.net 48 11/30/2018
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49. Timesaver: Create a Template Folder
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Timesaver: Create a Template Folder
The template folder can be copied and pasted—all the inside folders are copied, as well!
Putting the zero in front makes the folder easy to find.
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50. Miscellaneous Tips Chopping books Spines and flatbeds Guillotine
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Miscellaneous Tips
Chopping books
Guillotine
Exacto knife to remove spine and check with Fed Ex Office (Kinko’s) about cutting the pages
Spines and flatbeds
If you have to scan a book with a thick spine on a flatbed, get a large dark piece of cloth and cover the scanner—prevents the darkened area along the spine
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51. What Do I Scan With?
First try the software that came with your scanner
Often optimized to take advantage of all your scanner’s features
With flatbed scanners, sometimes the software is not the best
Can scan with OCR programs and some graphics programs (e.g., Photoshop)
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52. High Speed Scanning and Static
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High Speed Scanning and Static
Dryer sheets hung over paper path
Make sure to attach them well—don’t scan them! ;-)
Add humidity
Run humidifier
Mist paper lightly with spray bottle
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53. Keep It Clean! Clean your scanner often!
Bits of glue and paper fall into scanner
Clean glass
Print builds up on rollers
Clean rollers and feed guides
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54. And the most important tip…
Play with your scanner!!!
Try big changes in the settings
Push brightness and contrast to the edges and see what happens!
Compare and contrast
Try one page in B&W, grayscale, and color
Try thin paper, glossy paper, newsprint
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55. Mammals Play to Learn Take time to learn your scanner
Learning to enhance scanner settings will result in better “pictures” and less editing!
Taking the time to create good scans saves time in the long run.
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56. Happy scanning! Gaeir (rhymes with “fire”) Dietrich
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