Scanning + Graphics Overview

Making the Computer Work for You!

Scanning + Graphics

Objective: Provide the student with a hand’s-on overview and practical exercises designed to teach "the basics" of using a scanner and handling pictures we take with the Sony Mavica digital camera. To print out class handout in Word 97®, click here.

Hewlett Packard Scan Jet 6000 Scanner^® We will use the classroom scanner to scan the pictures you bring to class. After scanning them, we’ll save the files to a new folder on the classroom's "shared S:\ Drive." Then, we will work with/ enhance them and ultimately save them to your floppy diskette.

Note: We can save our scanned files in up to 20 different file-picture formats. However, we’ll save the files in a format called, "J-PEG." .JPG allows the saving of moderately small files which have 16-million colors and are compressed to a smaller file size by something in the order of 40-50 percent. J-PEG and .GIF's are the predominant file formats used on the Internet and the World Wide Web.

If we get into sending E-Mail messages on the Internet, and if you’ll bring in the exact E-mail address of a friend, you can possibly send these pictures and a message to a friend.

You may also insert pictures into a letter you might write using the Windows Accessory, WordPad.

Pictures can also be inserted into a MS-WORD, or MS-WORKS 3.0, 4.0 or 4.5 document.

Adobe PhotoShop^®, is a graphics enhancing program which costs about $700.00. However, there are many other (shareware) graphics handling programs available for downloading on the Internet. Shareware.com, Mindworkshop.com/alchemy/alchemy.html, Download.com, Win95.com, SoftSeek .com, etc., have many shareware graphics programs which will allow you to embellish or touch-up, scale, crop, brighten-dim, transform (flip or mirror), dither and convert your graphics.

SCANNING – is a 5 Step Process:

Pre-scan. Scanner "reads" the outline of the whole document to be scanned.

Select (using the mouse) the outline of the area of the desired item to be scanned.

Scan the document.

Save the "scan image." Go to: File Menu à Save As… Then, enter a FileName & Folder.

Use "Save as File Type" to select the type of image you want to save.

NOTE: In our classroom, we'll use "Save as File Type" and select the .JPG file type.

SCANNING Modes. There are two scanning modes: Graphics and OCR.

Graphics. The scanning of pictures or words resulting in a "graphics file."

OCR = Optical Character Recognition. An OCR scan scans a document (with or without pictures) and, depending on your scanner’s software program, the resultant file can be saved can be a word processing document – with or without pictures, or an ASCII text document without pictures. Good OCR scanning software programs will replicate the scanned document exactly, i.e., replicate all fonts and point sizes, with pictures and text box place holders faithfully reproduced.

Scanning will produce some very large computer graphics files.
The higher the scanning resolution you select, the larger the file that will be "built."

Below is shown an approximation of the size of files which would result at various resolutions:

Resolution: 320 x 240 D.P.I. (Dots per square inch) (Pixels) (Picture Element)

320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240
320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240	320 x 240

320 x 240 = 76,800 pixels per square inch X 93.5 In² = 7,180,800 DPI per 8½" x 11" sheet.

RESOLUTION: 640 x 480 D.P.I. (Dots per square inch) (Pixels)

640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480
640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480	640 x 480

640 x 480 = 307,200 pixels per square inch X 93.5 In² = 28,723,200 DPI per 8½ x11 sheet.

RESOLUTION: 800 x 600 D.P.I. (Dots per square inch) (Pixels)

800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600
800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600	800 x 600

800 x 600 = 480,000 pixels per square inch X 93.5 In² = 44,880,000 DPI per 8½ x 11" sheet.

How does the hardware work? How do I install it? How do I install the software?

Types of scanners: 1. Flatbed scanner. 2. Page scanner. 3. Hand scanner. 4. Specialty.

Each have their advantages and disadvantages.

Scanners come in resolutions from 300 x 300 dpi, to 4,800 x 4,800 dpi. With scanners, it's the "Optical Resolution" that counts. Everything else is just "marketing wizardry." The higher the "optical resolution," the better the image. (Note: 600 x 600 dpi is excellent for normal home use.)

Scanners have different techniques for producing images. I.e., one scan to capture the three different colors, versus three scans of the same picture to capture the three primary colors.

You can scan photographs (positives), as well as photographic negatives (color and B&W).

You can save a file in many "file formats." Some of the more common are:

1. Windows Bitmap *.BMP	2. CompuServe Graphics File *.GIF
3. Joint Picture Experts Group *.JPG	4. Portable Networks Graphics *.PNG
5. Tagged Image File (fax) *.TIF	6. PC Paintbrush *.PCX
7. Kodak Photo CD *.PCD	8. Device Independent Bitmap *.DIB

There are choices as to how many colors you can save a color file in.

36 BIT Color = 68.7 Billion colors.
There's now 42 Bit Color Scanners on the Market. Newest on the market.

30 BIT Color = 25 Billion colors. These are commercial grade.

24 BIT Color = 16.7 Million colors. (In class we'll use 24 Bit … that’s all we can "see" on equipment.)

We "de-color" pictures used in Web pages to "256 colors - (216 colors)." That's all you can see on the Internet.

Scanners can be "hooked up" to your computer in three principal ways.

Parallel Port. (Shares port with printer.) Three program protocols: PP, EPP and ECP.

PP = Parallel Port. EPP = Enhanced Parallel Port.

ECP = Enhanced Capabilities Port. (The best when using parallel port.)

Small Computer System Interface Card. (SCSI) SCSI is much faster than using a Port.
Universal Serial Bus. (USB) The newest (summer of ’97) and the best.
(Frees "interrupts" on your PC and scans pictures much faster.)

Be mindful of your "TOTAL SYSTEM"

TOTAL SYSTEM = Graphics Card + Monitor + Scanner + Printer.

PROPOSED HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
(Note: This project could be assigned given enough class interest.)

1. Decide which project you’d like to make: Your Family Tree, or make a Photo Album.

2. Collect your favorite photographs and / or photographic negatives.

Bring them to the next classes. We’ll scan/enhance/crop them, as desired. Then, we’ll do the project in 3 or 4 sessions.

If making a Family Tree, bring notes on family member names, dates of birth, social security numbers, dates of death, etc., as appropriate.

An EXERCISE

Follow these instructions for inserting your scanned picture(s) and digital camera J-PEG files into an MS-WORD word processing document and printing it.

Open the YourName document in the Graphics folder on your floppy disk.
(You can open it from this hyperlink in the classroom: YourName.doc )

Type "Your Name" in the "Your Name Here" text field under the date in the Heading.

Click in the text box in front of the "ß Insert your picture HERE" line. Turn on the "Show/Hide all characters." Then, delete all characters down to the paragraph mark. ( ¶ )

Go to Insert menu, select: Insert à Picture à From File … Select a file.

Drag the lower right Text Box "Handle" until you see the "Enter (EDIT) Your NAME HERE!" Then, edit this line to change it to your name, as appropriate.

Next, go to the line which reads, "Delete THIS text, then insert Pic # 2 HERE à " Delete this text and INSERT Pic # 2. Re-size & Drag to center of page. (RO-HEAD2)

Check your page’s general layout by using "Print Preview." Realign as required or as desired.

Add additional photos / pictures, as desired.

Note: Document will be too large to save to our floppy diskette. However; we can print it.

When satisfied with your page’s content and layout, print it by clicking on the print button on the tool bar, or use File Menu à Print, or use shortcut keys’ Control + P.

Don’t you just see…?? …how you can scan your own pictures; or take a picture with a digital camera, and insert them into a word processing document? In addition to printing them, you can attach either the pictures, or the word processing document, to an E-mail message and then send it to your family and friends anyplace in the world.

This page made with MS-WORD 97®