If you're new to scanning or want to get better results, read this introductory guide to scanning images.

• Installation and Acquiring Images from your Scanner
• Enhancing Images With Photo Express
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Scan Tips

• Insert the scanner card into an empty expansion slot in your PC
• Connect the scanner cable from the scanner card to the scanner
• Run the installation software provided with your scanner. This software contains drivers allowing your PC to communicate with your scanner
• Use an imaging software program such as Photo Express to "call up" the scanner. Simply click Get on the Command panel, then select Scanner on the toolbar. On the Options panel, select the scanner from the Select data source list
• Select Apply Post Processing to clean up your images
• Click on Acquire to automatically upload your images from your scanner

Bad Contrast
Contrast is the difference between light and dark pixels. The higher the range between the two, the sharper the contrast will be.

The solution
Choose the Lighting option under the Adjust Command. By experimenting with different kinds of lighting and spotlights, you can easily obtain the desired contrast between light and dark.

Askew
The photograph on the scanner glass is sometimes incorrectly positioned so that when the image is scanned it looks crooked or askew.

The solution
Choose the Straighten option under the Auto Enhance function. Here you can straighten your photos in one click. If that doesn't work, try the Transform option under the Adjust command. You can rotate or flip the image. Or, rotate it freehand by clicking and dragging the round handles on the corners of the image to straighten it.

Unwanted Backgrounds
Unwanted background is usually the result of a scanning area that is too large. The photograph needs to be cropped to eliminate unwanted edges.

The solution
Choose the Crop option under the Auto Enhance function. This allows you to eliminate unwanted edges.

Color and Brightness
The scanner color and brightness levels are sometimes adjusted incorrectly, resulting in scanned images that are too bright or contain too much of a single color.

The solution
Choose the Balance Color option under the Adjust Command. Select one of the color filter presets, then click on the Advanced mode to fine-tune your processing.

Pixelization
Scanning a photograph at a resolution that is too low will result in pixelization in the image. The best way to resolve this is to rescan the image at the correct resolution. You can also adjust the focus of the image.

The solution
Choose the Focus option when you are adjusting or editing your image. Photo Express simulates the effect of adjusting the focus of your image with a Sharpening tool. Simply select a balanced adjustment from one of the presets or use the Advanced mode to fine-tune the adjustments.

WHAT IS SCALING?
Scaling refers to the physical size of your image, in inches or pixels, not to its resolution size. A small image requires less disk space and processing time than a larger image, but a high-resolution (DPI) scan increases your file tremendously.

WHAT IS DPI?
DPI is the number of dots of ink per inch for an image printed on paper. The DPI of the printer has a direct affect on the image Quality. Most laser printers can print between 300 and 1,200 DPI, depending on the quality of the printer. In general, however, You should choose an images' resolution to be lower than the printer's resolution in order to maintain a good level of grays across the printed image.

WHAT IS TONE MAPPING?
Scanned images often appear different from the original due to bad color calibration, which is also known as tone mapping. Tone mapping compensates for the different ways scanner types reproduce color. The tones of the original image are mapped to the tones of the scanned imaged.

HOW DO I DETERMINE THE BEST RESOLUTION FOR AN IMAGE?
The best resolution for an image depends on what you plan to do with it once you have scanned it. For example, are you going to display it only on your monitor? Are your going to print it out? Each output device (monitor or printer) has its own recommended resolution. Setting a resolution above your output devices' capabilities achieves no added benefits , and may in fact adversely affect your image. Just remember to set the resolution for the intended output device.

HOW DO I SEND IMAGES VIA FAX WITH PHOTO EXPRESS?
To send a fax, you must have Microsoft Fax or Symantec WinFax installed on your computer. Select the image you want to send, then choose the Share option and click on Fax. This will run your default fax program and set up a basic fax with the included page. The, simply continue as you would for sending any other fax.

WHY DO MY IMAGES PRINT OUT TOO SMALL?
This is because the image resolution is set at a value near, or above the printer's resolution. To solve this problem, decrease the image resolution. Resize the image accordingly, by changing your display resolution. Right click on an empty space on your desktop, then from the Windows Display Properties dialogue box that appears, select the Settings tab. From the desktop area, adjust the resolution to a lower resolution.

NOT SATISFIED WITH YOUR SCANNED IMAGE QUALITY?
If your scanned image has lots of spots, jagged edges, or lacks details, it's mostly likely due to your resolution setting. If there are a lot of spots, scan at a higher resolution to blend the colors more smoothly. Jagged edges and loss of details, however, may be the result of scan at resolution that's too low. Lower resolution settings detect even less data, so set to a higher resolution.

COLOR IMAGES AND PRINTERS
If you print color images on a black and white printer, the result is sometimes undesired. To get optimal results, convert the image type to grayscale and adjust the brightness and contrast to make the image look better before printing. Also, calibrate your printer and scanner to account for the differences between the monitor, scanner and printer.