Scanning photos for the Internet

  1. Read the manuals
    Before starting, have all the manuals available, and read them over once. It may not all make sense until you start using the scanner, but having read it once you will find it easier to refer back to specific instructions.
  2. Install the scanner
    Follow the instructions that came with the scanner. These are generally:
    1. Power off the computer
    2. Attach printer to scanner, scanner to computer
    3. Plug in scanner power cord
    4. Turn on computer
  3. Install scanner software
    Instructions usually in a separate booklet. Insert the diskettes /CDs and follow the instructions. When in doubt, take the "recommended" option. There are usually three programs involved.
    1. Scanner drivers -eg. Twain"
    2. Image editor - eg. IphotoPlus
    3. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) - eg. TextBridge

    You may be using different programs than those mentioned here, but the concepts are the same.
    Again, once the programs are installed, read the manual - in this case, the Help files. IphotoPlus has a section called "Basics". If there is a tutorial, follow it through.
    Some scanner software also includes an "umbrella" program with a menu to invoke each of these. This progam is automatically started when you lift the lid on the scanner.
  4. Scan a photo
    1. Place photo in scanner, face down, at the top right of the glass. Close the lid. - doing this may cause the scanner software to open
    2. Open (or choose) IphotoPlus
    3. File / Select source
      • brings up a selection box
      • choose your scanner (eg. ScanMagic 4800 or Mustek...)
      • click on "Select" (or OK)
      This may only be necessary the first time you use the scanner
    4. File /Aquire
      This triggers the scanner program ( eg. Twain), and opens two windows: one for setup, one for preview
    5. In the Scanner setup window, choose:
      • Paper size: custom
      • Colour image (unless you are scanning a black-and-white photo)
      • Resolution: 100 DPI

      Click on "Prescan"
      The scanner will start up, and you will see your phot appear in the Preview window. There may be a delay while the scanner warms up. Wait until the hourglass disappears, and you see "Ready" at the bottom of the Preview window.
    6. In the Preview window, you will see a moving dotted line around your photo. Use the mouse to select the part of the photo you want to include in the scanned file. The mouse cursor changes as you move the mouse. When the cursor is a 4-pointed-arrow, moving the mouse moves the selected area. A double-pointed arrow moves just one border, and a diagonal arrow resizes from the corners. (Try it - this will make more sense).
    7. When you have the selection box over the desired part, go back to the Scanner Setup box and click on "Scan" The scanner will start again, and show a progress bar in the bottom task bar. Again, wait for the "Ready" message.
    8. Now go back to the IphotoPlus window. Your picture should be there in a window with "Untitled" in the title bar. You can use IphotoPlus to edit this. For instance, to rotate the picture, choose Edit / Rotate / 90 degrees. You can also play with the colours (eg. omit red eyes)
    9. When you are satisfied with the picture, choose File / Save This brings up a dialog box "Save image file". Specify
      • File extension: .JPG
      • File name: XXXXXXXX.JPG
        where xxx.. is a name you will recognize (eg. George1.jpg)
        (I recommend using no more than 8 characters, but that's a debate for another day)
      • Directories: scroll through the list and choose the directory where you normally save data.
        Note: If you are not comfortable with the Save dialog box, there is an explanation of it in Windows Help. Open Windows Help (on the Start Menu) and search for "Saving your work".
    10. Close IPhotoPlus
  5. Check the file size
    Open Windows Explorer, and move to the directory where you store the file. In the right window, click on the "modified" heading, and your file will pop to the top of the list. Check the size. If it is more than 100K, think twice about emailing it! (You can make it smaller by selecting a smaller part of the photo, or reducing the resolution).
  6. Check the file in your browser
    This is to see how it will display when you send it to a friend -if, for example it will fit on one screen.
    This can be done in a couple of ways
    1. Double-click on the file in Explorer. This may directly open your browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer). If it doesn't, don't worry - it just means that a "file association" hasn't been set up for this file type.
    2. Open the browser (eg. Internet Explorer) , then choose
      • File / Open / Browse.
      • In the "Files of type" selection box, choose "jpeg files
      • Highlight your photo
      • Click on Open"
        This moves the file name to the Open dialog box
      • Click OK

      Your picture should now be in the browser window.
  7. Email the picture
    Compose a message, then attach the file. In Outlook Express you do this with Insert / File attachment (or click on the paper-clip "shortcut" icon).
    (This will take you through the same File selection dialogs.)
    OR
  8. Post the picture to a bulletin board.
    This is preferable to email, because people can go to the site and view the photos at their convenience (with email, the photo is downloaded onto their computer when they get their email)
    www.eboard.com allows you to have your own "bulletin board". For instance, I can create an eboard called "KnetUser". Others can then access it by going to http://www.knetuser.eboard.com
    Go to http://www.eboard.com and follow the directions.

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