form that your computer can display, edit, store, and output. The image
may be a photograph, page of text, drawing or illustration, or even a
relatively flat, three-dimensional object such as bolt or fabric. In practice,
this means you can use your scanner to do the following:
● Incorporate artwork or photos into documents
● Scan printed text into your word processor and eliminate retyping
● Scan faxed documents into a database or word processor
● Add images to multimedia productions
● Integrate visuals into presentations to make them communicate more
effectively.
With a basic understanding of how scanners work, the types of scanners
available, and what they are capable of doing, you can improve the quality
and efficiency of your work.
Type of scanners
Scanners can be classified into three general types:
● Flatbed scanners, which are used to scan photographs or prints.
Flatbeds have a glass surface on which the materials to be scanned
are placed.
● Transparency and slide scanners, which are used to scan transparent
materials such as filmstrips and slides.
Components of effective scanning
The scanner is only one part of the scanning system. In addition to the
scanner, you need these other components:
● A cable to connect your scanner and computer
● Scanning software that controls how the scanner works