Chapter 4: Using Art-Scan Software
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Loading the Art-Scan Software

This chapter covers the commands, functions, and features used to create scanned images with Art-Scan.

  • The Art-Scan interface, which loads by using your image editing software's FILE->IMPORT->(TWAIN_32)... command, contains the Preview window and the tools needed to perform the preview and final scans. See the Quick Install Manual for more details.
  • The Image Processing tools allow you to modify the way Art-Scan processes your scanned image.
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How Art-Scan Works

Art-Scan was designed to be the kitchen sink of scanning software. In the scanning process, many operations can be performed to every scan such as sharpening, resizing, calibrating, and scaling. With Art-Scan, these features can be done automatically, eliminating the need to apply them to every scan. Art-Scan was designed to speed up the scanning process.

Most people purchase a scanner, and find that any line art scans that they perform come out extremely jagged. In fact, these scans are so jagged that they end up redrawing the entire original. Art-Scan allows you to scan line art at very high resolutions and automatically convert it to postscript art. This eliminates the need for redrawing and saves you valuable time.

For color and grayscale images, many people find that the scanned image does not look like the original. This may require an immense amount of effort to color correct the scanned image to the original. With Art-Scan, this correction is done automatically which frees the scanner operator to concentrate on retouching photographs rather than correcting a bad scan.

There are other valuable features that Art-Scan provides to save you time and energy in the scanning process and are discussed in detail in this chapter later.
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Scan Mode

The scan mode menu allows you to choose the type of image you are going to scan. This is where you select whether you want to scan in CMYK or RGB color, grayscale, line art, or vector art. There are now five choices on the menu:
  1. CMYK Color - This mode allows you to select a color scan. The resulting image will appear in full 32-bit CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) color. This is an especially useful mode to scan with if you will be scanning images that will be scanning images that will be reproduced by a printing press. The resulting image may be saved and imported directly into any desktop publishing program that supports 4-color separations.
  2. RGB Color - This mode allows you to select a color scan. The resulting image will appear in full 24-bit the side popup menu to select the number of colors you desire (Billions, Millions, 256). Under 256 colors sampled mode give the best output but takes the longest to compute.
  3. Grayscale - This mode will result in an image with the maximum of 256 distinct shades of gray, even if a color original is placed in the scanning bed. You should use this option when you will be printing to a black and white laser printer (Thousands or 256 shades).
  4. Line Art - This mode will result in an image made up of only black or white pixels, and is used for scanning logos, artwork, and text.
  5. Vector Line Art - Art-Scan has a special mode, called SpeedLiner, which will scan line art and automatically trace the line art into vector type files. These are commonly called EPS Files (Encapsulated Postscript) or path files. This file format is made up of lines and curves instead of dots and is easier to work with than a Bitmap file. It is the preferred method for scanning high-resolution line art because it maintains extra high quality while keeping file sizes small. When the Scan Mode is set to Vector Line Art and the Scan button is pressed, the SpeedLiner Bitmap to Art Menu appears.
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Measurements

Art-Scan allows you a great deal of flexibility whenever you crop an image to fit a certain size or dimension. The Measurements Box goes hand in hand with Scaled Info. The default of the Art-Scan software crop box is measured in inches. If you click and hold down your mouse button on the box marked IN, the measurement boxes will expand. In the box you will see the choices of IN, CM, PTS, PICAS, and PIXEL. These stand for inches, centimeters, points, picas and pixels. Just move your mouse pointer to the measurement of your choice and let go. The measurement will then become the default. This is extremely helpful when you intend to use your scanned images in web design, multimedia development or presentations.
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SpeedLiner Settings

The SpeedLiner function is invoked when you select Vector Art from the scan mode menu. You should then select the resolution that you want the image to scanned and traced at. The higher you set the resolution, the better the quality image you will have to trace from. Depending on your system's resources, we recommend 1200 to 2400 dpi as a guide.

After you hit scan, the menu to the left appears. With the scroll bar you may set the accuracy of the tracing as you desire. The closer you match the bitmap the more points will be created in your EPS artwork. Once you click OK, a file dialog box will appear. Enter a name for the file you wish to save as postscript art and click OK. A progress bar will appear and show as the scan is completed. Remember that this is a vector art file and requires a software package such as Adobe Illustrator, Aldus FreeHand, CorelDRAW!, or Deneba Canvas to open. Unlike raster (or bitmapped) files, which can be opened in raster image editing software packages like Adobe Photoshop, vector files must be opened in draw type packages. It is important to note that you cannot load your vector art image into Photoshop.
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Image Control Buttons
Black Point Selector Mid Point Selector White Point Selector
Arbitrary Rotation Descreen Image Rotate 90 Degrees
Magnify Image ICM Calibration Sharpen Image
Invert Image New Selection Rectangle Line and Noise Removal
Save Settings Load Settings Flip Image
Curves, Levels, Input, Output Histograms Auto Balance Preferences

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Scroll Bars

This is the easiest way to enhance an image for most people. Many different adjustments can be manipulated with the scroll bar. You can choose the option you want to adjust, such as Highlight, Shadow or Saturation from the Image Adjust pull down menu. Then to adjust, use the slider bar or the right or left arrows on the scroll bar itself. For example to make your image darker, choose Dark<-> Light and move the bar on the scroll to the left.

1. Dark<-> Light - Choosing this option allows you to use a scroll bar to adjust the midpoint of your scanned image. You can use the eyedroppers, histogram, gamma curve, or this option to adjust the midpoint for your scanned images.

2. Cyan<-> Red - In color images, this option will allow you to increase or decrease the amount of red that will be present in your image. Moving the scroll bar to the right increase the percentage of red in the image, while moving it to the left will decrease the red percentage. The preview window (if you previewed in RGB mode) will automatically show you the result of your modification, so you can adjust accurately.

3. Magenta<-> Green - In color images, this option will allow you to increase or decrease the amount of green that will be present in your image. Moving the scroll bar to the right increase the percentage of green in the image, while moving it to the left will decrease the green percentage. The preview window will automatically update.

4. Yellow<->Blue - In color images, this option will allow you to increase or decrease the amount of blue that will be present in your image. Moving the scroll bar to the right increases the percentage of blue in the image, while moving it to the left will decrease the blue percentage. The preview window will change to show the results of your modification.

5. Shadows - Selecting this option in the menu will allow you to adjust the color of the shadows or darkest parts of your image. Moving the scroll bar to the left will decrease the amount of shadows in your scanned image. As you might expect, the preview window will update the image to show you the results of your modifications.

6. Highlights - This option allows you to determine the level of highlight detail in the lightest parts of a given image. While ordinarily used on RGB images, grayscale images can benefit from using the highlights command, as well. Once selected, the scroll bar will allow you to increase or decrease the highlight detail in your image by moving the scroll bar to the left or right. Moving to the left decrease highlights, while moving to the right will increase highlights. Use this filter when you have an image that is muddy and dark.

7. Saturation - This option allows you to determine the amount of saturation in the image. This adjustment only works on RGB images. Once selected, the scroll bar will allow you to increase or decrease the saturation in your image by moving the scroll bar to the left or right. Moving to the left decreases saturation; while moving to the right will increase saturation. Use this filter when you have an image that is lacking in depth, or especially in color images, whenever you have colors that look washed out.
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Scan Type

Batch Scanning

Batch scanning is completely new feature in Art-Scan that allows you to scan multiple images all at one time. Traditionally, if you wanted to scan more than one image at a time, you had to put the first image in your scanner. Then, you had to preview the image and crop it. Next, you scanned the image. Following that, you had to put another image in your scanner and repeat the process over and over - a time consuming process. Now, with Art-Scan's Batch Scanning mode, you can condense the above steps into a quick and easy procedure. Here's how it works:

  1. First, put as many image in your scanner that can possibly fit. Make sure that the images don't overlap. You can use the entire length of your scanner bed.
  2. Next, us the Preview button to get a preview of the entire area of your flatbed.
  3. You should see all of your images in the preview window. Select Batch from the mode menu above the Scan Mode option list.
  4. The batch scanning controls will appear once you have selected Batch from the menu
  5. Draw a crop box around the first image that you want to scan. Select the proper scan mode and whatever enhancements or settings you wish for this image.
  6. When you are finished with the first image. Again, size your crop box around your second image and set any modification that you wish to perform on this scan.
  7. Continue the process for each image that you wish to scan. When you are done, simply click Scan, and Art-Scan will scan your images for you, each one according to your specifications.


To add or delete images use the + or - buttons on the VCR style controls. For instance, if you wished to scan 2" x 2" pictures, you would click the + key until your total was up to 7 images. Similarly if you were set to scan 7 pictures, but then decided to scan only 4, you would use the - key on the VCR style controls to delete down to 4. If you wish to change modifications before you scan, you can use the << and >> keys to flip through your selections. As you flip through them, you will notice the crop box adjusts to the image and the modifications that you have made will appear in your settings.

Multiple Image Scanning

Selecting the Multiple Image Scanning option allows you to define a particular area of your scanner's flatbed that you wish to continually scan. This is especially useful if you are scanning multiple documents and you only need to capture a particular area of each document. For example, suppose that you were scanning forms that included a picture that was 2" x 2" and was located in the upper left hand part of the document. When you have Art-Scan selected to Multiple, you can define only that area of the document that you wish to scan (in this case, the 2" x 2" picture in the upper left hand corner). Simply adjust your crop box to the area of the documents that you wish to scan and set your Art-Scan settings (RGB color, grayscale, line art, or vector art). Then click scan. Art-Scan will begin scanning and then ask you if you are ready to scan another document. Continue clicking Yes until your job is complete. Click No when you are finished.
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Type of Orginal

This option informs the scanner whether you are scanning reflective artwork or transmissive media, such as 35mm transparencies (positive or negative), or slides. It is very important that you select the correct control. Otherwise, Art-Scan will not know what type of media that you are scanning, and quality will suffer. Please note that scanning transmissive media requires a transparency adapter for your scanner. Selecting Negative indicates scanning tungsten film (orange tint) using the transparency option.
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Speed vs. Quality

Art-Scan is the only software available that allows you to have control of how fast your scanner will scan. You have three choices:
  1. High Speed - High Speed sacrifices quality for speed. This is a good choice for OCR (Optical Character Recognition) type work. This mode does not update the preview window - only the final scan.
  2. Medium Speed and Quality - MSQ is a setting that is a good compromise between speed and quality
  3. High Quality - HQ sacrifices speed for quality. This is a good choice for jobs where top quality is paramount, such as film scanning or small pictures that you intend to enlarge.
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Scaling and Sizing

Art-Scan provides many ways to scale your image. Scaling is a process that will allow you to enlarge or reduce different aspects of your scanned image. For example, you may have an 8" x 10" that you want to shrink down to 4" x 5". You can do that by scaling your image 50% or reducing its measurements by half. In another example, you may want to enlarge a 2" x 2" negative 200% to create an image that is twice the size of the original. You can also scale by other means, such as final file size or desired LPI screen.

There are several ways to scale an image:

  1. You can choose a scaled percentage. You can do this by simply moving your cursor to the Scale % box and typing in your desired percentage. 50%, for example, would shrink the image by 50% of its original size. 300% would enlarge it to three times its original size. Remember that scaling above 100% will increase the file size, while reducing it below 100% will dramatically reduce file size. This is an effective way to scan large images without tying up space or resources.
  2. You can choose your final measurement size. If you enter your desired final size in the W (width) and H (height) boxes, Art-Scan will take whatever you have selected in your selection box and scale it to the specifications that you have asked for. This is convenient if you know what size you need your image to be. For example, suppose you know your image has to fit a 2" x 4" area. Your original is 5" x 10". Instead of trying to calculate what percentage you need to scale, simply enter 2" into the desired width and Art-Scan will automatically scan and scale your image to meet your specifications.
  3. You can specify a final file size. This is useful if you know of certain restrictions of your hardware or if the type of output you'll be using limits your file size in some way. Simply tell Art-Scan what you want the file size to be by typing in your desired file size in the File Size dialog box and click Scan. Art-Scan will automatically scan to meet your file size requirements.
  4. You can specify a final desired LPI screen. For instance, if you know that the image will be printed at a 133 line screen and you want to be sure that the scanned image has enough resolution to be printed at that line screen, simply enter your 133 in the LPI box. Art-Scan will determine the optimum resolution for your desired line screen and scan at that resolution. The Halftone Factor box (HT Fact) sets how to convert line screen numbers into DPI. Values of 1.5 or 2.0 are considered industry standards.
  5. You can specify a certain size for your selection box. For instance, you can set your selection box to scan images that are only 5" x 7". To do this, simply enter the desired dimensions for your selection box into the Original Size boxes and select the Lock icon to the left of the Original Size boxes. Your selection box will automatically resize according to your specifications.
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Resolution

Art-Scan was designed to offer extremely high resolution. Your maximum resolution is controlled by your scanner's optical resolution. Foremost 300 dpi scanners, Art-Scan will achieve a maximum resolution of 2400 x 2400 dpi. If you are using a 400 dpi scanners, Art-Scan is able to provide resolution as high as 4800 x 4800 dpi. Finally, if you are using a 600 dpi scanners, Art-Scan is able to provide resolution up to 9600 x 9600 dpi as your maximum attainable resolution. You can also have no more than 30,000 pixels in your width or height of your final scanned image. (Scanning at very high resolution will result in extremely large files. You must have a lot of RAM and hard drive space to do a scan at these resolutions.)

You can click in the resolution box and type in the resolution that you want to scan at, or by holding the mouse button down while pointing at the Resolution box, it will expand, giving you the ability to choose from a number of default dpi settings. You are, however limited to 32,000 pixels in each direction.

People sometimes have questions about what the correct resolution is to scan color and grayscale images. A general rule is that in order to produce high quality color and grayscale images, you should scan at 1.25 - 2.0 times the line screen of your output device. In other words, if you determine that a photograph is to be printed out using a 133 line screen, you would want to set the resolution to a minimum 166 dpi. Do not scan at over 2 times because your image quality will start to lose sharpness.

In order to eliminate the jaggies, Line Art and Vector Line Art files (EPS) should be scanned at a resolution of 1200 dpi or greater. An exception to this rule is when you have a small original and you are blowing it up many times its original size. Scaling and its relation to scan resolution is covered later in this chapter.
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Action Buttons

The action buttons allow you to do several things:

1. Preview - The Preview button allows you to scan a low-resolution preview in the preview window for cropping and enhancing purposes. Click this button will command your scanner to scan the preview for you. In order to create a color preview, you must have RGB color selected in the Scan Mode menu. Grayscale previews require that Grayscale be selected, as well. Line art previews must be selected in the Scan Mode menu option. If you need to scan another image, it is necessary to use the Preview button again. This is also important if you have mistakenly previewed a color image in grayscale and want to preview and adjust in color. Simply choose RGB color from the Scan Mode menu and click on the Preview button again.

2. Scan - Once you have selected the image and made any modifications to it, click on the scan button to create a final scanned image. When you do, you will see a dialog box updating you on the progress of the scan. If you have chosen to apply some filters or modify the image, you will also see progress indicators shown. When the scan modifications are finally done and Art-Scan is exited, you will see a new window where your newly scanned image will appear.

3. Reset - Clears all changes made to Art-Scan's default settings.

4. Exit - This button allows you to exit the Art-Scan software.

5. Save Preview Button - This button allows you to choose whether or not you want to save the preview image. Some people prefer the preview of the last image that they scanned to still be there when they load Art-Scan again. If you want to save the preview image, click this button and make sure that it is checked. If you do not want to save your preview image, make sure that this option is not checked.
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