>Dear Sci-Arters,
>  Even though I have been using the scanner for some time, I am not
>completely satisfied with the results. I want to have more control over the
>scanning process. The scanner's manual  is only about installing and
>setting it up, it doesn't explain how to use gamma settings, edge emphasis
>options, brightness, contrast, lightness.... I have been trying to adjust
>them to fit my needs, but the consequences are often unpredictable. I'm
>afraid this is a  very basic subject matter for most of you, but I'd love
>to receive some advice.
>  Thanks in advance, Silvia.
>
>Silvia Troyo

Unless you are trying to get perfect scans out of the scanner, and have no
intention of adjusting them in PhotoShop, or similar program,  I would save
most of those operation for Photoshop.  The only thing I would do in the
scan software is set a Highlight point so that if your scanner uses more
than 24-bit color, it can devote more bits to looking for shadow detail.
Then your only other decision is- should you use the auto correction
features of your scan software:
If it is good software, yes. If it is bad software, no.
If you are trying to optimize color/contrast across a wide collection of
pieces that don't need to match each other, yes.  If you are scanning a
number of pieces that must have a particular color look the same in each,
no.


All the rest you will have to experiment with, or buy a book, or check the
company's web site to see if they have a file with the info you need.

If I recall, you are involved with scanning a lot of old documents?, so I
can understand your desire to automate all that adjustment up front in the
scanner.  Unless you have good auto adjustment in you software, you will
still be doing a lot of adjustment in the scan software, since you will
have a wide range of images.  Only with time and experience will you be
able to set up a collection of scan settings, and know which one to load
for a particular object you want to scan.

What type of scanner do you have?

Britt

Britt Griswold
Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA
Code 253,  Bldg. 8 Rm N15
Greenbelt, MD 20771
USA
[log in to unmask]
(301) 286-3381