Understanding Printer and Scanner Specs
There are a few important specs to understand before you buy your printer or scanner. Here we'll look at the basics of resolution, color and bit depth, file formats, print and scan speed, and print and scan area.
Photo Paper Print Finishes
There are many different kinds of photo paper, from matte to high gloss. Which one should you use? This guide to photo-paper finishes will tell you what you can expect from each kind.
There are many different kinds of photo paper, from matte to high gloss. Which one should you use? This guide to photo-paper finishes will tell you what you can expect from each kind.
Understanding Aspect Ratios
Mike Pasini, Editor of the Imaging Resource Newsletter, has written a short and clear explanation of aspect ratios and how to adjust your images before you print them so they come out looking their best. A handy aspect ratio calculator shows you exactly how to crop your photos so they'll fit.
Mike Pasini, Editor of the Imaging Resource Newsletter, has written a short and clear explanation of aspect ratios and how to adjust your images before you print them so they come out looking their best. A handy aspect ratio calculator shows you exactly how to crop your photos so they'll fit.
Hamrick VueScan 8 - Scanner Software Replacement
When you're doing a lot of scanning, you may find that the software the came with your document or photo scanner doesn't offer all the bells and whistles you need. Fear not: About.com Guide Sue Chastain has a glowing review of Hamrick VueScan, which replaces your scanner's software and adds advanced features and superior control to more than 300 scanners.
When you're doing a lot of scanning, you may find that the software the came with your document or photo scanner doesn't offer all the bells and whistles you need. Fear not: About.com Guide Sue Chastain has a glowing review of Hamrick VueScan, which replaces your scanner's software and adds advanced features and superior control to more than 300 scanners.
How Scanners Work
Ever interested in seeing what goes on inside your flatbed, sheet-fed, or photo scanner? HowStuffWorks provides the anatomy of a scanner and takes you through a tour of the amazing inside of scanners.
Ever interested in seeing what goes on inside your flatbed, sheet-fed, or photo scanner? HowStuffWorks provides the anatomy of a scanner and takes you through a tour of the amazing inside of scanners.
CCFL
Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) are very small and very bright fluorescent lights used in scanners to provide light for scanning, without becoming hot. They're typically filled with low-pressure mercury vapor.
Cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) are very small and very bright fluorescent lights used in scanners to provide light for scanning, without becoming hot. They're typically filled with low-pressure mercury vapor.
What is TWAIN?
TWAIN is a software protocol that goes between your computer and your camera, scanner, or whatever imaging device you're using. It helps ensure that your computer can understand and display the data being sent by the imaging device.
TWAIN is a software protocol that goes between your computer and your camera, scanner, or whatever imaging device you're using. It helps ensure that your computer can understand and display the data being sent by the imaging device.
Print Speed
Print speed depends on what kind of document you're printing and how your printer's preferences are set.
Print speed depends on what kind of document you're printing and how your printer's preferences are set.
Understanding Printer Resolution
Printer resolution refers to how many dots per inch a printer can put onto a piece of paper.
Printer resolution refers to how many dots per inch a printer can put onto a piece of paper.
PPI, DPI, and Resolution: The Basics
When you're using a photo scanner, you need to understand basic terms such as points per inch, dots per inch, and resolution. Here's a guide to the basics of photo scanning.
When you're using a photo scanner, you need to understand basic terms such as points per inch, dots per inch, and resolution. Here's a guide to the basics of photo scanning.
More About DPI
Dots per inch, or DPI, is confusing enough, but there are added dimensions to it when you're measuring resolution for desktop publishing. Luckily, your friendly Guide to Desktop Publishing is there to help explains the ins and outs of DPI.
Dots per inch, or DPI, is confusing enough, but there are added dimensions to it when you're measuring resolution for desktop publishing. Luckily, your friendly Guide to Desktop Publishing is there to help explains the ins and outs of DPI.
Scanning Film
There's a big difference between scanning a photo and scanning film. Most important is that in the former case, you're making a copy of a copy, while in the latter case you're making a copy of the original. So, you can scan film to much higher resolutions. Find everything you ever wanted to know about scanning film here.
There's a big difference between scanning a photo and scanning film. Most important is that in the former case, you're making a copy of a copy, while in the latter case you're making a copy of the original. So, you can scan film to much higher resolutions. Find everything you ever wanted to know about scanning film here.
Understanding Scanner Resolution and Color Depth
Resolution refers to the amount of information, calculated in dots per inch, that the scanner can read.
Resolution refers to the amount of information, calculated in dots per inch, that the scanner can read.
Understanding Image Formats
When you're working with images or scans, there are many different file formats you can choose. Here are some tips on how they're different, and when to use each one.
When you're working with images or scans, there are many different file formats you can choose. Here are some tips on how they're different, and when to use each one.
How HP Measures Print Speed
If you're wondering how printer manufacturers measure the speed of their printers, you'll find all the details in this explanation from HP.
If you're wondering how printer manufacturers measure the speed of their printers, you'll find all the details in this explanation from HP.