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Scanners for Dummies
List Price: $24.99Price: $3.32 You Save: $21.67 (87%)Prices subject to change.
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 006.62
EAN: 9780764507830
Edition: Book & CD-ROM
ISBN: 0764507834
Label: For Dummies
Manufacturer: For Dummies
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 336
Publication Date: April 29, 2001
Publisher: For Dummies
Studio: For Dummies
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Editorial Review:
Digital cameras have encroached upon the territory of scanners a little bit, but scanners remain eminently useful for digitizing the family photo album, archiving documents, and sending kids' artwork to distant family members. They're also absolutely essential for serious design work. Scanners for Dummies shows you how to get the most from your scanner by guiding you through everything from basic hookup and software installation to moderately advanced graphics-editing techniques. The author, Mark Chambers, patiently explains terminology and concepts that have to do with translating a physically recorded image (such as a photograph) into a digital file (such as a JPEG or GIF image).
Most readers will be able to get a lot from this book by simply reading chapters straight through, since the explanations of traditionally nebulous concepts such as resolution and color depth are accurate and easy to follow. Even the quality of the illustrations--often a shortcoming of trade computer books--is high, which is important in sections that show how to adjust contrast, sharpness, and resolution. Chambers deserves kudos for doing many of his tutorials in Jasc Paint Shop Pro, an excellent yet inexpensive editing package. Some readers might prefer coverage of one of the freebie editing suites; they should look for a software-specific book to supplement this one. --David Wall
Topics covered: Digitizing images via a scanner connected to a computer running Microsoft Windows. Hardware connectivity (via parallel, SCSI, USB, and FireWire) is covered before the author explains the scanning procedure and how to manipulate images in an editing program. Suggestions for craft projects and some troubleshooting tips round out the volume.
Unfortunately, making a decent scan is harder than anyone wants to admit, which is what makes this fun and easy guide so useful. After demystifying terms such as "pixels" and explaining how to select a scanner, expert Mark Chambers walks you through the art of scanning and shows how to use scanned images in a variety of cool projects.
- According to a new eBrain Market Research survey, 18% of households that own a desktop computer plan to purchase a scanner in the coming year
- Covers scanner fundamentals, including basic scanning tasks, image editing, maintaining a scanner, advanced scanning techniques, scanner projects, tips and tricks for better scanning and editing, and much more
- Provides expert advice on selecting, purchasing, installing, setting up, and using a scanner properly and efficiently
- Includes a CD-ROM packed with trial versions of several image editing software programs, image display software, scanning software, handy utility software, and more
- Covers both PC and Mac platforms and is significantly updated from the previous edition, with new content covering the latest scanner models and image editing software
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Little of value on retouching and restoration
'Scanners For Dummies' was shockingly empty of helpful content. I was looking for useful advice and helpful tips for archiving photos, practical tips for best scanner settings and insights about how to deal with less than perfect images. This book had little information of relevance and nothing of depth.
I must own a dozen 'Dummies' books, and this is by far the least instructive and practical.
That said, who would benefit from reading the book?
- An absolute beginner ... Read More
Rating:  - Great book on scanning
Although I don't have a Microtek scanner like the author has, I was still able to follow along and learned everything I needed to know. This book also has almost as good a selection of novice material on Paint Shop Pro as PaintShop Pro for Dummies! Well worth the money.
Rating: - Wonderful!
This book told me all I needed, I'm using my scanner just about every day now that I know what to do. (Plus I have it set right to take the best scans) Great coverage of filters and plugins too.
Rating: - Highly recommended
This book is as good as the amazon editor claims, I got my new HP scanner up and running in an hour so you know the installation and setup chapters were good! The coverage of web graphics is very good and provides lots of tips and instruction. You won't find as much on PhotoShop but the step by step Paintshop pro material is worth its weight in gold. Well written and funny. I am going to add this author to my Dummies watch list!
Rating:  - A MAJOR Disappointment
As a long term fan of the Dummies books, I can't begin to express my disappointment in this offering. Scanners for Dummies is so exceptionally elementary as to offer absolutely nothing beyond how to "push a button" or "move a slider." Nothing is presented that couldn't be discovered by simply turning on the scanner and playing with it for a half hour or so.
The worst part, however, is that much of the information about scanners and Paint Shop Pro is misleading and in several ... Read More
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