Home Page Overview Basic Controls Special Controls Image Enhancement

How To?Glossary

Advanced Control

After you have familiarized yourself with the basic scanning methods, you can refer to this section for more advanced features. | Click one of the topics below for further details: Rotating and Flipping the Image Using Job List (do Multiple/Batch scan) Building a Scan Program Setting the Image Output Size Using the Proof Window Menu Items

Rotating/Flipping the Image

The F/R button flips and rotates an image. The "F" signifies the flipping mechanism, which flips images about the horizontal or vertical axis. The "R" signifies the rotational mechanism.

Click the F/R icon to display the Flip/Rotate dialog box. The samples in the dialog box illustrate the effects of rotation and flipping. Click any one of the samples to make the desired change.

See also: Rotate Marquee.

Using Job List (do Multiple/Batch scan)

MagicScan allows you to scan many images at one time. This feature comes in two distinct modes - Multiple scan and Batch Scan. Please refer to Building A Scan Program to see how to use a job list.

Batch scanning allows you to acquire more than one scanned image for each scan operation. In this mode, the scanner will make an initial calibration in order to make the settings and then proceed with a single scan. All the images will be captured in one scan operation with the same settings. It is better for you to choose Batch Scan mode if the all images need similar settings, e.g., same resolution, same highlight and shadow, etc.

Multiple scanning allows you to create a job list that performs a series of scans automatically. The Job list will specify the position of the objects, scanning order and the settings for each object. The scanner re-calibrates before scanning and returns to the home position after scanning.

Scan Job dialog box Tool description:

Duplicate: Duplicates the current job.

Rename: Changes the filename (only valid for the "Scan to File" option).

Information: Displays the current status for the jobs.

Trash Can: Click on this icon to discard selected jobs.

Scan to File

While scanning in MagicScan, the scanned image will be saved automatically. You can click "Rename" to change the filename or the file format. The Save As dialog box will appear. From the "Save File as Type" list box, select an appropriate file type. Choose from TIFF(TIF), Bitmap(BMP), PCX(PCX), Photoshop2.5(PSD), PhotoShop 2.0(PSD), Targa or JPEG(JPG).

After you select a file type, you need to choose a path and directory in the "Directories" list box and type a file name in the "File Name" text box. Choose the "OK" button to confirm your choices and close the dialog box or click the "Cancel" button to close the box without any changes taking place.

JPEG Compression

If you choose JPEG, you will need to select image compression quality. If you select a setting between Good and Excellent, the resulting image quality will be high but the file will not be as compressed as one for which you choose a quality setting between Fair and Good.

Building a Scan Program

1. Click the Add Frame tool and then drag. The vertices of a new frame will appear within the Preview Window as you drag the mouse. Alternatively, you may create a new frame by selecting "New" under the frame menu. When a new frame is created it is added to the Job List.
2. Selecting "Duplicate" from the Frame menu, while you are running a batch job, will create a new entry in the Job List dialog box.
3. Choose Frame Tool and click in the new frame to select it as active. When the new frame (or any subsequent frame) is selected as active, then all of the MagicScan controls apply only to that frame.

Note: When a new frame is added by the Add Frame tool you may adjust its position by selecting the Frame Tool, then dragging any interior point of the new frame.

4. Select all the scan controls and preprocessing controls for the active frame.
5. Confirm, delete or alter the corresponding thumbnail in the Job List dialog box, as desired.

Each time you add a new editing frame, a thumbnail appears in the Job List dialog box. A new Image Information report is also provided for the new editing frame. To view the Image Information report for any image in the Job List, select the corresponding line in the Job List, then choose the Info button.

Note: By selecting any image in the list, then choosing the "Rename" button, you can change the name of any image in the program list. Choose the "Delete" button if you want to remove an image from the list.

6. Select the "Scan" button to begin the program.

When you are satisfied with your scan program, choose the "Scan" button to initiate execution. When the program is completed the scanner will rest and all sides in the Job List will show "done" as status. MagicScan then waits for further operator action.
Setting the Image Output Size

To automatically enlarge or reduce an image as it is scanned, use the scaling factor setting. Your selected scale factor, whose range is dependent on your selected image type, affects the printed scan output.

The height or width can be entered separately by clicking on the link graphic to break the link between the Height and Width text fields. Alternatively, you can also change these values by directly adjusting the selection frame. The default values initially shown in these text boxes are just the height and width of the default selection frame.

To change Height or Width text box values:

1. Insert the desired height and width values into the Height and Width edit boxes.
2. The units of measurement may be changed to inches, centimeters, millimeters, pixels, picas or percentages of the original image dimensions by selecting the desired unit of measure from the Units drop-down list boxes to the right of the Height and Width text boxes.
3. To prevent distortion to the image when changing height and width values, select the Link graphic at the right-hand side of the Height and Width measurement pop-up boxes. With Link selected (indicted by an unbroken "chain" graphic), you need only enter one value, either a Height or Width value. The other value will be computed and updated automatically to maintain the aspect ratio of the selection frame. Locking the vertical and horizontal scales together ensures that there is no distortion.

Note: Output image file size is proportional to both Height and Width. Thus, if both Height and Width values are exactly doubled, then the image area and image file size will increase four-fold.

Be aware that if you did not enter values into the edit boxes, then the default values for these edit boxes will be the size of current selection frame. These values will be changed if the frame is resized or redrawn. If you have entered values into the edit boxes, the values will be fixed even if you resize or redraw the frame.

Maximum allowable Image size settings are dependent on the amount of space the software determines that you have to store the resulting image and the capabilities of your scanner hardware and software.

Using the Proof Window - Proof Your Image

Before you click the SCAN button to scan your image, you may want to make sure image settings are correct by viewing a proof of the image before committing it to your computer's memory. MagicScan provides a Proof Window for you to review the scanned image and modify the settings without going through the time-consuming task of rescanning each time you make a new setting.

Click the PROOF button to display the Proof window. The image displayed in the Proof window will have a resolution matching your preview resolution. Therefore, the resolution of the pre-scanned image will differ slightly from that of the final scanned image. With the exception of resolution, every other aspect of the proofed image will be accurate.

If you are satisfied with the image seen in the Proof window, click the SAVE button to save the image or click the CLOSE button to close the Proof window.

Note: If you click the SAVE button to save the image on the proof window, the resolution of the image would be lower than that of same image scanned by clicking the SCAN button. If you want to have a higher resolution for your scanned image, you have to exit the Proof window and click the SCAN button.

Note: The proof image is only for monitor display, that is, the resolution for the image is 75dpi.

In addition, under the proof window, you can access the image enhancement dialog box to adjust the color of the scanned image. Click the button on the top-right corner of the Proof window. The Image Enhancement dialog box will be displayed on your screen. Adjust the settings to change the color of the scanned image (shown on the proof window) as desired.

Menu Items

There are four menu items - Settings, Frame, Info and Image which allow you to make settings for the scanned image, adjust the color for the scanned image and provide you with basic image information for your reference. For more detailed information, click one of the items below:

Settings | Frame
The Settings menu handles all the loading, saving, reset setting, defining preferences, etc. | The Frame menu creates, deletes, duplicates and renames frames.
Image | Info
The Image menu allows you to set the image processing options. It's the same as the menus in the scanner control window. | The Info menu displays information about the scanner and software.

Settings

The settings menu handles all the loading, saving, reset settings, defining preferences, etc.

Load SettingsRestore the saved settings.

Save SettingsSave the current settings.

Save Settings AsSave the current settings under a chosen file name.

Default SettingsResets to the original default settings.

Save As DefaultSaves the current settings as default.

Reset SettingsResets to the factory settings.

Monitor GammaControls the monitor's gamma value.

Setup ScannerConducts a connectivity test with the scanner (for Windows users only).

Preview SizeSets the size of the preview area.

UnitsSelects the units of measurement.

PreferencesSets MagicScan's Preferences.

Lens ControlSelects the lens to be used for scanning in particular models.

Auto Focus Allows focus control to allow fine tune focusing with the PowerLook 3000.

Load Settings

The Load Settings option allows you to load previously saved scan settings. The Load Settings dialog box has two extra options. These are given as check boxes, located at the lower right hand corner of the dialog box. Overwrite: Allows you to overwrite the jobs currently listed in the Multiple Scan Job List box with the jobs specified in the Load Settings dialog box.

Append: Adds the jobs from the Load Settings dialog box. To load previously saved settings:

1. Select "Load Settings" from the Settings menu. The Load Settings dialog box will appear asking you to select the appropriate file.
2. Select the desired file from the filename list.
3. Select "OK" to return to the MagicScan Window and implement the settings.
4. Select the "Cancel" button to abort the selection.

Save Settings

If you have loaded settings from a previously saved file and you make changes to those settings during the course of scanning, use the Save Settings option in the Settings menu to save the changes.

1. Make the desired changes to the settings.
2. Select Save Settings from the Settings menu.

The settings will be updated with your changes.
Save Settings As?/font>

This option allows you to save changes to the current settings under a new file name.

The Save Settings As?dialog box provides options for batch and multiple scanning modes. These are given as check boxes, located at the lower right hand corner of the dialog box. Current Job: Only saves the currently selected job.

All Jobs: Saves all jobs in the Multiple Scan Job List dialog box under the current settings on the Scanner Control Window. If you have not selected any settings file through the "Load Settings" option, you will be prompted to save the current settings under a new file name. See the "Save Settings As? option.

To save the settings under a new file name:

1. Make the desired changes to your current settings.
2. Select the "Save Settings As? option from the Settings menu. The Save Settings As dialog box will appear.
3. Enter the new name for the settings in the Filename folder or select a filename from the list box.
4. Select the appropriate directory.
5. Select "OK" to create the new file.
6. Select the "Cancel" button to abort the selection.

Default Settings

This option automatically reloads and implements the default settings.

To reload the Default Settings:

1. Select "Default Settings" from the "Settings" menu.
2. The "Default Settings" will automatically be implemented, overwriting any changes you have made.

It is advised that you save any changes under a Settings file before you select the Default Settings.
Save As Default

Choose "Save As Default" to create a settings file using current settings as a custom default settings file.

Reset Settings

To reset MagicScan settings to the manufacturer's default settings, select "Reset Settings".

Monitor Gamma

Monitor Gamma calibration allows you to selectively adjust the brightness in the midtone areas of your monitor display colors so that they will closely approximate the color detail of our original images.

Monitor Gamma calibration corrects for differences in monitors due to age or different manufacturing processes. It should be set periodically to compensate for changes in a monitor during its lifetime. This command allows you to selectively adjust the brightness quality of the midtone areas of your monitor display so that they closely approximate the color detail of your original images. Monitor (gamma) correction is necessary due to differences in the color display characteristics of monitors.

1. Open the Settings menu and choose "Monitor Gamma?. The Monitor Gamma dialog box will be displayed.
2. Ensure the "Keep R,G,B Gamma Values the Same" check box is checked (default), in order to keep the value in each channel the same. Therefore, adjusting the Red value will automatically make the Green and Blue values equal to the Red.
3. Click the "Keep, R,G,B Gamma Value the Same" check box to remove the check mark, this will allow you to adjust each channel individually.
4. Shift the sliders to adjust the gray level. You must try to match the banded areas with the Gray box in order to achieve the best possible gamma for your monitor.

Correcting Grayscale Gamma

The best approach for correcting grayscale gamma values is to eliminate, as much as possible, any differences in the shading of the Gray sample by using any or all of the scroll bars provided on the right of the color samples. When the Gray sample has a uniform appearance, click "OK" to complete grayscale monitor gamma correction.

You can also experiment by changing gamma values for individual color samples. Click on the "Default" button to return to the default monitor gamma settings. Click the "Cancel" button to quit the Monitor Gamma dialog box without making any changes.

Preview Size

Allows you to set the maximum area to be scanned. Upon selection of this option, a submenu appears. Please select the desired size.

Units

Select the units of measurement for the image from the "Units" submenu. It includes - inch, cm, mm, pixel, pica, and point.

Preferences

This option allows you to make some pre-scanning conditions. When you select this command, the Preference dialog box is divided into two sections: General and Scan Quality.

From the dialog box, confirm or change the following settings:

General:

Keep Preview Image - Selection of this check box causes the preview image, which was created from the last preview, to be re-displayed the next time MagicScan is started.

Keep Current Settings - Selection of this check box causes all selections and control settings, which were in effect at the time of the last scan, to be retained and re-established the next time MagicScan is opened. If "Keep Current Settings" is not checked, the factory preset selections and settings will appear the next time MagicScan is opened. (Factory preset selections and settings may also be obtained at any time by choosing "Reset Settings" in this Settings menu.)

Enable Tip Help -Selection of this check box activates the Tip help. Move your cursor onto any of the controls and click the left mouse key. Tip help will then show a description of the control item under the cursor. If "Enable Tip Help" is not checked, the tip help won't be active.

Scan Quality

Quality Scan - Choose Quality Scan to provide precise scanner calibration with a correspondingly longer scan time.

Speed Scan - Choose Speed Scan for quicker scans.

Auto Focus (PowerLook 3000 only)

This setting is used to bring the scanned document on the object glass into focus for scanning.

This function ensures focus accuracy when you scan an image. To use it, choose "Auto Focus" from the Settings menu. A dialog box appears and there are two options. If you choose the "ON" option, it will take a little longer to complete the scan because the scanner goes through its normal calibration along with an additional direct media focus. If you choose the "OFF" option, the scanner will not do an auto focus while scanning images. Auto Focus works best when used on images that are placed directly on the glass.

Note: You MUST have a PowerLook 3000 scanner with firmware v. 1.7 or higher and be scanning with MagicScan v. 4.2 or higher.

Lens Control (for specified scanner model)

This option allows you to configure the lenses within the scanner. It only appears in the settings menu when dual lens scanners are installed.

This option allows users to control high and low power lens settings. The default settings should be suitable for most situations. In this setting, the scanner will take account of the selection frame, and then switch automatically between the scanner's high and low-powered lenses as needed for best optical performance.

Automatic switch: automatically switches between the high and low power lenses, according to driver settings.
High power lens: allows maximum resolution.
Low power lens: allows maximum area.

Frame Menu

New | Delete
This option creates a new frame. This option does exactly the same thing as the Add Frame Tool, in the Preview Window. Select "New" from the Frame menu. The new Frame dialog box will appear. Enter values for the new frame size. Select "OK" once you have made your selection. The Scan Job List box appears as soon as the frame is created. Select the "Cancel" button to abort the new frame. | This option deletes a selected frame from the Preview Window and the Job List box.
Duplicate | Rename
This option duplicates a frame and places it on the Job List dialog box. | This option renames the scan jobs within the Job List box.

Image Menu

There are two ways to set basic image controls in MagicScan:

- By manipulating the controls in the Control Window
- By choosing the Image menu commands

Click each item below to get more information about the Image menu commands. Scan Mode

Original

Resolution

Filter

Descreen

Scan Mode (Color Mode)

Scan Mode specifies the mode that the image is to be scanned in. MagicScan provides the following scan mode for you to use.

Color RGB

Your scanner captures 24 bits (or 30/36/42 bits) of color image information for every dot(pixel) in your scanned image. Therefore over 16 million colors are possible. This image type uses the same color synthesis scheme used in computer monitors and televisions. RGB simply stands for Red-Green-Blue; these are the additive primary colors. Additive here refers to the addition, or mixing, of light of different colors: mixing equal proportions of fully saturated red, green, and blue light produces white light. This is the way that your color television or color monitor produces white. Disk space required for saving 24-bit true color images is considerable. For instance, an A4-size 300-dpi true color image may require 24 Megabytes (MB) of storage space.

Color CMYK

By choosing Color CMYK, your three-channel color RGB images will be converted to four-channel CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) color images using a special color transform process. The CMYK color space is the one used by most color printers. When the scan is complete, the image will be passed to the image-editing application and your images will be ready for printing on your color printer.

If you choose to save a CMYK image, it must be either a .TIF or .PSD format file. Since most monitors display colors in three-channel RGB, an RGB "simulation" of your CMYK image will be displayed in the Main window of the image-editing application.

MagicScan performs these conversions and simulations according to printer profiles. To achieve the most accurate conversion and simulation possible, you should choose a MagicScan printer profile that describes your printer most closely.

Note: This scan mode is available only when Magic Match or IPM is invoked.

CIE Lab

Comission Internationale de L'Eclairage. This commitee has been standardizing color definitions since 1931.

A given color can be composed of the additive colors red, green and blue. However, when different observers try to compose the same given color, adjustments have to be made to the amounts of red, green and blue mixed in order to achieve the same effect. The CIE commitee defined the Standard Observer as one who sees saturated red, green and blue at wavelengths of 700, 546.1 and 435.8 nm respectively. When these colors are added from equal energy sources, standard white light will be seen.

Color spaces, such as RGB and CMYK, are device dependent. That is, you may obtain different RGB values from scanner to scanner using the same target object. A device independent color space is necessary in order to communicate color between different devices. Usually, the CIE Lab is used as an intermediate color space. The scanner's RGB color modes are transformed to the CIE Lab mode, which represents a unique set of colors in nature. The CIE Lab colors are then passed to a connected device where they are converted into the RGB or CMYK mode for that device and the result subsequently displayed on a monitor or printed. This method can be cumbersome as it involves a lot of memory and time consuming matrix transformations.

The CIE Lab consists of three components, L, a, and b. L represents the luminance of a color which ranges between 0 and 100. The larger the value, the brighter the color is. Values a and b represent the "color" components of a color including the hue and saturation. These values range from -128 to 128. a indicates the amount of red (+) or green (-) component in a given color, and the b indicates the amount of yellow (+) or blue (-) component.

Note: This scan mode is available only when Magic Match is invoked.

sRGB

Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft have proposed the sRGB (standard RGB) color standard in order to define a set of color values that will be interpreted by different image devices without ambiguity.

Normally, RGB stands for the primary colors red, green, and blue. These colors can be added together to produce different colors. The RGB color system is used to render color in monitors and slides, as opposed to the CMYK system (not discussed here) which is used to render printed colors. Adding equal amounts of saturated red, green and blue will generate pure white. And the absence of any of these primary colors will generate black.

Although the CIE Lab color system gives an unambiguous way to identify color, it is difficult to display or print using this system for many application programs do not recognize it.

It is hoped, if you scan a target using the sRGB mode, then send the scanned image to an application or device that does not support sRGB, the colors should still be reproduced satisfactorily without too much loss using common RGB data.

On the other hand, if you send the image to an application or device that supports sRGB, you will get a faithful depiction of the colors in the original with a negligible loss in color fidelity. This is because all devices using the sRGB standard will consistently associate one color with the same value and vice-versa. The standard will ensure that color information is communicated faithfully between different devices such as scanners, monitors, and printers.

Note: This scan mode is available only when Magic Match is invoked.

Gray 256 scales

Images scanned in 8-bit grayscale will show up to 256 shades of gray. If color is not necessary in the final scanned output, but high quality copies of photographs or other continuous tone originals are desired, grayscale mode is a good choice. Disk space required for saving grayscale images is approximately 1/3 of that required to save 24-bit true color images.

256 grayscale provides accurate representation of black and white, and gray shades intermediate between black and white, for each individual pixel. It actually provides just 256 shades, representing white by the value 255 , black by the value 0, and the 254 progressively lighter intermediate shades of gray by the 254 values from 1 through 254.

The number 256 is the eighth power of 2, so exactly 8 bits of data are required for each pixel in order to encode the 256 different shades of gray. But the cost is that 8 bits of data are required for every pixel: a grayscale image file will be 8 times as large as a lineart image file if all other parameters are equal. It uses more memory and hard disk space than lineart and halftone images. However, grayscale images are smaller than color images.

Lineart B/W

Images scanned in 1-bit lineart show only black or white, no other colors or grayscales. Lineart mode is generally the best choice for printed text or pen-and-ink drawings. Since only 1-bit of black or white information is required for each pixel, disk space required for saving lineart images is only about 1/8 of that required to save 8-bit grayscale images.

256 colors

Adaptive 256-color palette image. By selecting this option you can scan the image into a 256-color mode.

RGB color images are 24-bit color representations of the original. Because each pixel requires 24 bits to store color information, 24-bit color images require more memory and disk space. Color images can be sampled down to 16 bits, 8 bits and 4 bits to reduce the image size. A 256 color image may display up to 256 colors instead of million of colors. In comparison with 24-bit color images, 256 color images take up less memory and hard disk space.

Info Menu

Scanner Info | Show/Hide Ruler | About
Shows information about the scanner | Shows or hides the ruler. | Shows version information

Rotate Marquee

This button allows you to rotate the scanned image to any angle and to re-align a skewed image placed on your scanner's object glass.

Choose this tool and click on the preview window without releasing the mouse button, an icon will appear to help you rotate the image to the desired angle. When the grid line matches the edge of the image boundary, release the mouse button.

Note: Double-clicking on this tool again will revert the image to its original state.