ERIC
SPELLMANN – EXTRA!
Capturing an image
Two hot peripherals (equipment that plugs into your computer) are vying for your
attention: scanners and digital cameras. Both can be very useful in their own
ways. But if you can’t buy both, which do you choose?
First, let’s get some definitions out of the way. A scanner is a device
that allows you to store visual images in a digital format. Scanners come in
many sizes and shapes, but the most common configuration is called a “flatbed
scanner”. Resembling the top half of a photocopier, this device allows you
to lay photos, books, just about anything against a glass plate and have it scanned.
The scanner “takes a picture” of the document and stores it on your
computer. Uses for the scanner include inserting pictures into your word processing
files, e-mailing photos to friends and family, and using graphics on your website.
Digital cameras work very similarly to scanners. They are just more “mobile”.
Instead of laying a document down on a large piece of glass to be scanned, the
digital camera “shoots” pictures much like its film-carrying cousin.
Pictures are stored inside the camera and then downloaded directly to a PC later.
So, which is better? Decide what you want to do with this technology. Do the
majority of your images exist as normal photographs? If so, get the scanner.
It’s much cheaper than the camera.
However, if you need to “capture” the images in the field, a camera
will definitely be more convenient and worth the extra money. I have quite a
few friends that swear by their digital cameras.
Unfortunately, picking a good scanner or digital camera is not as cut and dried.
Quite a few factors must be considered before you pull out your cheque book.
They include:
- Number
of Colours
- Resolution
- Interface
- Need
for options
The “number
of colours” item may seem a bit strange. “After all,” you
say, “I want ALL the colours!” Well, you’ll get
them, but their accuracy to the original is what I’m talking
about here. Measured in “bits,” the colour measurement
will usually look something like “24-bit” or “36-bit
colour”. Bigger numbers are better. Basically, the number
represents how much computer memory will be used to store the information
about each colour it finds on a scanned document. The more information
it can store, the more likely the scanned image will be an accurate
representation of the original.
Resolution is simply the number of “dots” that will be stored in
the scanned image. Measured in DPI (dots per inch), this number should be at
least 600. Higher resolutions will result in sharper images, but also much
larger files. Many scanners and digital cameras, today, have flexible resolutions
of 600 to 2400 DPI.
As it relates to interfaces, you have roughly three choices: parallel, USB,
and SCSI. Cheaper scanners will use a parallel interface. You’ll notice
that this is also the same port you plug your printer into. Scanners of this
variety usually ship with a “pass through” connector allowing your
printer and scanner to use the same port. However, if you’ll be scanning
large images, you may want to upgrade to USB or SCSI. Both are faster than
parallel, but SCSI connections are, for the most part, faster than USB. However,
USB ports are much easier to configure. If you choose USB, make sure it is
USB 2.0 compliant. Once again, speed is the issue here.
Finally, choose a scanner that has the ability to take common “options”.
The two most common scanner “add-ons” are transparency adapters and
document feeders. A transparency adapter allows you to scan negatives, slides,
and transparencies. Document feeders are great for scanning a large number
of images or documents without you having to physically place each page on
the scanner.
Whether you choose a scanner or a digital camera, get ready for a whole new
world. You’ll find uses for your new library of images you never dreamed
of.
I’ll see you in Cyberspace!
http://www.EricSpellmann.com
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