| Scanners
Key Components
Color
Another factor in your decision should be whether you will be scanning
black and white and/or color images. This seems obvious, but the
cost of color and black and white scanners ranges considerably,
and if your intended use of the machine does not include reproducing
color images, it would be prudent to focus on the key differences
between the two types of scanners.
If you are
planning on using your scanner solely as a data entry tool, you
are best off focusing on the black and white market. As with color
scanners, bit depth plays a key role in determining the quality
of the machine.
A scanner with
a bit depth of one can tell the difference between black and white
and can handle scanning simple documents for OCR purposes. A bit
depth of 12 can identify 4,096 gray scales and should be more than
sufficient for the most complex black and white image.
If color is
the key to your scanning needs be prepared for differences from
the original image to the screen and printer. Because of different
settings among various computer components, an image's colors rarely
remain the same through the entire reproduction process.
Color calibration
software can help align the differences by matching the color definitions
of each device. Exact color matching should only be an issue for
high-quality prints or other professional reproductions. In most
cases quality color reproduction is adequate if exact color reproduction
is not possible.
|