User manual UMAX ASTRA MX3

UMAX Astra MX3 OWNER'S GUIDE TRADEMARKS UMAX is a trademark of UMAX Technologies, Inc. Astra is a trademark of UMAX Technologies, Inc. IBM PC/AT is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. MS-Windows, and Windows, are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. PageManager is a trademark of NewSoft Technology Corporation. Other names and trademarks appearing herein are trademarks of their respective holders. COPYRIGHT ©1999 UMAX Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of UMAX Technologies, Inc. Table of Contents CHAPTER 1. GETTING STARTED........................................7 Introduction.............................................................................................................7 Unpacking the Scanner..........................................................................................8 Package Contents .............................................................................................8 Getting to Know Your Scanner............................................................................9 Astra MX3 Back Panel.............................................................................9 System Requirements ..........................................................................................10 Installing the Software.........................................................................................10 Installing Adobe Photoshop LE...................................................................10 Installing the VistaScan Software ................................................................10 Installing the Hardware .......................................................................................11 About Scanner Connectors ...........................................................................11 USB Connectors .....................................................................................11 SCSI Connectors.....................................................................................11 Checking Your Computer's Connectors ....................................................12 Positioning the Scanner.................................................................................12 Connecting the Cables ...................................................................................12 Connecting the USB Cable....................................................................12 Connecting the SCSI Cable ...................................................................13 Changing the SCSI Address.........................................................................13 Connecting the optional UTC (Universal Transparency Cover) Cable.14 Connecting the Power Adapter....................................................................14 CHAPTER 2. SCANNING BASICS ......................................15 Your First Scan.....................................................................................................15 Make a scan with Adobe Photoshop LE.....................................................15 Setting VistaScan Preferences ...........................................................................16 General..............................................................................................................16 Color Matching/Correction ...................................................................16 Show Ruler...............................................................................................17 iii Tips Help ..................................................................................................17 Scan Destination.............................................................................................17 File.............................................................................................................17 Printer.......................................................................................................19 E-mail........................................................................................................19 Fax.............................................................................................................19 Application ..............................................................................................20 Scanner Information ......................................................................................20 VistaScan Beginner Window Features.............................................................21 Performing the Preview Scan.......................................................................21 Preview Tools .................................................................................................22 Zoom tool.................................................................................................22 Frame tool................................................................................................22 Move tool.................................................................................................22 Selecting the Scan To Device or Application............................................23 Defining the Type of Image to Scan ...........................................................23 CHAPTER 3. ADVANCED FEATURES...............................25 Making Advanced Window Changes ...............................................................25 Changing the Original Document Source ..................................................25 Changing the Image Mode ...........................................................................26 Table 1. Resolution/File -Size Guidelines ..................................................28 Choosing the Best Resolution for Your Scanning Project ......................28 Table 2. Recommended Resolutions ..........................................................28 Changing the Descreen Feature ...................................................................29 Changing the Filter Setting...........................................................................29 Changing the Scale Factor............................................................................30 Using the Auto Adjustment Feature............................................................30 Using the Scan Control Unit.........................................................................31 Selecting the Scan To Device or Application....................................31 Using the Multiple Scan Modes ..................................................................32 Using the Color Adjustment Features ........................................................33 Adjusting Image Brightness, Contrast, Highlights and Shadows ..33 Using the Brightness Bar.......................................................................33 Using the Contrast Bar...........................................................................34 Highlight Bar...........................................................................................34 Shadow Bar..............................................................................................34 Gamma Bar..............................................................................................34 Reset Button............................................................................................34 Adjusting the Image Tones...........................................................................34 Adjusting the Color Balance ........................................................................35 iv UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Rotating/Inverting an Image.........................................................................36 Using VistaAccess - Direct Access ..................................................................37 Turning the Scanner Lamp On and Off.......................................................37 CHAPTER 4. PUSH BUTTON SCANNING .........................39 Configuring the Scanner Buttons......................................................................39 Setting the Scan Options...............................................................................39 Configuring the Copy Button Values..........................................................40 Configuring the Custom Button Values .....................................................42 Using the Push Buttons.................................................................................44 CHAPTER 5. SCANNING PROJECTS................................45 Scan and Print Images with VistaScan.............................................................45 Scan a Photo to E-mail Using VistaScan.........................................................46 Converting Scanned Text to Editable Text with OmniPage.........................46 Opening OmniPage LE..................................................................................46 Converting Scanned Text with OmniPage LE...........................................47 Creating an Album with Presto! PhotoAlbum.................................................47 Opening PhotoAlbum....................................................................................47 Creating a Photo Album................................................................................48 CHAPTER 6. HOW TO GET HELP ......................................51 Using Online Manuals .........................................................................................51 Accessing the Presto! PageManager Online Manual................................51 Accessing the Caere OmniPage Online Manual.......................................52 Installing Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.01........................................................52 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................52 General Problems and Solutions..................................................................52 Additional Troubleshooting Solutions........................................................55 SCSI Problems and Solutions ......................................................................55 Re-Install the Software ..................................................................................57 Contacting Technical Support............................................................................58 v Maintenance .........................................................................................................59 Cleaning...........................................................................................................59 APPENDIX A. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS..................60 APPENDIX B. USING THE OPTIONAL UNIVERSAL TRANSPARENCY COVER (UTC)........................................61 FCC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY ............................62 WARRANTY..........................................................................64 INDEX ....................................................................................65 vi Chapter 1. GETTING STARTED Introduction Thank you for purchasing the UMAX Astra MX3 scanner. This versatile unit is perfect for the home or office. Use this scanner to add variety and flare to your documents, or to help you share images with others. Before reading further, it's important to note that this scanner is a Macintosh ® scanner. This manual is written for Macintosh users. The styling, functionality, and ease-of-use reflect the same attention to detail that you've come to expect from other Macintosh-compatible products. But your MX3 scanner will also operate on a PC running Windows ® 95, 98 or NT. We mention this because there may be some people that want to use other operating systems with their scanner. You'll note that there are a number of screenshots throughout the manual, and that many of them are from PC systems, as opposed to Macs. Where that's the case, the functions are identical. In other words, it works the same way on either Mac or PC systems. But the MX3 is, without question, intended for Mac users. The software that is included with the scanner is specific to the Macintosh platform. There are PC versions of the driver software on the installation CD, but the application software is Macintosh compatible. The Astra MX3 scanner is equipped with two SCSI connectors and a USB connector. Both the USB and SCSI interface connectors allow you to make a fast and easy connection to your computer. SCSI connectors are found on Macintosh computers and PC computers equipped with a SCSI interface card. USB connectors are found on newer PC computers and USB-equipped Macintosh computer (such as the iMac or blue and white G3). In addition to being easy-to-connect, this scanner is also easy-to-use. Simply follow the instructions in this guide and you'll be scanning in no time. Use the powerful software included with your scanner to create, edit and archive scanned images, e-mail or fax images to friends or clients, or create your own web site gallery. Get ready to unleash your creativity with the UMAX Astra MX3 scanner. 7 Unpacking the Scanner Your scanner package includes the cables and software you need to get the scanner up and running. The scanner package should contain all of the items listed below. If you do not find all of the listed items, contact the retailer where you purchased the scanner, or contact UMAX. For information about contacting UMAX directly, refer to Chapter 6. How to Get Help. Package Contents · · · · · · · · · UMAX Astra MX3 Color Flatbed Scanner USB Interface Cable SCSI Interface Cable SCSI Terminator Owner's Manual Quick Start Guide Power Adapter Adobe® Photoshop® LE CD-ROM UMAX Scanner CD-ROM. This CD-ROM contains software for Caere ® OmniPage® LE OCR, NewSoft ® Presto! PageManager (full version). 8 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Getting to Know Your Scanner The graphics below identify the key scanner components. Object Glass Cover: A UTC "transparency cover" (shown) is an optional accessory. Object Glass Glass surface on which documents or images are placed. Slide Illumination Light (optional) Provides top lighting when scanning slides. Scan, Copy and Custom (OCR or E-Mail) Buttons Power Light Illuminates when scanner is plugged in. USB Port Transparency Receptacle SCSI ID Indicator SCSI Port Power Adapter Receptacle Astra MX3 Back Panel 9 System Requirements · · · · · · iMac or Macintosh ® Power PC or higher USB or SCSI port 32 MB RAM memory Macintosh OS 8.1 or higher CD-ROM drive 170+ MB of available hard disk space Installing the Software Installing Adobe Photoshop LE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Disable any virus-protection extensions and restart your computer. Insert the Adobe Photoshop LE CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. The Photoshop LE CD-ROM content window appears. Double-click on the Adobe Photoshop LE icon. The Photoshop LE window appears. Double-click on the Install Photoshop LE icon. Follow the screen prompts. When the User Information dialog box appears, enter your personal information and the software serial number that appears in the upper right corner of the Photoshop registration card. You can find the registration card in the CD-ROM case. Click on the on the Install Now... button. Continue with the installation process by following the remaining screen prompts. 6. 7. Installing the VistaScan Software The VistaScan CD contains all the software you need to operate your Astra MX3 scanner. The CD contains: · · · · Presto! PageManager OmniPage Ltd. (including the Adobe Acrobat Reader installer) Presto! PhotoAlbum UMAX VistaScan 10 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide To install the software: 1. Place the VistaScan CD in the CD-ROM drive and double-click on the VistaScan CD icon. 2. Double-click on the UMAX CD Installer icon. 3. Follow the instructions to complete installation of the software. Additional Software Please refer to the instructions that accompany the software for information on the installation and use of any additional software. Installing the Hardware After you have removed the scanner from the box and verified that all of the package contents have been included, please check to make sure that your computer is compatible with the scanner's connectors. About Scanner Connectors USB Connectors Newer computers (both PC and Macintosh) rely on USB technology as the primary method of communication between the computer and its peripherals. With this new USB "plug-and-play" technology your computer automatically configures peripherals. SCSI Connectors Some Macintosh computers ship with built-in SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) connectors. SCSI connectors provide fast data transmission; additionally, they give you the ability to connect up to seven peripheral devices to your computer using just one SCSI port. PC computer users can install a SCSI interface card to provide SCSI support. 11 Checking Your Computer's Connectors To use your scanner you need to understand what type of connectors you have on your computer. To determine the connector type, look at the back panel of your computer: · A USB port is a small slot ½" long and ¼" wide. Note: If your computer has a USB port, check to make sure that your computer's operating system supports USB. The following factory-installed operating systems support USB: Mac OS 8.1, Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2, 98 or NT. · A SCSI port is a 25-pin connector. Positioning the Scanner Find a suitable location near your computer to place the scanner. Make sure the surface is flat. CAUTION: Operating your scanner on an uneven surface can damage the internal components. Note: Proper scanner hardware installation depends on installing the software first. If you have not installed the software that came bundled with the scanner, refer to the section Installing the Software earlier in this chapter for instructions. Connecting the Cables Connecting the USB Cable If your Macintosh or PC computer has a USB port, follow these instructions to connect the scanner to your computer. 1. Locate the USB cable that is provided. Plug the rectangular end of the cable firmly into one of the USB ports. iMac computer ports are located on the right side of the computer. The USB port on other Macintosh 12 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide 2. computers and PCs is located on the back panel of the computer, or on a USB interface card. Plug the square connector end of this cable into the port located on the back panel of the scanner. Connecting the SCSI Cable If your Macintosh computer has a SCSI port, follow these instructions to connect the scanner to your computer. Note: If you do not already have your SCSI interface card installed in your computer, install it now. Refer to the installation instructions that came with the SCSI card. 1. 2. 3. Turn off the computer and the scanner. Connect the SCSI cable to the SCSI port on the computer. Attach the other end of the SCSI cable into the first SCSI connector on the backside of the scanner (closest to the left side). SCSI Connector Port Note: If your scanner is not chained to other SCSI devices, connect the Terminator to the remaining SCSI port of your scanner. Changing the SCSI Address Changing the scanner's SCSI address is necessary if more than one peripheral is connected to the SCSI port and two or more of the peripherals have the same address or ID number. To change the scanner's SCSI address: 1. Check the other peripherals for their SCSI address or ID number. Your Astra MX3 SCSI address is preset to 5. If no other peripherals use 5 as a SCSI address or ID number, you are done. If another peripheral's address is 5, proceed to the next steps. 2. Unplug the scanner from its power source. 3. Gently turn the dial located at the back of the scanner, on the right-hand side, until an unused number appears. 13 Note: SCSI ID numbers 0 and 7 are used by the computer and by the hard drive. SCSI ID numbers 8 and 9 are settings for factory-use only and could cause damage to the scanner if used as a SCSI address for a peripheral. Connecting the optional UTC (Universal Transparency Cover) Cable Note: The Universal Transparency Cover is available as an optional accessory. With the UTC, you'll be able to scan slides and other transmissive media. 1. Locate the UTC cable connected to the back end of the UTC cover. Optional Universal Transparency Cover UTC Connector UTC Cable 2. Plug the UTC cable connector into the round three-pin DIN connector on the scanner's back panel. Connecting the Power Adapter 1. 2. Plug the scanner's power adapter into an electrical outlet. Insert the other end of this cable into the power adapter receptacle on the rear panel of the scanner. The power indicator on the front panel of the scanner should now be illuminated. Turn your computer on. 3. 14 Chapter 2. SCANNING BASICS VistaScan is the primary program or driver you use to scan with your Astra MX3 scanner. It is a TWAIN-compliant program, which means that it can be run from other programs that support scanning, such as Adobe Photoshop LE or OmniPage. It is also a stand-alone program, which allows you to scan images for a variety of uses, without launching another program first. To open VistaScan as a stand alone program: Double-click on the VistaScan D.A. application in the Umax VistaScan folder or click on the VistaAccess scanner icon on the Control Strip. Note: Refer to Chapter 4. Push Button Scanning for more information on VistaAccess. Your First Scan You can perform a basic scan using any of the software applications bundled with this scanner. Note: Before you begin your first scan, you must install the scanner and the bundled software. Refer to Chapter 1. Getting Started, for installation instructions. Make a scan with Adobe Photoshop LE 1. 2. 3. Open Adobe Photoshop LE. Choose Import from the File menu. Select UMAX VistaScan from the drop down menu. The VistaScan program opens. 4. Place a photo to be scanned on the object glass. 5. Click on the Preview button. 6. Set the desired scan area by placing the cursor over the marquis lines that appear over the preview scan. When the cursor turns into a two-headed arrow, click and drag the marquis lines to frame the part of the image you want included in the final scan. 7. Click on the Color Photo button to scan the photo. 8. VistaScan closes and the scanned image appears in Photoshop. 9. Modify the image using the Photoshop tools. 10. Choose Save As from the File menu to save the scanned image. 15 Setting VistaScan Preferences Preferences control scanner settings that you generally do not modify every time you use the scanner. The Preference settings are used as the default settings for several of the scan settings. To access the VistaScan Preferences: Click on the Preferences icon in the upper right corner of the VistaScan window. The Preferences cover three areas: · · · General Scan Destination Scanner Information A tab at the top of the Preferences window indicates each VistaScan preference group. To view the Preference settings for an area, click on the associated tab. General The General tab contains preference settings that control color matching and color correction, and whether to display the ruler and tips. Color Matching/Correction Color Matching allows you to fine-tune the colors of scanned images so they match the colors of your original source documents as closely as possible. This is accomplished using MagicMatch. 16 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Click on the MagicMatch checkbox (so a checkmark appears) to open the Profile List. Note: The MagicMatch checkbox option is available only in advanced mode. A profile contains calibration data for a specific printer, which MagicMatch uses to render a final output image. If a printer or calibration profile is not chosen, MagicMatch will calibrate the image to optimize its display on a monitor. MagicMatch only functions when you are scanning in color mode. When you are using Magic Match, it automatically disables the Level/Curve and Color Adjustment/Balance settings in the VistaScan Advanced window. Show Ruler The Show Ruler command displays or hides the rulers that border the top and left sides of the Preview window. These rulers correspond to the rulers on your scanner's object glass. Clicking on the Show Ruler checkbox turns off (removes the checkmark) and hides the ruler. Clicking on the checkbox again turns the feature on (displays a checkmark) and shows the ruler. Tips Help The Tips Help option determines whether tips are displayed when you pause with your cursor over a VistaScan option. Click on the Tips Help box to enable tips (displays a checkmark). When a checkmark appears, clicking the checkbox disables the tips and removes the checkmark. Scan Destination The options in this Preferences tab specify how scanned images are stored, printed, faxed, transferred to another application, or transmitted via e-mail. Note: The Scan Destination tab is only available when VistaScan is opened as a stand-alone application. File To designate the file type of a scanned image and create a place to store scanned images: 1. Click on the File icon. The file preferences appear to the right of the Scan To icon. 17 2. Click on the pop-up menu next to File Format and select one of the file types. 18 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide 3. 4. Click on the Setting button. Click on the New folder button. Type in the name of your new folder. Click Create. Type the name of your scan in the field and click Save. Printer To specify which printer to use when printing scanned images: 1. Click on the Printer icon. The printer currently selected as the default appears to the right of the Scan To icon set. 2. Click on the Settings button to open Page Setup. Make any changes you want, and then click OK to return to the Preference settings. If you want to make additional printer changes, click on the Chooser button to open up the Mac Chooser. E-mail To specify which e-mail application to use when you e-mail scanned images: 1. Click on the E-mail icon. The e-mail preferences appear to the right of the Scan To icon set. 2. 3. Click on the pop-up menu next to Image Type and select one of the file formats. Click on the Settings button to open the dialogue box and select the Email program you want to use to send scans over the Internet. Fax 1. Click on the Fax icon. The fax driver (or printer driver if a fax driver is not selected) currently selected as the default appears to the right of the Scan To icon set. 19 2. Click on the Settings button to open Page Setup. Make any changes you want, and then click OK to return to the Preference settings. Click on the Chooser button to open the Mac Chooser. Application 1. Click on the Application icon to open application preferences. 2. 3. To select an application, click on the Settings button to open the dialogue box and choose the application you want completed scans to open in. Click on the Select button to return to the preferences menu. Click on the pop-up menu next to File Format and select one of the file formats. Scanner Information The Scanner Information tab displays important information about your scanner. The information includes: · · · · · · Scanner Manufacturer Scanner Model Firmware Version VistaScan Version Maximum Scan Width and Length Maximum Resolution 20 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide VistaScan Beginner Window Features The VistaScan Beginner window appears when you launch VistaScan. The features of the VistaScan Beginner window let you scan a wide variety of documents, photos, and graphics. Just click a button. Scanning an item via the Beginner window consists of just a few steps: 1. Perform a preview scan of the item to be scanned by clicking on the Preview button. The item is quickly scanned at low-resolution, and is displayed in the Preview window (on the left side of the VistaScan Beginner window). Select what you want to do with the image after it is scanned using the Scan To icons. Specify what kind of image you are going to scan, and start the final scan process using the Click To Scan icons. 2. 3. Performing the Preview Scan The Preview feature lets you scan an item at low-resolution so you can define the specific area to be scanned when you scan at higher resolution. To preview the item you are going to scan: 1. 2. Place the item you want to scan facedown on the object glass, under the inverted triangle that appears in the center of the rear ruler. Click on the Preview button on the right side of the Beginner window. The image is quickly scanned and displayed in the Preview window. 21 Preview Tools There are three Preview tools in the VistaScan Beginner window. Zoom Tool Frame Tool Move Tool Zoom tool Lets you enlarge or reduce the view of the image in the Preview window. To use the Zoom tool: 1. 2. Once the preview image appears in the Preview window, click on the Magnifying Glass icon. Move your cursor into the Preview window and click. The image enlarges. To reduce the view size, press the Command key and click in the Preview window. Frame tool Lets you select the portion of the image displayed in the Preview window you want scanned in the final step. You can size the selection frame by clicking on the Frame tool and placing your cursor over one of the four edges of the frame (which changes the cursor shape to a two-headed arrow), drag the Frame inward to reduce the size, or outward to increase the size. You can also move a selected frame by positioning the cursor inside the frame (which changes the cursor shape to a four-direction arrow), and dragging the frame to another location in the Preview window. Move tool Lets you move an image in the Preview window so you can see portions that are not visible because the image is zoomed too large to display completely. Click on the Move tool. Put the cursor inside the Preview window (which changes the cursor shape to a hand). Scroll the image view by clicking and dragging the cursor. 22 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Selecting the Scan To Device or Application To specify the device or application to which you want to send the scanned item, click on the icon that represents this device or application. Note: The Scan To feature is available only when you open the stand alone VistaScan D.A. application. The icons include: File - Stores the scanned image in a file using the file name specified in the VistaScan Preferences. Print - Prints the scanned item on the default printer. Fax - Faxes the scanned item using your fax driver. Application - Sends the scanned item to the application specified in the VistaScan Preferences. E-mail - Sends the scanned item as a graphic file to your Microsoft Exchange or Lotus cc:Mail e-mail application. Note: Other e-mail applications are not supported. Defining the Type of Image to Scan The Beginner window provides you with pre-defined scanning options so you can quickly and easily scan any of the following items: · · · · Color Photos - Scan color or black and white photos. Printed Matter - Scan something that has been printed like a brochure or magazine. Text/Lineart documents - Scan the text contained in a document, or to scan simple lineart graphics. Web Images - Scan graphics and then use them on the web. 23 To specify the type of image you are going to scan, click on the icon that represents the type of item you want to scan. Printed Matter Settings icon Color Photos Settings icon Text/Lineart Settings icon Web Image Settings Clicking on any of these icons automatically starts the final scan process using the pre-defined scan settings. The scanned image is saved or sent to the device or application you specified by clicking on the Scan To icon. 24 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Chapter 3. ADVANCED FEATURES The VistaScan Advanced window gives you the ability to adjust scanner settings individually for the type of document you are going to scan. If you are a novice computer user, you may want to use the VistaScan Beginner window until you are more familiar with VistaScan and the scanning process. The Beginner window options are preset to provide a quick and easy way to scan images. To enter the Advanced window, click on the VistaScan Advanced Button. The Advanced window contains the following tools and features you can use to scan documents: · · · · · · · · · · Original Document Source Settings Image Mode Settings Resolution Settings Descreen Settings Filter Settings Scaling Options Auto Adjustment Setting Scan Control Unit Multiple Scan Mode Settings Color Adjustment Feature Panel Making Advanced Window Changes Changing the Original Document Source The Original Document Source setting identifies the item you want to scan. 25 You can choose from the following settings: · · · Flatbed Reflective - Scans paper originals (non-transparencies) e.g., photographs, documents, and brochures. UTA (Transmissive) - Scans 4" x 5" or smaller photo transparencies. UTA (Negative) - Scans 4" x 5" photographic negatives. Note: For more information about scanning photo transparencies or negatives, refer to Appendix B. Using the Universal Transparency Cover (UTC). Changing the Image Mode VistaScan can scan a wide variety of image types. True Color, RGB - Scans a full color photo or document. The RGB indicates the colors of Red, Green and Blue. This setting creates larger files than the B/W Photo setting. True Color 42-bit RGB - Scans a full-color photo or document using 42-bits of information to define each pixel. The RGB indicates the colors of Red, Green and Blue. This setting creates larger file sizes than the True Color RGB setting. True Color, CMYK - Converts RGB (video) color data into CMYK (printed) color data using a special color transformation process. When scanning is completed the CMYK image is ready for printing on a CMYK color printer. Note: Most ink jet printers use RGB rather than CMYK printing. 256 Colors - Scans color images using 256 colors. The 256 color images take up less memory and hard disk space than the True Color RGB option. Web Color - Scans an image at the appropriate resolution for display on the monitor. 26 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide B/W Photo - Scans black-and-white photos using 256 shades of gray (ranging from white to black) so you get smooth shade transitions in your scanned image. B/W Photo, 14-bit- Scans a black-and-white photo using 14-bits of data to define each pixel. This setting produces more gray shade accuracy than the B/W Photo option, but also produces larger file sizes. B/W Document - Scans text documents, black-and-white line art, and other black-and-white documents. This selection creates the smallest file sizes. FAX - Scans at the appropriate resolution for faxing. OCR - Scans at the appropriate settings for optimal OCR recognition. Note: Not all graphic applications support 42-bit graphic files. To determine whether the software you want to use is capable of working with 42-bit graphics, refer to your software documentation. Changing the Resolution Setting Scanning resolution is measured in dots per inch (DPI). Resolution determines the amount of information the scanner will capture in a scanned image. The higher the resolution, the finer the image detail, and the larger the file sizes. VistaScan lets you choose from the following resolution settings: · · · 25-2400 dpi Higher - This option opens a pop-up menu that contains higher resolution settings from 3600-9600 dpi. Custom - This option opens a slider control where you can set any resolution up to 9600 dpi. Click and drag on the slider to change the setting and click on the OK button. The following table gives you an idea of the file sizes you can expect based on the original image size and the resolution setting you specify. These values are based on scanning images in 24-bit, True Color RGB mode. Image sizes shown below are given in megabytes. 27 Table 1. Resolution/File - Size Guidelines Resolution (dots per inch) 72 100 200 300 400 600 800 1200 Image Size 4x5 0.30 0.58 2.29 5.15 9.16 20.60 36.60 82.40 Image Size 5x7 0.53 1.00 4.01 9.01 16.00 36.10 64.10 144.20 Image Size 8.5x11 1.39 2.68 10.70 24.10 42.80 96.30 171.20 385.20 NOTE: Choosing the True Color RGB 42-bit setting captures more data than the 24-bit setting. This means that the file sizes listed above will be larger if you scanned images using the True Color 42-bit RGB setting. Choosing the Best Resolution for Your Scanning Project To choose the best resolution for scanning, determine what you are going to do with the image once it is scanned. Matching your scanning resolution to the image use will give you the best image for that purpose and will keep the file sizes to the minimum needed. Table 2. Recommended Resolutions Image Use Printing Viewing on the Screen Viewing on the Web OCR, B/W Pre-Press Enlarging or reducing Recommended Resolution 300 - 600* 72 72 300 600 600 * Depending on the resolution of your printer 28 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Changing the Descreen Feature The Descreen option helps eliminate the patterns that can appear when you scan printed images found in magazines, brochures, catalogues, etc. This is accomplished by changing the number of lines that appear in every inch (lines per inch) of the scanned image. Note: The Descreen feature is unavailable when you have chosen the B/W Document, Fax or OCR resolution settings. To change the Descreen setting: 1. 2. · · · · · Click on the Descreen option to display the pop-up menu. Select one of the descreen options: No Descreen - No Descreening. Magazine - Specifies 133 lines per inch. This option smoothes the fine dot pattern found in glossy magazines. Newspaper - Specifies 85 lines per inch. Smoothes the coarse grain pattern commonly found in newspaper images. Art print - Specifies 175 lines per inch. Smoothes the fine dot pattern found in high quality art prints. Custom - This option opens a slider control where you can set any lpi from 50 to 400. Click and drag on the slider to change the setting and click on the OK button. Changing the Filter Setting Image filters are used to soften or sharpen edges and boundaries of an image. VistaScan provides the following filter options: · · · · · No Filter - Use this option when you do not want to sharpen or blur the image. Sharpen - Sharpens lines that may be fuzzy or not clean in the original image. Sharpen More - Sharpens the image more than the standard Sharpen filter does. Blur - Softens the edges of an image. Blur More - Softens the edges more than the Blur filter does. 29 Changing the Scale Factor Scaling lets you automatically enlarge or reduce an image from its original size (100%) as it is scanned. You can scale the image by selecting any of the scale factors listed below: · · · · · · · 10% 25% 50% 100% 150% 200% Custom - Specify a custom scale setting by selecting the Custom option from the Scaling pop-up menu. To define the custom scaling settings: 1. 2. Choose the Custom option from the Scaling pop-up menu. Drag the sliders to adjust the percentage of increase or decrease in scale. - The top slider is X and changes the scale of the scan vertically. - The bottom slider is Y and changes the scale of the scan horizontally. - To maintain proportions of the image during scaling, lock the sliders together by clicking on the X = Y box. Click OK. 3. Using the Auto Adjustment Feature Auto Adjustment provides a simple way to adjust the light and dark values of a color or grayscale image you want to scan. To automatically adjust the light and dark values: 1. 2. 3. 4. Place the item you want to scan on the scanner object glass. Click on the Preview button from the VistaScan Advanced window. Select an area that you want to adjust using the Frame tool. You can edit the Preview image before scanning the final image using the Zoom Tool and Frame Selection Tool. To find out more about how to use these tools, click on the user tips text that appears when your cursor pauses over the tool. 30 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Note: To use VistaScan online help you must have a browser installed on the system. 4. Click on the Auto Adjustment check box. The selected area is adjusted and the preview image refreshes, displaying the results you can expect when you perform the final scan. Using the Scan Control Unit The Scan Control unit contains the Preview and Scan buttons, and the Scan To options. Selecting the Scan To Device or Application To specify the device or application where you want to send the scanned item: 1. Click on the arrow above the Scan To text on the Scan Control unit. The Scan Control unit panel slides back to display the Scan To icons. Click on the icon that represents the device or application where you want to send the scanned item. The icons include: · · · · · File - Stores the scanned image in a file using the file name specified in the VistaScan Preferences. Print - Prints the scanned item on the default printer. Fax - Faxes the scanned item using your fax driver. Application - Sends the scanned item to the applications specified in the VistaScan Preferences. E-mail - Sends the scanned item as a graphic file to your Microsoft Exchange or Lotus cc:Mail e-mail application. 2. 31 Using the Multiple Scan Modes You can select multiple portions of the image scanned in Preview mode using the Multiple Frame tool. To create more than one selection frame: 1. 2. Scan an image in Preview scan mode and click on the Multiple Frame tool. To select the area of the preview scan you want contained in the first frame, click on the point at which you want to begin the frame, and then drag the tool diagonally until the area of interest is contained in the marquis box. Adjust the marquis box by holding the cursor over any edge of the box. When the two-headed arrow appears, drag the line to re-size the box. Click outside of a selected area to save the frame. (The marquis box will turn into a green frame.) To create other frames, repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 until you have created all the desired frames. Click on the Job List button to view thumbnails of your selections. If you want to re-crop one of the frames, double-click on its thumbnail. The green frame will revert to a marquis box and you can make adjustment. Click outside the frame when you are finished and the new image appears as a thumbnail in the job list. 3. 4. 5. To see information about any thumbnail: Click on the " !" at the bottom of the thumbnail. To remove a selected frame: 1. Click on the Job List button. Thumbnails of the selected frames appear in the job list window. 32 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide 2. 3. Click on the thumbnail of the frame you want to remove. A red box appears around the selected thumbnail. Click on the X button, located in the bottom-left corner of the thumbnail, to remove the frame. Using the Color Adjustment Features The Color Adjustment features allow you to make adjustments to the colors and/or tones in an image. The following lists the color adjustment settings you can modify: · · · · Brightness, contrast, highlights, shadows, and gamma Image tones Color balance Rotation/Invert To access the color adjustment features, click on the Color Adjustment icon from the VistaScan Advanced window. Adjusting Image Brightness, Contrast, Highlights and Shadows When you click on the Brightness/Contrast tab from the Color Adjustment panel a series of slider bars appear. Adjust the associated tones by dragging the slider in one of the bars to the left or the right. Using the Brightness Bar Moving the slider on the scroll bar to the right increases the brightness. Moving it to the left decreases the brightness. The default setting is zero 0. The maximum brightness setting is 100. The minimum setting is 100. 33 Using the Contrast Bar This setting controls the difference between light and dark areas in an image. Moving the slider on the scroll bar to the right decreases the gray shades between light and dark areas. Moving it to the left increases the gray shades between light and dark areas. The default setting is zero 0. The maximum contrast setting is 100. The minimum setting is -100. Highlight Bar This setting defines the lightest (whitest) tones in the scanned image. If you broaden the range that includes the highlight points, the pixels within the newly specified range are remapped allowing you to see more details in a color/gray image. Moving the slider on the scroll bar to the left increases the brightness. Moving it to the right decreases the brightness. The default setting is 255. The maximum highlight setting is 255; the minimum setting is 1 (white). Shadow Bar The Shadow bar defines the darkest tones in the scanned image. Moving the slider on the scroll bar to the right decreases the brightness in shadowed areas. Moving it to the left increases the brightness in shadowed areas. The default setting is 0. The maximum shadow setting is 254 (black); the minimum setting is 0. Gamma Bar The Gamma bar alters the mid-range gray tones in the scanned image. All optical devices, such as monitors and scanners, have some variation in their light sensitivity characteristics. To get a scanned image with good results, VistaScan provides gamma adjustment capabilities so you can compensate for this variation in your scanner. Moving the slider on the scroll bar to the right increases the brightness of the mid-range gray tones. Moving it to the left decreases the brightness of the midrange gray tones. The default setting is 1.5. Reset Button Click on the Reset button to cancel any changes you made and return the values to the default setting. Adjusting the Image Tones The Curve command is another way to make precise adjustments in the highlight, midtones, or shadow levels in your images. Using this feature 34 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide corrects the gray/color values in an image. You change the values by altering the shape of the curve that represents the brightness values of pixels. Click Reset to cancel the changes and return the value to the default setting. Adjusting the Color Balance The Color Adjustment feature controls the hue and saturation of a particular color. When you click on the Color Balance tab from the Color Adjustments panel, a continuous color spectrum wheel appears. 35 When you click in the wheel the image tones of the preview image are shifted to the particular hue that is represented in that area. Click on the Reset button to cancel the changes and return the value to default setting. Rotating/Inverting an Image You can rotate an image clockwise or counter clockwise, and you can flip images 180°vertically or horizontally. The following lists the possible rotate and flip selections: · · · · · · · · · Flip/Rotate Horizontally 90° clockwise Flip/Rotate Horizontally 90° counter clockwise Flip Horizontal Rotate 90° counter clockwise Rotate 90° Clockwise Normal - does not rotate or flip the image. Flip Vertical Rotate 180° clockwise Inverts an image - Changes all the dark tones in an image to light tones, and all of the light tones to dark tones. This option can NOT be reversed using the Edit menu Undo command. Clicking on the image that shows the desired orientation rotates or flips the image. Click on the Reset button to cancel changes and return the image to the original orientation. 36 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Using VistaAccess - Direct Access VistaAccess is a utility that provides instant access to several MX3 Scanner settings. Note: You access VistaAccess from the Control Strip on your desktop. If you do not have the Control Strip feature installed on your Macintosh computer, you can install it from the Macintosh OS CD-ROM To use VistaAccess: Click on the VistaScan icon on the Control Strip. (It looks like a scanner.) A pop-up menu will open with the following options: · · VistaScan - Loads the VistaScan D.A. software. Push Button Configuration - Use this to set your Astra MX3 buttons. Note See more about Push Button Configuration in the section Push Button Scanning in Chapter 4. · Lamp On/Off Control - Controls the scanner's lamp power saving utility. Refer to the section "Turning the Scanner Lamp On and OFF below. Note: The lamp remains on whenever the scanner has power, unless you turn it off. See more in the section titled turning the Scanner Lamp On and Off. · Find/Refresh Scanner - Re-initializes the scanner. If the VistaScan Icon has a red X over it, the scanner may be disconnected from a power source. Turning the Scanner Lamp On and Off You can turn the scanner lamp on and off using the Astra MX3's built-in Power Saving utility. The lamp remains on whenever the scanner has power, unless you turn it off using the UMAX Power Saving utility. To turn the lamp on or off on your Mac: 1. 2. Click on the VistaAccess Scanner icon in the control strip and select Lamp On/Off Control from the pop-up menu. Click on the On or Off button. To turn the lamp on or off on your PC: 37 The Power Saving window appears at the bottom-right corner of your desktop by default when you close VistaScan. To turn the scanner lamp off: Click on the image of the scanner in the Power Saving utility window. After a second or two, the light in the scanner image goes out, and your scanner lamp is turned off. To turn the scanner lamp on: Open the VistaScan software, or simply click on the scanner image in the Power Saving utility window. Note: The scanner lamp is different from the Power Indicator light. The Power Indicator light is the small, green light located on the front panel of the scanner. This indicator remains ON whenever the scanner is plugged into an electrical outlet (regardless of whether the Power Saving utility is engaged). 38 Chapter 4. PUSH BUTTON SCANNING The defining feature of the Astra MX3 is its push button functionality. You can scan an image to e-mail, perform OCR (optical character recognition), or even use the scanner as a copy machine by pushing one of the three buttons on the front panel of the scanner. You can increase your productivity by accessing all of the normal scanner functions without having to launch the software applications through the onscreen interface. Before you can use these time-saving functions, you need to configure the settings for each button. Follow the appropriate set of instructions below to configure the variables for each button. Configuring the Scanner Buttons To open the Push Button Configuration software: Click on the VistaScan icon on the Control Strip to open the pop-up menu and select Push Button Configuration. There are three icons in the Button Configuration windows. Each icon represents a separate scanner button function. Clicking on the icon displays a window with options. · · · Scan - Adjust the settings for the Scan button. Copy - Adjust the settings for the Copy button. Custom - Adjust the setting for OCR or E-mail when you press the Custom button. Make changes to settings or choose different applications by clicking on the pop-up menu next to feature you want to change. Setting the Scan Options These settings will be used whenever you press the Scan button on the front of the scanner. 1. 2. Click on the Scan icon. Select the image editing software. Choose one of the available applications. If the application you want to scan to does not appear in the Scan To pop-up menu, click on the Add button. When the dialog box 39 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. appears, navigate to the location of the application you want, select it and click on the Open button. The new application will be added to the Scan To menu. Default is Adobe Photoshop LE. Choose the document type. Select Color Photo, B/W Photo or B/W Document. Default is Color Photo Set the resolution. Select 72, 150, 300, or 600 dpi. Default is 150 dpi. Set the Brightness. Select from Lightest to Darkest. Default is normal brightness. Select a Scan Source. This is the type of image. Select Reflective (prints or printed material) or Transmissive (transparencies). Default is Reflective. Select the scan size. This is the size of the original to be scanned. Default is A4. Note: Click on the Default button to return the values in each field to the default settings. Configuring the Copy Button Values These settings will be used whenever you press the Copy button on the front of the scanner. 1. Click on the Copy icon. 2. 3. Select a Print to option. Choose one of the available printers that is connected to your computer. Select the type of image you are scanning by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Document Type field and choosing one of the available document types from the pop-up menu. 40 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide 41 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Select the desired resolution by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Resolution field and choosing one of resolution presets from the pulldown menu. Select a scanning intensity level (brightness) by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Brightness field and choosing the desired brightness level from the pull-down menu. Original indicates the type of material the original image is printed on. Select either Reflective or Transmissive by clicking the arrow to the right of the Original field. Select the file size for the scanned image by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Scan Area field and choosing the desired dimensions from the pop-up menu. Click on the OK button to save the Copy push button configuration settings. These settings will be used whenever you press the Copy button on the front of the scanner. Note: You can also click on the Default button to return the values in each field to the default settings. Then click OK save these values for the copy button. Configuring the Custom Button Values These settings will be used whenever you press the Custom button on the front of the scanner. Click on the Custom icon to open Custom settings. 42 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Note: The Custom icon controls the values for both the E-mail and OCR (optical character recognition) features. You configure the variables for each function separately. To configure the Custom button for the E-mail function: 1. If the E-mail icon is not selected, (enclosed in a red box) click on the Email icon. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Select the e-mail application (only Microsoft Exchange and Lotus cc:Mail are supported) to send the scanned image to, by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Mail Destination field. Select the type of image you are scanning by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Document Type field and choosing one of the available document types from the pull-down menu. Select the desired resolution by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Resolution field and choosing one of resolution presets from the pulldown menu. Select a scanning intensity level (brightness) by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Brightness field and choosing the desired brightness level from the pull-down menu. Original indicates the type of material the original image is printed on. Select either Reflective or Transmissive by clicking the arrow to the right of the Original field. Select the file size for the scanned image by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Scan Area field and choosing the desired dimensions from the pop-up menu. 43 8. Click on the OK button to save the Custom E-mail push button configuration settings. The Custom setting is now configured to scan and send the scanned image to the selected e-mail application. Note: You can also click on the Default button to return the values in each field to the default settings. Then click OK save these values for the e-mail function of the Custom button. To configure the Custom button to scan an OCR a document: 1. 2. If the OCR icon is not selected (enclosed in a red box), click on the OCR icon. Select the text editing application to use by clicking on the arrow to the right of the OCR Destination field. Choose an application from the pulldown menu. Note: You do not need to select values for Document Type, Resolution, Brightness, nor for Scan Area. 3. Original indicates the type of material the original image is printed on. Select either Reflective or Transmissive by clicking the arrow to the right of the Original field. Click on the OK button to save the Custom OCR push button configuration settings. The Custom setting is now configured to scan and send the editable text to the selected destination application. 4. Note: You can also click on the Default button to return the values in each field to the default settings. Then click OK save these values for the OCR function of the Custom button. Using the Push Buttons Once you have configured the variables for each of the push buttons, you can scan images and text by simply pressing one of the buttons on your scanner. To scan using one of the scanner's push buttons: 1. 2. 3. Press the Scan, Copy, or Custom (i.e. e-mail or OCR) button. A Scan Progress window appears showing you the status of the scanning task. When the scan is complete, the image you scanned appears in the application that you specified when you configured the button. 44 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide Chapter 5. SCANNING PROJECTS The UMAX Astra MX3 scanner includes bundled software to help you with a variety of tasks. This chapter shows you how to print a scan, scan a photo to email, make a personalized calendar, create Web-ready images, and even turn a page of text into an online text document that you can edit. Scan and Print Images with VistaScan 1. To open the VistaScan software application, click on the scanner icon in the control strip located in the lower left corner of the Desktop. A pop-up menu appears. Select the VistaScan option from the menu. Or: Double-click on the Hard Drive icon. Double-click on the UMAX VistaScan folder. Double-click on the UMAX VistaScan application icon to launch VistaScan. The VistaScan Beginner window appears. 2. 3. Lift the scanner's document cover and place your document facedown in the center of the scanner's object glass. Click on the Preview button to preview the scanned item. You can edit the Preview image before scanning the final image using the Zoom Tool and the Frame Selection Tool. To find out more about how to use these tools, refer to the Preview Tools section or click on the user tips text that appears when your cursor pauses over the tool. Note: The user tips feature is only available if you have a browser installed. 4. 5. Click on the Printer icon in the "Scan to" options to indicate that you want to scan and print the image. Click on one of the four icons in the Click To Scan area of the Beginner window. Your selection identifies the type of image you are about to scan and tells VistaScan how to set the scanner options for the best results. The image type selections include: Color photos, Text/lineart, Web Images and Printed Matter settings. Once you click on the desired image type, the scanner starts scanning the image using the appropriate settings. After the scan is complete, a print window appears. Verify that the destination settings are correct and then click on the Print button. 45 6. Scan a Photo to E-mail Using VistaScan Scanning an image to e-mail is similar to the procedure described in the Scan and Print Images with VistaScan section earlier in this guide. Follow steps 1 through 3 as listed in the Scan and Print instructions, and then proceed with the following steps: 1. In the Scan to options, click on the E-mail icon to set the scanner settings to the best values for scanning an image to e-mail. Note: You may need to adjust the destination preferences in the VistaScan Beginner window. For information about setting preferences, refer to Setting the VistaScan Preferences section. 2. In the Click to Scan options of the Beginner window, click on the Web Image icon. The scanner starts scanning the image using the appropriate settings for web images. 3. After the image is scanned, a Microsoft Exchange or Lotus cc:Mail email window appears with an icon representing the scanned image attachment. Note: For more information about using Microsoft Exchange or Lotus cc:Mail refer to the user documentation that came with the application. 4. Fill out the rest of the standard e-mail information (address, subject, etc.) as you ordinarily would. Send the e-mail. Converting Scanned Text to Editable Text with OmniPage OmniPage lets you scan an image that contains text and convert it to editable text so you do not have to retype the text. Opening OmniPage LE 1. 46 Double-click on the Hard Drive icon. UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide 2. 3. 4. Double-click on the OmniPage Ltd. Ed folder. Double-click on the OmniPage Limited Edition application icon. An OmniPage toolbar appears. (If the toolbar does not appear, click on the Window pull down menu and select Show Toolbar). Click Select Scanner from the Settings menu. Select UMAX Astra Series then click OK. Converting Scanned Text with OmniPage LE 1. 2. 3. Position the image you want to scan face-down on the scanner's object glass. Click on the Auto button on the Toolbar to begin the scan. Click Save to save the converted text. Give it file name and location in the Save dialogue box and click on the Save button. OR You can also save the scanned document to a specific word processing program. From the File pull down menu, select Save as. Click in the Format field and select the word processing program you want from the pop-up menu. Then click on the Save button. Open your word processor application. Open the file that you just saved so you can review, edit, cut or copy portions of the text. 4. Creating an Album with Presto! PhotoAlbum A variety of templates you can use for albums are included in Presto! PhotoAlbum. You can also save an album you create and use it later as a template for creating another album. This process differs for PC and Macintosh users. When a step is different for PC or Macintosh users, a note gives platform-specific instructions. Opening PhotoAlbum 1. 2. 3. Double-click on the Hard Drive icon. Double-click on the Presto! PhotoAlbum folder. Double-click on the Presto! PhotoAlbum application icon. The PhotoAlbum window appears. If you are opening Presto! PhotoAlbum on a PC: 1. 2. 3. 4. Click on the Start bar in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Select Programs . Select Presto! PhotoAlbum from the Programs menu. Select Presto! PhotoAlbum. The PhotoAlbum window appears. 47 Creating a Photo Album 1. 2. 3. Click on the Create button, and then click on the Template button. Choose an album template category by selecting one of the category icons in the column on the left. Display the available template outlines by clicking on the template thumbnail. Browse through the template thumbnails using the scroll bar. Note: Clicking on the thumbnail displays a description of the layout. The description includes information when the layout was originally created and how many pages are contained in the layout. 4. When you have chosen a template, click OK. After a moment the template appears. 5. Click on the Command icon in the upper-left corner of the floating Photo Browser window. If this window is not displayed, click on the Photo Browser button, located on the left side of the row of three icons on the bottom of the screen. 6. Choose Select TWAIN Source from the pull-down menu. Choose VistaScan, then click on the Select button. 7. Click on the Photo Browser window Command icon again, and then click Acquire to activate the scanner and launch VistaScan. The VistaScan Beginner window opens. 8. Lift the document cover and place the image you want to scan face-down in the center of the object glass of the scanner. 9. Click on the Preview button to perform a preliminary low-resolution scan of the photo you want to include in the album.. 48 UMAX Astra MX3 Owner's Guide 10. Specify the area to be scanned in the final scan using the VistaScan Frame Tool. 11. Click on the Color Photos icon in the Click to Scan area of the VistaScan Beginner window. The scanner performs the final, high-resolution scan. Note: For PC Users: After the scan is complete, click on the Exit button. 12. A thumbnail of the image you just scanned appears in the Photo Browser window. 13. Click and drag this image into the spaces that read, "Put Photo Here!" 14. Repeat this process by scanning more photos and inserting them in the blank cell photo frames until you have filled the whole album. 15. Choose the Save As command from the Album menu. Enter the file name and directory location in which you want to store the album. Click OK to save the album. 49