Desktop Scanners: Image Quality Evaluation [Paperback]

Robert G. Gann (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hewlett-Packard Professional Books | Publication Date: August 3, 1998

Bewildered by today's complex scanner specs? Need to filter the hype from the reality? Desktop Scanners cuts through the hype, delivering the practical, objective information you need to choose the best scanner -- and get great results from it. This book answers all the key questions scanner buyers ask, including: What kind of scanner do I need? What do those DPI and bit-depth mean -- if anything? How does a scanner actually work and how can I make it work better? Do I need a scanner or a digital camera? Detailed enough for experts yet clear enough for beginners, Desktop Scanners is like having a world-class scanning expert by your side throughout your entire evaluation, purchase and configuration process.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This technical guide to scanners helps potential buyers, reviewers, engineers, and scientists understand what traits to look for in a scanner and how to make the best scans possible. The focus is on image scans rather than document scans. The book discusses topics such as types of scanners, scanning software, hardware interfaces, accessories, digital cameras, and the technologies behind optical-reduction, contact-image sensor, color-separation, transmissive-filter, light-source separation, and beam-splitting scanners.

As author Robert G. Gann explains how to create good scans, he explores such issues as exposure controls, scanning speed, resolution, interpolation, image noise, illumination, color registration and fidelity, and black-and-white output. He also recommends several tests for scanners and provides a glossary of scanner terms and a full-color section of images of sample scans.

The companion CD-ROM comes with sample images, test results, and a spreadsheet for RGB-to-LAB conversion. The book doesn't recommend specific brands or models, but has all the technical detail that a private consumer, corporate buyer, or reviewer needs to make an informed decision on today's scanners. --Kathleen Caster

From the Back Cover

The “no-hype” expert guide to choosing your next scanner.

Bewildered by today's complex scanner specs? Need to filter the hype from the reality? Desktop Scanners: Image Quality Evaluation delivers the practical, objective information you need to choose the best scanner — and get great results from it. Detailed enough for experts yet clear enough for beginners, it's like having a world-class scanning expert by your side throughout the entire evaluation, purchase and configuration process. You'll get answers to key questions like:

• What kind of scanner do I need? Are those new low-cost scanners really enough?
• How does a scanner actually work, and how can I make mine work better?
• What do those DPI and bit-depth specifications mean — if anything?
• How do I scan for accurate color on the Web?
• What options and software do I need?
• How are scanners changing, and which new technologies are most important?

From the absolute basics to sophisticated gamma correction and color space issues, here are the practical answers and step-by-step testing procedures you need to get the most for your money. When it comes to scanners, you'll never be “in the dark” again.

On the accompanying CD-ROM, you'll find example images, scanner evaluation tools, online presentations, and further explanations of key concepts.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR (August 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130809047
• ISBN-13: 978-0130809049
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,879,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book is useful for junior engineer of scanner maker., January 20, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Taiwan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desktop Scanners: Image Quality Evaluation (Paperback)

If you are junior engineer or marketing people of scanner maker, YES, this is the book you want.

This is not an ABC book. It is not an advacned, either. You need some technical background to read this book. If you want to buy a scanner or learn how to use scanner, try others.

From chapter 1 to 10, it focus on the product definition. It telds you what kind of scanner should be made for current market. From chapter 11, there are basic theory about scanner and how to tell the image quality.

Too few pictures in this book. Some phenomena is hard to descipt.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for beginner or office application. Too technical, December 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Desktop Scanners: Image Quality Evaluation (Paperback)

If you are using scanner solely for pictures and/or graphics, this book may be helpful. There is very little information for office application such as scanning documents and placing in Microsoft Word. Too technical for a beginner.