Customer Reviews

Scanners for Dummies

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have bought several scanning books, but this one is all you need. The author covers the entire process and all the settings, including those buttons and sliders that you have never heard of before. There are two chapters that address basic and advanced image retouching and editing. The tone is friendly and funny and things never get too complex. The troubleshooting chapter has already helped me solve an annoying bug that I've had to put up with since I installed my scanner! Overall, I give this Dummies book a very high rating for anyone that's searching for a scanner or has recently bought one.

'Scanners For Dummies' was shockingly empty of helpful content. I was looking for useful advice and helpful tips for archiving photos, practical tips for best scanner settings and insights about how to deal with less than perfect images. This book had little information of relevance and nothing of depth. I must own a dozen 'Dummies' books, and this is by far the least instructive and practical.

That said, who would benefit from reading the book?
- An absolute beginner who needs encouragement to start exploring scanner settings.
- A scavenger who wants a full chapter on how to connect a SCSI scanner that he/she obtained for free on Craigslist.
- Someone who wants instruction on Paint Shop Pro (and not Adobe photo applications).
- Users who have no interest in retouching or restoring older photos.

The author, it seemed to me, had little interest or experience in scanning, retouching and restoring older images. To be more specific, the Histogram setting is not even mentioned and the info on adjusting Highlights, Shadows and Gamma settings is so superficial as to be of little or no help. However, the author does excel when discussing hardware issues.

I have since read and recommend as vastly superior 'How To Do Everything With Your Scanner.' Even 'Digital Photography For Dummies' has more detailed and practical help for scanning and restoring damaged photos.

If you buy this book for under $1, you are doing OK. But, if you want detailed and practical advice for scanning and improving photos, look elsewhere.

This book told me all I needed, I'm using my scanner just about every day now that I know what to do. (Plus I have it set right to take the best scans) Great coverage of filters and plugins too.

Although I don't have a Microtek scanner like the author has, I was still able to follow along and learned everything I needed to know. This book also has almost as good a selection of novice material on Paint Shop Pro as PaintShop Pro for Dummies! Well worth the money.

This book is as good as the amazon editor claims, I got my new HP scanner up and running in an hour so you know the installation and setup chapters were good! The coverage of web graphics is very good and provides lots of tips and instruction. You won't find as much on PhotoShop but the step by step Paintshop pro material is worth its weight in gold. Well written and funny. I am going to add this author to my Dummies watch list!

As a long term fan of the Dummies books, I can't begin to express my disappointment in this offering. Scanners for Dummies is so exceptionally elementary as to offer absolutely nothing beyond how to "push a button" or "move a slider." Nothing is presented that couldn't be discovered by simply turning on the scanner and playing with it for a half hour or so.

The worst part, however, is that much of the information about scanners and Paint Shop Pro is misleading and in several cases, just plain wrong. This is the absolute worst Dummies book I have ever read and, while it is not my first one by Mark Chambers, it may well be my last.

I should have checked the 2004 copyright date. An outdated technical book for up-to-date equipment is useless. I will be more cautious next time.