Home Page
Overview
Basic Controls
Special Controls
Image Enhancement
Advanced Control
After you have familiarized yourself with the basic scanning methods, you can refer to this section for more advanced features.
|
|
The F/R button flips and rotates an image. The "F" signifies the flipping mechanism, which flips images about the horizontal or vertical axis. The "R" signifies the rotational mechanism.
Click the F/R icon to display the Flip/Rotate dialog box. The samples in the dialog box illustrate the effects of rotation and flipping. Click any one of the samples to make the desired change.
See also: Rotate Marquee.
Using Job List (do Multiple/Batch scan)
MagicScan allows you to scan many images at one time. This feature comes in two distinct modes - Multiple scan and Batch Scan. Please refer to Building A Scan Program to see how to use a job list.
Batch scanning allows you to acquire more than one scanned image for each scan operation. In this mode, the scanner will make an initial calibration in order to make the settings and then proceed with a single scan. All the images will be captured in one scan operation with the same settings. It is better for you to choose Batch Scan mode if the all images need similar settings, e.g., same resolution, same highlight and shadow, etc.
Multiple scanning allows you to create a job list that performs a series of scans automatically. The Job list will specify the position of the objects, scanning order and the settings for each object. The scanner re-calibrates before scanning and returns to the home position after scanning.
Scan Job dialog box Tool description:
Duplicate: Duplicates the current job.
Rename: Changes the filename (only valid for the "Scan to File" option).
Information: Displays the current status for the jobs.
Trash Can: Click on this icon to discard selected jobs.
Scan to File
While scanning MagicScan, the scanned image will be saved automatically. You can click "Rename" to change the filename or the file format. The Save As dialog box will appear. From the "Save File as Type" list box, select an appropriate file type. Choose from TIFF(TIF), Bitmap(BMP), PCX(PCX), Photoshop3.0.5(PSD) or JPEG(JPG).
After you select a file type, you need to choose a path and directory in the "Directories" list box and type a file name in the "File Name" text box. Choose the "OK" button to confirm your choices and close the dialog box or click the "Cancel" button to close the box without any changes taking place.
JPEG Compression
If you choose JPEG, you will need to select image compression quality. If you select a setting between Good and Excellent, the resulting image quality will be high but the file will not be as compressed as one for which you choose a quality setting between Fair and Good.
When you are satisfied with your scan program, choose the "Scan" button to initiate execution. When the program is completed the scanner will rest and all sides in the Job List will show "done" as status. MagicScan then waits for further operator action.
To automatically enlarge or reduce an image as it is scanned, use scaling factor setting. Your selected scale factor, whose range is dependent on your selected image type, affects the printed scan output.
The height or width can be entered separately by clicking on the link graphic to break the link between the Height and Width text fields. Alternatively, you can also change these values by directly adjusting the selection frame. The default values initially shown in these text boxes are just the height and width of the default selection frame.
To change Height or Width text box values:
Using the Proof Window - Proof Your Image
Before you click the SCAN button to scan your image, you may want to make sure image settings are correct by viewing an accurate proof of the image before committing it to your computer's memory. MagicScan provides a Proof Window for you to review the scanned image and modify the settings without going through the time-consuming task of rescanning each time you make a new setting.
Click the PROOF button to display the Proof window. The image displayed in the Proof window will have a resolution matching your monitor's; that is, about 75 dpi. Therefore, the resolution of the pre-scanned image will differ slightly from that of a similarly scanned image. With the exception of resolution, every other aspect of the proofed image will be accurate.
If you are satisfied with the image seen in the Proof window, click the SAVE button to save the image or click the CLOSE button to close the Proof window.
Note: If you click the SAVE button to save the image on the proof window, the resolution of the image would be lower than that of same image scanned by clicking the SCAN button. If you want to have a higher resolution for your scanned image, you have to exit the Proof window and click the SCAN button.
Note: The proof image is only for monitor display, that is, the resolution for the image is 75dpi.
In addition, under the proof window, you can access the image enhancement dialog box to adjust the color of the scanned image. Click the button on the top-right corner of the Proof window. The Image Enhancement dialog box will be displayed on your screen. Adjust the settings to change the color of the scanned image (shown on the proof window) as desired.
There are four menu items - Settings, Frame, Info and Image which allow you to make settings for the scanned image, adjust the color for the scanned image and provide you with basic image information for your reference. For more detailed information, click one of the items below:
The Settings menu handles all the loading, saving, reset setting, defining preferences, etc. |
The Frame menu creates, deletes, duplicates and renames frames. |
The Image menu allows you to set the image processing options. It's the same as the menus in the scanner control window. |
The Info menu displays information about the scanner and software. |
The settings menu handles all the loading, saving, reset settings, defining preferences, etc.
Load Settings Restore the saved settings.
Save Settings Save the current settings.
Save Settings As Save the current settings under a chosen file name.
Default Settings Resets to the original default settings.
Save As Default Saves the current settings as default.
Reset Settings Resets to the factory settings.
Monitor Gamma Controls the monitor's gamma value.
Setup Scanner Conducts a connectivity test with the scanner (for Windows user only).
Preview Size Sets the size of the preview area.
Units Selects the units of measurement.
Preferences Sets MagicScan's Preferences.
Lens Control Selects the lens to be used for scanning in particular models.
Lamp Intensity Sets the intensity of the scanner's lamp for particular models.
Focus Control Adjusts the focus control for negatives and transparencies for particular models.
The Load Settings option allows you to load previously saved scan settings. The Load Settings dialog box has two extra options. These are given as check boxes, located at the lower right hand corner of the dialog box.
Overwrite: Allows you to overwrite the jobs currently listed in the Multiple Scan Job List box with the jobs specified in the Load Settings dialog box.
Append: Adds the jobs from the Load Settings dialog box.
To load previously saved settings:
If you have loaded settings from a previously saved file and you make changes to those settings during the course of scanning, use the Save Settings option in the Settings menu to save the changes.
The settings will be updated with your changes.
This option allows you to save changes to the current settings under a new file name.
The Save Settings As… dialog box provides options for batch and multiple scanning modes. These are given as check boxes, located at the lower right hand corner of the dialog box.
Current Job: Only saves the currently selected job.
All Jobs: Saves all jobs in the Multiple Scan Job List dialog box under the current settings on the Scanner Control Window.
If you have not selected any settings file through the "Load Settings" option, you will be prompted to save the current settings under a new file name. See the "Save Settings As…" option.
To save the settings under a new file name:
This option automatically reloads and implements the default settings.
To reload the Default Settings:
It is advised that you save any changes under a Settings file before you select the Default Settings.
Choose "Save As Default" to create a settings file using current settings as a custom default settings file.
To reset MagicScan settings to the manufacturer's default settings, select "Reset Settings".
Monitor Gamma calibration allows you to selectively adjust the brightness in the midtone areas of your monitor display colors so that they will closely approximate the color detail of our original images.
Monitor Gamma calibration corrects for differences in monitors due to age or different manufacturing processes. It should be set periodically to compensate for changes in a monitor during its lifetime. This command allows you to selectively adjust the brightness quality of the midtone areas of your monitor display so that they closely approximate the color detail of your original images. Monitor (gamma) correction is necessary due to differences in the color display characteristics of monitors.
Correcting Grayscale Gamma
The best approach for correcting grayscale gamma values is to eliminate, as much as possible, any differences in the shading of the Gray sample by using any or all of the scroll bars provided on the right of the color samples. When the Gray sample has a uniform appearance, click "OK" to complete grayscale monitor gamma correction.
You can also experiment by changing gamma values for individual color samples. Click on the "Default" button to return to the default monitor gamma settings. Click the "Cancel" button to quit the Monitor Gamma dialog box without making any changes.
(For Windows Users Only)This option resets the driver port addresses and DIP switch settings.
Each time you direct your application software to open the MagicScan window (by choosing Acquire), but before the MagicScan window actually appears, there is a test to ensure that the scanner is on-line and ready for use. If there are any faults with the scanner connection or its ready status, the UMAX Scanner Setup dialog box will pop up automatically. If this dialog box pops-up, you should check the scanner power and SCSI cable connections.
The correct address may be input either by selecting it from the I/O Port Address pull-down list, or by using the mouse to toggle the three DIP switches on the screen graphic to the same positions as the corresponding DIP switches on the actual SCSI card.
If you did change the DIP switches before installation of the SCSI card, but have since forgotten the setting, no harm would be caused by "trying out" any or all of the possible I/O address settings in UMAX Scanner Setup. However, in order for MagicScan to appear, the actual I/O address, as set on the DIP switches of the SCSI card, must be input in the UMAX Scanner Setup dialog box.
Allows you to set the maximum area to be scanned. Upon selection of this option, a submenu appears. Please select the desired size.
Select the units of measurement for the image from the "Units" submenu. It includes - inch, cm, mm, pixel, pica, and point.
This option allows you to make some pre-scanning conditions. When you select this command, the Preference dialog box is divided into two sections: General and Scan Quality.
From the dialog box, confirm or change the following settings:
General:
Keep Preview Image
- Selection of this check box causes the preview image, which was created from the last preview, to be re-displayed the next time MagicScan is started.Keep Current Settings
- Selection of this check box causes all selections and control settings, which were in effect at the time of the last scan, to be retained and re-established the next time MagicScan is opened. If "Keep Current Settings" is not checked, the factory preset selections and settings will appear the next time MagicScan is opened. (Factory preset selections and settings may also be obtained at any time by choosing "Reset Settings" in this Settings menu.)Enable Tip Help
-Selection of this check box activates the Tip help. Move your cursor onto any of the controls and click the left mouse key. Tip help will then show a description of the control item under the cursor. If "Enable Tip Help" is not checked, the tip help won't be active.Scan Quality
Quality Scan
- Choose Quality Scan to provide precise scanner calibration with a correspondingly longer scan time.Speed Scan
- Choose Speed Scan for quicker scans. This option is particularly useful if you are interested in experimenting with the scanner.
Focus Contorl (for specified scanner model)
This setting is used to bring the item on the object glass into focus for scanning. This is especially useful for negatives, transparencies, slides and so on. There are two options to choose from: One is "With Holder" and the other is "Without Holder". If the transparencies are held in frame holders, slide trays, or negative frame holders, choose the "With Holder" option in this dialog box. If the transparencies are not held in a frame holder but placed on the object glass of scanner itself, please choose "Without Holder". This will help your scanner scan images with a more precise focus, thus obtaining a clearer image.
Note: Please choose "With Holder" to scan 35mm slides for slides is usually made with holder, no matter scanning with slide tray or not.
Lens Control (for specified scanner model)
This option allows you to configure the lenses within the scanner. It only appears in the settings menu when twin lens scanners are installed.
This option allows users to control high and low power lens settings. The default settings should be suitable for most situations. In this setting, the scanner will take account of the selection frame, and then switch automatically between the scanner's high and low-powered lenses as needed for best optical performance.
High power lens: allows maximum resolution.
Low power lens: allows maximum area.
Lamp Intensity (for specified scanner model)
This option allows you to determine the scanner's lamp intensity by means of the Lamp Intensity dialog box. It is only available in selected scanners. Selection of this option displays the Lamp Intensity dialog box.
Clicking on the Automatic Lamp Intensity Control check box allows the scanner to automatically control the light intensity. The Automatic Lamp Intensity function will suffice for most scanning needs.
When this check box is chosen, other options will be disabled ( there will be no slider bar visible).
The Slider Bar allows the user to manually control the intensity of the lamp. -100 represents the lowest intensity and +100 the highest intensity.
Clicking on the "Cancel" button exits the dialog box without making changes to the settings.
Clicking on the "OK" button makes the required changes to the settings and exits the dialog box.
New |
Delete |
This option creates a new frame. This option does exactly the same thing as the Add Frame Tool, in the Preview Window.
|
This option deletes a selected frame from the Preview Window and the Job List box. |
Duplicate |
Rename |
This option duplicates a frame and places it on the Job List dialog box. |
This option renames the scan jobs within the Job List box. |
There are two ways to set basic image controls in MagicScan:
Click each item below to get more information about the Image menu commands.
Scan Mode specifies the mode that the image is to be scanned in. MagicScan provides the following scan mode for you to use.
Color RGB
Your scanner captures 24 bits (or 30/36/42 bits) of color image information for every dot(pixel) in your scanned image. Therefore over 16 million colors are possible. This image type uses the same color synthesis scheme used in computer monitors and televisions. RGB simply stands for Red-Green-Blue; these are the additive primary colors. Additive here refers to the addition, or mixing, of light of different colors: mixing equal proportions of fully saturated red, green, and blue light produces white light. This is the way that your color television or color monitor produces white. Disk space required for saving 24-bit true color images is considerable. For instance, an A4-size 300-dpi true color image may require 24 Megabytes (MB) of storage space.
Color CMYK
By choosing Color CMYK, your three-channel color RGB images will be converted to four-channel CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) color images using a special color transform process. The CMYK color space is the one used by most color printers. When the scan is complete, the image will be passed to the image-editing application and your images will be ready for printing on your color printer.
If you choose to save a CMYK image, it must be either a .TIF or .PSD format file. Since most monitors display colors in three-channel RGB, an RGB "simulation" of your CMYK image will be displayed in the Main window of the image-editing application.
MagicScan performs these conversions and simulations according to printer profiles. To achieve the most accurate conversion and simulation possible, you should choose a MagicScan printer profile that describes your printer most closely.
Gray 256 scales
Images scanned in 8-bit grayscale will show up to 256 shades of gray. If color is not necessary in the final scanned output, but high quality copies of photographs or other continuous tone originals are desired, grayscale mode is a good choice. Disk space required for saving grayscale images is approximately 1/3 of that required to save 24-bit true color images.
256 grayscale provides accurate representation of black and white, and gray shades intermediate between black and white, for each individual pixel. It actually provides just 256 shades, representing white by the value 255 , black by the value Zero, and the 254 progressively lighter intermediate shades of gray by the 254 values from 1 through 254.
The number 256 is the eighth power of 2, so exactly 8 bits of data are required for each pixel in order to encode the 256 different shades of gray. But the cost is that 8 bits of data are required for every pixel: a grayscale image file will be 8 times as large as a lineart image file if all other parameters are equal. It uses more memory and hard disk space than lineart and halftone images. However, grayscale images are smaller than color images.
Lineart B/W
Images scanned in 1-bit lineart show only black or white, no other colors or grayscales. Lineart mode is generally the best choice for printed text or pen-and-ink drawings. Since only 1-bit of black or white information is required for each pixel, disk space required for saving lineart images is only about 1/8 of that required to save 8-bit grayscale images.
256 colors
Adaptive 256-color palette image. By selecting this option you can scan the image into a 256-color mode.
RGB color images are 24-bit color representations of the original. Because each pixel requires 24 bits to store color information, 24-bit color images require more memory and disk space. Color images can be sampled down to 16 bits, 8 bits and 4 bits to reduce the image size. A 256 color image may display up to 256 colors instead of million of colors. In comparison with 24-bit color images, 256 color images take up less memory and hard disk space.
Scanner Info |
Show/Hide Ruler |
About |
Shows information about the scanner |
Shows or hides the ruler. |
Shows version information |
This button allows you to rotate the scanned image to any angle and to re-align a skewed image placed on your scanner's object glass.
Choose this tool and click on the preview window without releasing the mouse button, an icon will appear to help you rotate the image to the desired angle. When the grid line matches the edge of the image boundary, release the mouse button.
Note: Double-clicking on this tool again will revert the image to its original state.