#scanner help
[continued]
Scanning simple figures and getting good rendition can actually be more
difficult than working with more complex figures, because as you scan down
or across the image your scan has what might be called a "grain", the
alignment of dots as recorded by the scanner. The probability of that
alignment lining up perfectly with the vertical and horizontal lines in the
scanned image is vanishingly small. Likewise, what are the chances that
you can make two successive passes that are parallel to within 1/300"?
That's why piecing two scans together can be difficult. My suggestion
would be that if you want to scan images larger than the width of the
scanner, and you absolutely can't afford or for some other reason don't
want a flatbed, get your hand scanner from a source that will allow you to
return it if it doesn't work out for you. Some places may even let you
rent one for a while to try it out.
Finally, you should know that the Golden Image scanner plugs into the
parallel port, so your options to avoid a lot of hassle are: 1) serial
printer (then you share with your modem, or have multiple serial ports); 2)
parallel switchbox, which may cause problems; or 3) multiple parallel ports
(is there such a thing?). I use the switchbox and find that when I switch
to my printer, the scanner comes on and stays on — I have to unplug the
power supply. The printer doesn't seem to get much heartburn from
switching to scanner, but people who sell the fancy software-switchable
electronic switchboxes will tell you that some manual switchboxes can short
out the motherboards on some laser printers. I don't know. I use a manual
switchbox and my Deskjet seems none the worse for wear. I do get some
antics out of it if I tell Touchup to do a scan while the box is set to
printer.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Mike