The Canon 9900F scanner

Page 2.

First scans.

Setting up the Canon 9900F was simplicity itself, I encountered no problems. For this next part I am going to take a quick look at the ScanGear CS interface.

There are just two modes, Simple Mode and Advanced Mode.

Simple Mode - this mode lets you perform scans with the bare minimum of user control. If you are new to scanning then this is a good place to start. Simple mode is selected by default the first time you use the scanner.

The minimal Simple Mode in ScanGear CS

There are just four controls for this mode;

Select Source - either Platen or Film
Type of original - Photo, Magazine, Newspaper or Document
Display test image - a preview is executed (9 seconds for a full Platen scan)
Perform scan - does what it says

There is also a yellow Multi-Scan button, this is for scanning multiple items. Lay your pictures on the glass plate, making sure there is a 1cm gap between items and edges of the Platen. The scanner does the rest for you.

There is a toolbar at the top of the preview screen, this can be a floating toolbar or docked to the sides. The tools are basic, select zoom, flip rotate (90' CW - CCW) rulers and image information.

The amount of control offered by the Simple Mode is far too basic for a top of the range scanner. I am surprised at the resolution for Photos which is set to 400dpi (for most publishing work you don't need more than 300dpi and for inkjet printing you only need 200dpi). I don't think the users this scanner is aimed at will take a second look at Simple Mode.

Scan times for a 10 x 8 print were 9 seconds for preview and 25 seconds for the final 400dpi scan.

© Vincent Oliver 2003 www.photo-i.co.uk
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