Frequently Asked Questions

Scanning | Why reduce file size and how?

APNK recommends that you keep the scanners default file settings

  • Full Colour
  • 600 dpi
  • Low Compression

APNK recommends that you keep these default settings particularly if 

  • you are digitising or archiving projects
  • for Kete
  • you need high quality digital images eg. for print

Examples of when you may wish to reduce the file size of the scan

  • emailing
  • uploading to a website (not for archiving/kete purposes)

Did you know? An A4, Full Colour, 600 DPI scan, with low compression may be over 24 Megabytes (24 MB) in file size.

The same file with 200 DPI and high compression set may reduce the file size to less than 2 Megabytes (2 MB), which is probably an acceptable size to email, 24 MB is in most circumstances too large to email.

 

Instructions on how to reduce the file size

Note -  Press the “All Services” button at any time to reset the scanner to default settings

Poster for libraries

  • Place the original
    - Lift the lid (from the front)
    - Place original face down
    - Place the top edge of the original to the left edge of the glass pane.
    - Slide the original to back edge of the glass pane
    - Close the lid
  • Start the scanner (if the Power Saving button light is on press it)
  • Select the scan location (see instructions on where to save your scan)
    - Scan to PC (to a folder shortcut on the APNK computers desktop) OR
    - Scan to Media (your USB flash drive inserted in the USB port at the front of the scanner)
  • Touch the “More Scan Features” tab
  • Touch Scan Resolution
  • Touch 200 dpi (for the smallest option) or 300 dpi or 400 dpi
  • Touch Save
  • Option - use "Image Compression" to reduce size futher
  • Touch the Save In tab
  • Press the green START button to begin scanning

Note - lowering scan resolution and increasing image compression reduces the quality of the image - that is the more you zoom into the image the more blurry and pixelated the image will look.

Note - it is possible to scan at a high resolution then edit the image on a computer to reduce data size. Image editors installed on the APNK computers include Paint.Net, Gimp and Microsoft Office Picture Manager. 

See also -

Editing images using software

Scanner FAQs

 

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