What to Consider When Buying a Desktop Scanner

In this digital age, most photos are created as electronic jpg files inside our cameras, but sometimes we need to scan old photos, drawings or paintings as digital images for projects. Currently we are designing the cover and interior or a biographical book. Many of the old photos we plan to use in the book were taken decades before the invention of the digital camera.
I would like to share some basic information about scanners so you know what to consider when buying a scanner. Some of our clients prefer to scan the old photos and give us the files.
Scanners are popular tools for doing desktop publishing and web design. You'll find a wide range of scanners available--from a low-cost black and white hand-held variety to high-quality, professional color devices. For the highest quality, printers and service bureaus use expensive drum scanners. The high-quality scans they produce are required for high-end printing projects such as book and magazine covers, images for coffee table books, and advertisements. A skilled operator using a CCD (charge-coupled device) flatbed scanner can produce similar high-quality scans.
Optical Resolution
When determining which scanner to use for your work, look for optical resolution specifications. These are two numbers that indicate how many pixels per inch (e.g., 600 x 600 PPI) are scanned in each direction. (I suggest you ignore the interpolated resolution numbers--these are measurements made when the scanner inserts new pixels between scanned ones.)
How much resolution your scan needs depends on how you plan to use your scanned images. For example, photos for offset printing are usually scanned at 300 PPI. Line art (such as black and white pen and ink illustrations) for offset printing need to be scanned at 1200 PPI to ensure that the lines are smooth. Images to be printed on desktop laser or color inkjet printers are scanned at 100 to 200 PPI. Photos and line art for the Internet are scanned at 72 PPI while images for PC-PowerPoint presentations are 96 PPI. Text that will be converted to text characters (using OCR technology) are scanned at 300 to 400 PPI.
Eye-Popping Tip
Always scan your images at the final size you plan to use them. Do not enlarge your scans, as they will lose resolution.
Dynamic Range
Most flatbed scanners have a dynamic range of about 2.4. If you need to display better detail in shadow areas or you plan to scan negatives and slides, you may be better off using a top-quality color flatbed or drum scanner that can provide a dynamic range of 2.8 to 3.2.
Bit Depth
Most color scanners are at least 24-bit, which results in near-photographic quality in terms of the range of colors. Scanners that are 30-bit and 36-bit can capture billions of colors. I recommend these for scanning slides and negatives, but beware that few software packages can open these files. Note: Not all monitors can display 24-bit color. If you're using an 8-bit (256-color) monitor, then a 24-bit image may look blotchy on screen.
Other Considerations
In general, CCD (charge-coupled devices) produce better scans than low profile, less expensive scanners. Make sure the scanning bed is large enough for your documents. Consider the scanner's speed and determine if you need a slide adapter. Sheetfed scanners take up less room on your desktop, but you can't scan a 3-D object or book using this kind of scanner.
An option that may come with a scanner and affect its cost is software. Yes, you will need to have photo-editing software (such as Adobe Photoshop) to create quality scans, especially from less-than-perfect originals.
Eye-Popping Tip:
OCR (optical character recognition) software allows a scanner to read handwritten or printed text, then convert it into text characters that can be read by any word processing software. OmniPage and Text Bridge are examples of two OCR software programs.

Why Your Business Should Consider PC Rental

Computers are a crucial tool in any business environment, but finding the money needed to cover the high initial cost of new equipment and software can be extremely difficult. As a result, PC rental is becoming an increasingly popular alternative among business owners looking for a cheap and flexible solution.
Save Money on Upfront Expenses
Investing large amounts of money on new monitors, towers, printers, and software packages can take a dramatic chunk out of any business's budget, and the value of this new equipment depreciates extremely quickly as soon as it is taken out of its packaging. In contrast, PC rental does not require any upfront payments and instead is usually paid with a fixed monthly fee.
PC rental allows you to predict your financial outgoings with a high level of accuracy. The set monthly amount can usually be paid on a monthly, quarter, or yearly basis for the length of your contract. Most rental companies cover the cost of repairs and replacements if the equipment is faulty, so the chance of any unexpected costs is minimized.
Flexibility and Adaptability
Choosing to lease your computer equipment on a short term or long term basis is ideal whether you need advanced technology to kit out an entire office or just a basic model for a home business. Computers come with various graphic, storage, and processor options to suit a range of budgets and work environments. Software and supporting equipment (such as printers, projectors, and servers) are also available as part of most packages.
Installation is quick and upgrading is easy, so your company can adapt quickly to changes or demands in the market. As your business grows you can lease more computers or use the money you have saved to invest in other areas of development.
Protect Against All Eventualities
One significant advantage of renting a computer is that most PC rental companies include free or low-cost technical support. Having access to trained professional at all times can reduce your own IT support costs and even save you money employing an IT specialist. Breakages and other failures are usually covered and quick replacements are offered so that your business does not suffer as a result. Data backup options are commonly included.
Great for Startup Businesses
PC rental is particularly useful for small business or those just starting up. Getting a bank loan to cover the cost of up front IT expenditure can be difficult, and interest rates are often excessive. By renting your equipment instead, you can expand your business or get it up and running without having to make large payments for technology of your own.
The exact terms, conditions, services, and computer models included in a PC rental contract can vary dramatically depending on the rental company you choose. It is important to read all fine print and other information very carefully before you make an agreement so that you fully understand its terms. Be sure to shop around or even negotiate prices, to ensure that you are getting the best deal for your company.