Scanners
SCANNERS:
Common problems:
My scanner will not work:
- It’s dead
- Strange noises
- Poor performance
- Broken glass
- Computer can’t see scanner or insists there is a problem
Dead scanner: Did you install the scanner driver on your PC? Often the scanner will not do anything at all without the driver.
Did you plug in the power adapter? Is the adapter switched on? Is it faulty?
Does the scanner have a on/off switch on it?
Noises:Did you unlock it? Look for a mechanical slide lock (often underneath).
Are you applying too much pressure on the scanned object and glass? It shouldn\’t happen, but in actuality the plastic scanner body can flex, and with small clearances inside, the carriage can catch on the top and jam.
Poor performance: Check that you have set the resolution, scan area, etc., correctly.
Be aware that scanners, or rather scanner software, can be finicky when detecting film scan holders.
Don’t expect perfect results from budget hardware.
Image too light/too dark: - you can usually adjust that in the scanner driver.
Marks on glass: Try cleaning the glass upper surface. Do the marks show up on the final scan image? If not, are they really a problem?
Slow scanning: unfortunately some scanners/ drivers are like that. If it isn’t caused by the PC running out of resources, go have a cup of tea.
PC runs out of disk space: Scan image files can be very large (but so are most modern hard disks). If you run out of space, reduce the scan resolution or the scanned area.
Scan image on monitor looks different colour from the paper original.
And?? No reason why it should be exactly the same, since colour printing and colour monitors use totally different technologies. If you really need it to be the same, get a professional scanner and a professional pre-press monitor, and have them calibrated.
Broken glass: If it was a cheap scanner, wrap it up carefully in some cardboard and dispose if it. If it was an expensive one, pack it securely and take it to a repair centre.
Computer won’t see scanner or insists there is a problem:
Check the cables and driver software.
Switch the scanner off, then on, check transit locks are off.
Could be there really is a fault
Horror Story:
Engineer receives scanner for repair, finds nothing wrong, sends it back. Aggrieved customer rings in complaining that scanner does not work and makes a noise. Engineer asks if customer has unlocked it. Customer professes ignorance. Engineer asks customer to look for lock as he can’t remember if it’s underneath or at the back on this old model. Customer gets hoitty-tioty. Eventually customer agrees to look for the lock, finds it, seconds later scanner starts working.