Epson ActionScanner PC User Setup Information - What You Should Know Before Sc - Page 3

SCANNER TECHNOLOGIES Several types of scanners are available; the list below summarizes some popular choices. FLATBED SCANNER Best suited for most business applications, this scanner looks similar to a desktop photocopier. You place a document on glass and close the cover, and the scan head moves underneath it along the "bed" of the scanner. Originally a gray scale technology, color models are now just as affordable, offering the widest range of uses in a desktop system. A flatbed color scanner is ideal for virtually all uses, from simple line drawings to complex full-color illustrations and photographs. HAND HELD SCANNER You hold this type of scanner in your hand and run it over the image. The scan head is limited in size, usually just four inches wide, so you have to piece together wider images using your software. While this is the least expensive of scanner technologies, you'll need a steady hand to avoid distortions caused by shaky movement. SHEETFED SCANNER Developed specifically for use with OCR applications, this scanner feeds sheets of paper into the unit and scans them automatically. You can get similar results by adding an optional automatic document feeder (ADF) to your flatbed scanner.