Mac 101: Using a scanner (Mac OS X v10.6)

Summary

Learn about using a scanner in Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard so that you can scan text documents, photographs, and so forth into files on your Mac. 

Products Affected

Mac OS Printing/Fax (any version), Mac OS X 10.6

Note: Your scanner may be part of a multi-function printer; see Mac 101 - Printing for details about managing printers.

Tips for scanning in Mac OS X v10.6

  • Check the list of supported scanners in Mac OS X v10.6 for the model of scanner you are about to connect to your Mac.
  • Use Software Update to automatically install third-party scanner / printer software updates.
  • Connect a USB scanner to automatically create the scanner / print queue.
  • You can share your USB connected scanner with other Macs on your home network.
  • You can scan from various applications:
    • Image Capture
    • Preview
    • Print & Fax preferences in System Preferences
    • Scanner / Printer queue
    • Some third-party applications

Important: If your scanner driver does support control panel functions in Mac OS X, pressing a scan button on your device may not begin the scanning process. Simply use one of the above applications to control the scanner.

See below for more details about these features.
 

Before you connect your scanner

  • Run Software Update to check for the latest third-party printer / scanner software and updates.
  • Make sure the scanner is powered on and doesn't have any alerts displayed in its control panel.
  • Make sure you know an administrator account name and password for your Mac.
     

How to connect to a scanner

Simply connect your scanner via a USB cable. A scanner / printer queue will be created for it in Mac OS X.

Note: Refrain from installing the software that came with your scanner as it may be out of date. Mac OS X v10.6 and Software Update contain the most recent versions of scanner software. You will see future updates when they are made available via Software Update.
 

How to scan

Note: This article discusses scanning via the Image Capture application (located in the Applications folder). Scanning with other applications such as Preview is a very similar process.

Simplified scan mode

In the "simplified" scanner interface, follow these steps:

  1. Place the item(s) you would like to scan on the scanner bed.
  2. Open Image Capture (located in the Applications folder).

    Image Capture window
      
  3. If your scanner supports different modes, you will see a "Mode:" pop-up menu in Image Capture. Modes may include Flatbed, Transparency Positive, Transparency Negative, and more.
  4. Check (enable) "Detect Separate Items" to have scanned objects automatically selected and straightened. Tip: Objects with high contrast edging will increase the accuracy of auto-selection.
  5. Select the "Scan To:" destination:
    • A folder of your choosing. A number of folders are already pre-configured or choose "Other…" to select the folder you want.
    • An application such as iPhoto, Aperture or Preview.
    • Mail application, to have each of your scanned images put into its own email message.
  6. Click "Scan" to scan.

Note: The scanned items will become JPEG images with 300 dpi and incrementally named scan1.jpeg, scan2.jpeg, and so forth.

Advanced scanning options

Click "Show Details" if you want to enter a detailed scan mode with more advanced options. In the "Details" scanner interface you can manually select the following options:

  1. If your scanner supports different modes, you will see a "Mode:" pop-up menu. Modes can include: Flatbed, Transparency Positive, Transparency Negative, and so forth.
  2. The "Kind:" pop-up menu lets you select the kind of scan you would like.
    • Choose "Color" to scan an object in color.
      • Use the "Colors:" pop-up menu to select your color depth (millions or billions).
    • Choose "Black & White" to scan in an object in Grayscale (256 or Thousands of grays).
      • Use the "Grays:" pop-up menu to select number of grays.
    • Choose "Text" to scan in text documents.
  3. The "Resolution:" pop-up menu lets you select the dpi (dots per inch) of your scanned imaged.  Typically, 300 dpi is all that you need.  Too high of a resolution can result in printing performance issues.
  4. The "Size:" pop-up menu lets you specify the width and height you want to scan. Choose pixels, inches or cm (centimeters). 
  5. In the "Rotation Angle:" pop-up menu, you can set the number of degrees of clockwise rotation for your scanned image.
  6. Enable (check) "Detect Separate Items" to automatically select and straighten the objects you are scanning.  Tip: High contrast object edging will increase the accuracy of auto-selection.
  7. Use the "Scan To:" pop-up menu to select your "Scan To:" destination.  Your destinations can include:
    • A folder of your choosing. A number of folders are already pre-configured or choose "Other…" to select the folder you want.
    • An application such as iPhoto, Aperture or Preview.
    • Mail application, to have each of your scanned images put into its own email message.
  8. The "Name:" pop-up menu lets you enter the name of your scanned image or images. For multiple scans, the name entered will be a part of incrementally named scans. For example, scan1.jpeg, scan2.jpeg, and so forth.
  9. "Format:" – Choose the image format of your scan: JPEG, TIFF, PNG, JPEG 2000, GIF, BMP, or PDF.
  10. "Image Correction:" – If you select "Manual", you have the following options with a histogram of the scan selection you click on.
    • "Brightness:"
    • "Tint:"
    • "Temperature:"
    • "Saturation:"

      Tip: click "Restore Defaults" to reset settings.
       
  11. After Image correction, you will see a number of scanner-specific options that your particular scanner model supports.

Selecting areas to scan

If you want to select specific areas to scan (or if you unchecked "Detect Separate Items"), follow these steps:

  1. Deselect all currently selected scan areas by clicking in an empty area that is not yet selected (selected areas are outlined by a border that has a line of dashes).
  2. To specify the scanning area, click and drag to cover the area you want to scan.
  3. To resize a selection area, click within the border of the selected area.  Gray dots appear on the border.  When your cursor hovers over a handle it will turn red. Click and drag the red handle to resize the scan area. Tip: You can Shift-click another area to select more than one.
  4. If you want to delete the selection, press Delete.
  5. If you want to rotate the selection, click the rotation handle just at the end of the line that starts in the center of the selection. When your cursor is near this handle, it turns red and a transparent image of a person will appear within the area. Click the red handle and adjust the rotation to your liking. Note: There could be a border handle to resize your selection near this handle; make sure you click on the correct handle.
  6. To create a new selection area, simply click and drag in an area that is not part of a selection.


How to share your USB connected scanner on your network

  1. From the Apple () menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. From the View menu, choose Sharing.
  3. Enable (check) "Scanner Sharing".
  4. Select the connected scanner that you would like to share.

How to connect to a network shared scanner

Image Capture and Printer / Scanner queue

  1. Open Image Capture or Printer / Scanner queue.
  2. Select the Scanner from the "SHARED" group in the left pane.

Preview and other applications

  1. Open Preview from your Dock or the Applications folder.
  2. First enable Networked devices. Choose File > Import from Scanner > Include Networked Devices.
  3. Select your scanner. Choose File > Import from Scanner > (your scanner under "Network Devices").

Additional Information

If you are unable to scan

Verify the scanner has power and is turned on. Turn the scanner off and then back on again.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.
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