Pleasant Scanning with Little Noise (Microtek Scanmaker 3600)

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Product:	Microtek Scanmaker 3600
Date:	30/01/02 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: High quality of scanning, many features

Disadvantages: Slow, noisy

Construction

Top of body and cover of this scanner are made of a light plastic, and bottom of tank and bottom are painted in dark color. The cover is throwed off up and is fixed in a vertical position, if necessary it can be removed. The photosensitive elements are executed on CCD-technology. On the right on a forward board is window of the indicator. On a right part of a back board are concentrated the plugs for power, interface USB (type В) and slide - module, and also switch of a power. The power is carried out voltage V DC from the external adapter putted into the socket.

Software

As the main program for work with this scanner the package ScanWizard 5.02 is delivered which can work both as the TWAIN-driver, and as independent application. One from features of this package is that it has two various interfaces (for beginners and for the advanced users), to be switched from one to other it is possible by one pressing of a button. In the first case the user operates only with main tunings, clear even to the novice user and oriented on typical office problem, and in second receives access to all parameters, needed for professional use. Let's consider each from them more in detail.

In the simplified mode (beginner) it is possible to select a type of a original (photo, text, illustration, typographical reprint), desirable chromaticity (true color, web color, grayscale, black&white), purpose (actually is set of the resolution), scale and base parameters (brightness, contrast, increase of clearness, color correction). The separate button is for cancellation of the made tunings. In a top of the window two large buttons "Preview" and "Scan" are located.

In the advanced mode the user operates already with more professional concepts. The main window contains a screen "Preview", on which the original, were on a plane table is mapped. Buttons of commands ("Overview", "Prescan&q
uot; and "Scan"), switching of tools (crop, scrolling, eyedropper etc) and transition in the simplified mode from above place.

The window of management of the list of the tasks (Scan job Quene) is necessary for batch scanning. For each task it is possible to set of the set-up, which can be saved for consequent use.

In the window "Settings" it is possible to select one from color modes, precisely to indicate sizes of area of scanning or resulting image in selected units, to set scale in percentage. The disconnected options of proportional resizing, fixing of sizes of scanned area and received image are stipulated, by a separate button it is possible fast to call a turn of an image on 90, 180 and 270 degrees. In the lower half of "Settings" the tools of a correction of an image are concentrated.

The possibility of cancellation of the last modification of tunings, and also full return to tunings by default is stipulated. Through the menu "Preview" it is possible to call also parameters which have been not mark as icons.

Common notes

The scanner works is rather noisy (especially on a comparison with CIS-models). The process of scanning is accompanied by moderate vibration. The availability of the switch of a feed allows easily to disconnect the scanner when it) is not necessary for work.

I shall list briefly main dignities: two interfaces, distinguishing on functionality's; developed possibilities of a correction, scaling and Descreen; a possibility of batch scanning; a 12-bit mode (16-bit for gray gradation); the possibility of magnification of the Preview window, two modes Preview (for each from them is possible is to set by area of scanning).


Microtek ScanMaker 3600 is not bad scanner for home use. It intended as for beginners, as for the advanced users.

Summary: