Choosing an HP scanner

Introduction


Scanners provide a world of digital photography possibilities right at your fingertips. With these photo-friendly tools, you can convert traditional prints to digital, edit photos, share pictures with friends and family, and more.


HP scanner types


Here's a look at three types of scanners. Understanding the benefits of each will help you choose the one that's best for your needs.


Flatbed scanners look and work like small copy machines: You lay the object you want to scan on a pane of glass. Flatbed scanners are versatile, as they can scan photos, books, documents, and even three- dimensional objects.
See-thru vertical scanners are ultra thin and feature an easel for vertical storage and placement. You can see what you're scanning, and can scan large items that other types of scanners can't handle.
Sheet-fed scanners are excellent for scanning large numbers of loose, individual sheets, but they cannot handle bound documents or photographs.


General HP scanner features

When shopping for a scanner, consider these features:


Optical resolution: Optical resolution refers to the number of pixels per inch (ppi) that a scanner can capture. The higher the resolution, the sharper and clearer your images.
Interpolated resolution: Sometimes called enhanced resolution, this number refers to how well a scanner can enhance an image after capturing it. A scanner captures dots, then adds more dots between them to yield a higher resolution.
Bit depth: This refers to the number of bits used to capture each dot. A 24-bit scanner will be suitable for scanning photos, drawings, and text, while a 36- or 48-bit scanner is best for scanning film or transparencies.
Speed: If you're planning to scan large batches of images or documents in a single session, speed might be a major consideration.