Hewlett-Packard Official Scanner Handbook

I'm always amazed when people buy a great book on scanning, like this one, then complain because it doesn't have detailed information on their particular scanner or lots of chapters telling them how to use Photoshop. If you want a Photoshop book, buy a Photoshop book! There are hundreds of them. If you want to know how to use the controls of your scanner, read the manual!This book is the best general guide to scanning that I've seen, with lots of information on how scanners work, how to choose the best resolution, and how to get the best scans, and other essential information. Then, the last half of the book shows you lots of fun things you can do with a scanner, with a nice collection of easy projects. I recommend this book for beginners who want to understand scanning, and more advanced users who want a little more depth of coverage and a resource of ideas and applications. Good job, authors!

The best thing about this book is what it covers: a solid grounding in how scanners work, how to choose resolution, how to get the best scans, and what all the confusing terminology means. The second-best thing about this book is what it *doesn't* cover; namely topics only peripherally related to scanners that are covered thoroughly in other books. If I want a Photoshop book or PaintShop Pro book, I'll buy one. If I want to know how to set up my Epson scanner, I'll read the manual that came with it.The true value of this handbook is that it *doesn't* cover what is included in the owner's pamphlet that came with your scanner. Instead, it goes beyond those basics to give you a solid background in scanning that applies to any scanner model, and some interesting things to do with your scanner that will help you build your scanning skills quickly. HP has done a real service to scanner owners everywhere in publishing this book.

This book is full of great information about scanning. The reader will come away with a wealth of knowledge about scanning.The problem I had was that I bought an HP 6300C scanner and since HP doesn't supply owner's manuals, I purchased this book to help me learn more about my scanner. There doesn't seem to be anything directly related to the 6300 scanner series and how to use the multifunctions that are a part of it - copying, faxing, e-mailing and filing.I learned a great deal from this book about scanning, but very little about how to use my scanner since the ScanJetII they use for examples isn't like the newer HP scanners.

I wish I'd had this book when I started using my scanner. It clearly explains a lot of confusing terms and helped me correct a lot of the things I was doing wrong. The chapter that explained resolution was worth the price I paid all by itself. I disagree with the reviewer who says the book is a rehash of the material supplied with scanners. Half of this book consists of projects to apply to your scanning, something that I wish more vendors *would* provide with their products. The other half is detailed information about scanning that I wish had been supplied with my scanner. If I want a book on image editing with Photoshop, I'll buy one. I wanted a book on how scanners work and how to use them, and that's what the authors have done a good job in writing this handbook. Thanks!

I've been using a UMAX scanner for over a year, and wish this book had been available earlier. Although it had "Hewlett-Packard" in the title, most of the information applied to my scanner, as well. I was able to use the tips the authors provided to really improve my results. The examples were great, and the color pages showed exactly what I was going to get. I use my scanner in my work, and this book was a life-saver in helping me solve a couple very thorny problems. The writing is very clear, and doesn't talk down to you. If all the Hewlett-Packard guides are this good, I'm going to check out their printer handbook next. Thanks, authors!