How to troubleshoot scanning problems in Picture It! and Digital Image (833327)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Digital Image Pro 9
  • Microsoft Digital Image Suite 9
  • Microsoft Picture It! Photo Premium 9

INTRODUCTION

If you scan a picture by using any one of the programs listed in the "Applies To" section of this article, and the scan stops responding, quits unexpectedly, or the final image is unsatisfactory, you can try the following workarounds:
  • Upgrade the scanner driver.
  • Change the scanner options in the program.
This article describes how to resolve scanning problems by changing scanning options in the program. As soon as you find the scanning options that work for you, you typically do not have to change the scanning options again.

MORE INFORMATION

Because Microsoft Digital Image and Microsoft Picture It! Photo Premium can automate the scanning process, all that you have to do is click Automatic Scan. However, this only works if the scanner driver that is provided by the scanner manufacturer supports automatic scanning. Some scanner drivers do not support automatic scanning.

Upgrade your scanner driver

Microsoft recommends that you obtain and install the latest scanner driver that is available for your scanner. For information about this, contact the manufacturer of your scanner for additional assistance.

For information about how to contact your scanner manufacturer, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

Change the scanner options in Digital Image or Picture It!

The following are five methods that you can use to scan:
  • Automatic Scan in Enhanced Mode
  • Automatic Scan in Normal Mode
  • Your Scanner Software in Normal Mode
  • Your Scanner Software in Enhanced Mode
  • Run your scanner's software from Microsoft Windows

Method 1: Automatic Scan in Enhanced Mode

By default, the first time that you try to scan, the program is set to use Automatic Scan in Enhanced Mode. If this scan works, keep this setting.

Method 2: Automatic Scan in Normal Mode

If Automatic Scan in Enhanced Mode does not work, change the Performance setting for the scanner from Enhanced to Normal. To change the setting, follow these steps:
  1. If the Scan Picture Wizard is open, click Cancel.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click Scanner and camera options.
  4. Under Scanner performance, click Normal.
  5. Click OK, and then click OK again.
Note The performance setting that you select applies to all your scanners if you have more than one scanner attached to this computer.

Method 3: Your Scanner Software in Normal Mode

If Automatic Scan in Normal mode does not work, follow these steps:
  1. Click Get Picture.
  2. Click Scan Picture.
  3. Continue to Step 3 of the Scan Picture wizard.
  4. Click to select the Your Scanner Software check box.
  5. Click Scan.
You may have to give your scanner instructions about how to scan, such as how many colors to use and what area to include in the final scan.

Method 4: Your Scanner Software in Enhanced Mode

If the Your Scanner Software scan works, increase the Scanner Performance to Enhanced. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. If the Scan Picture Wizard is open, click Cancel.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  3. Click Scanner and camera options.
  4. Under Scanner performance, click Enhanced.
  5. Click OK, and then click OK again.

Method 5: Run your scanner's software from Windows

If the Your Scanner Software scan does not work, follow these steps:
  1. Start the scanning program that you received with your scanner.
  2. Scan the picture, and then save the picture to your hard disk.
  3. Quit the scanning program.
  4. Start Digital Image or Picture It!, and then open the picture.
If you cannot scan the picture by using this program, contact your scanner manufacturer for more information.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/9/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB833327 kbAudEndUser