PIP: Smart Task Scan and Custom Scan (162887)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Picture It! 1.0
  • Microsoft Picture It! 2.0
  • Microsoft Picture It! 2000
  • Microsoft Picture It! Express 2000
  • Microsoft Picture It! Express 2001
  • Microsoft Picture It! Photo 2001
  • Microsoft Picture It! Photo Premium 2001
  • Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Gold
  • Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Platinum
  • Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2001 Silver
This article was previously published under Q162887

SUMMARY

If your scanner has drivers that enable it to use TWAIN, you can scan images directly into Picture It Publishing, Picture It Photo or Picture It! If you have more than one scanner driver installed, pick the one you want to use from the drop down list box. The Scan Picture command offers you two ways to scan: Smart Task Scan and Custom Scan.

Smart Task Scan automatically locates your picture, scans it at the proper resolution, and adjusts levels for you. Smart Task Scan can also attempt to correct the brightness and contrast of your picture. Although you can't change the Smart Task Scan settings, it's the easiest way to scan pictures if you have a flatbed scanner. If Smart Task Scan fails or doesn't give you the results you want, use Custom Scan.

Custom Scan is for sheet-fed scanners or if you want more flexibility such as manual cropping, rotating, or adjusting brightness and contrast.

MORE INFORMATION

During Smart Task, Scan the program talks to the scanner driver and determines the optimum resolution for an image of this size. It also finds the edges of the image and attempts to correct for brightness and contrast. This feature works very well with most scanner drivers but some older scanner drivers can't give Picture It! the information it needs to produce a good scan.

Smart Task Scan may cut off white borders such as you see on some color photos or white matting such as you see on some studio portraits. Certain pictures may confuse Smart Task Scan; for example, if the contrast is less (washed out) one side of the image that side may get cut off. If you're not happy with the results of a Smart Task Scan, use Custom Scan, or try some of the scanning tips described in online Help.

During Custom Scan the control is passed to the scanner driver and you set options and scan area the same way you would if you were using the scanner software alone. Custom Scan works with all scanners that support Windows TWAIN, except older three-pass scanners that use planar mode.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/28/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB162887
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