Rating: 
Summary: To be honest, this book belongs in the Round File!
Review: I own a shelf full of computer books, and they vary in worth. Until now, however, I've never bought a book so simplistic and remedial! The authors basically turn the highly complex topic of scanning into some kind of arts and crafts handbook, with a pitifully-small amount of actual coverage of installing and using your scanner. (What do I set, and under what conditions? How do I use effects and troubleshoot problems? Who is supposed to be installing this thing? The authors seem to feel that you're going to hire someone to set up your scanner, because they sure don't tell you anything. What about real software that doesn't ship with an HP scanner? I have an Epson, and I didn't find ANYTHING about Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro in here!)You could basically learn what's in this book by reading the owner's pamphlet that comes with your scanner (and perhaps opening up a Girl Scout crafts book). I suggest you do exactly that, and spend your money on a book written about the scanner and not a bunch of silly projects.
Rating: 
Summary: Great information! I love this book!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Still a great book on scanning!
Review: 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!
Rating:
Summary: Scanner owners must have this!
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Great book!
Review: It's great to finally have an authoritative book available that covers scanners so completely. I liked that the book provided information for users of any brand scanner, rather than just Hewlett Packard equipment. Scanner models change so frequently anyway that advice on how to select and use the best one for your needs is more valuable than a feature-by-feature comparison of specific scanners. This book has just what I needed, without being padded out with how-tos you can find in any Photoshop book. The projects were great, too. I'm on my third scanner, and was delighted to see suggestions for interesting things to do with it. Good job, authors!
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a comprehensive, easy-to-understand scanner book!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a comprehensive, easy-to-understand scanner book!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Review by Scanning Basics Teacher
Review: The first half of this book covers the same information I teach during the first half of my 3 hour scanning class at a local community college. The book provides troubleshooting info (I get many such questions) and basic scanning facts. It is geared to the type of students my class draws, rather than the graphic artist. The projects in the second half of the book, however, are not especially useful to the real estate agent and other small business person or librarians and geneologists who need specific information on working with old photos.
Rating: 
Summary: Shallow, superficial, not a handbook, no 'how to' specifics
Review: This book does not live up to its title. There are generalities galore but a scanner is a specific item and the 'how to' is needed. For example "Use your software tools to erase all of the background...." and "...spice it up using the contrast and brightness controls on your scanner..." are meaningless for the starting user. The 31 color plates included are pretty but add no specifics. The book has a 1999 publication date but ignores most current HP models. The troubleshooting section looks as if it could be useful but who can tell until there's trouble. Since Hewlett Packard chooses to provide just one sheet of instructions with its scanners there is a real need for a handbook that does the job. Of the 460 pages in the book, only 172 deal with scanners. The rest covers such grade school projects as paperweights and napkin rings. The title and the on-screen blurb were misleading. Perhaps Amazon.com can come up with a way to browse a book for content before purchase. After all, the bookstores have always been that way.
Rating:
Summary: Not An Owner's Manual
Review: 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.
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