Scanner Optimization
Dan KrahnHardware Products Manager
Document ScanningGetting the most from your Scanning
Resources Everyone is challenged with doing more with less.
Is document scanning a burden or an Asset?
Can the efficiency and quality of scanning be improved?
Plug and Play
Typical Scenario Install scanner drive software Install scanning application Connect the scanner Start scanning
This usually works with respectable results But can some fine tuning make it even better?
Todays Topics
Image Quality EfficiencyBest PracticesTroubleshooting
Interactive Format
Questions and Comments are welcomed at anytime!
Image Quality
Image Quality Areas
Body or Content How well can you read the information Barcode and OCR Read rates
Clean-up Making the image look like the original
document
EnhanceMaking the image look better than the
original
Improving Content Readability Brightness
Auto or Fixed Auto is best most of the time Fixed is better is some cases for
consistent Barcode or OCR recognition
Contrast More or less
Higher to eliminate shading Lower to pick up light print
Gamma What is it
Has similar results to changing contrast in Black & White Has more function in grayscale or color
Image Clean up
Deskew Straighten crooked images Can be done based on document edges or content
Crop Removing the portion of image that extends beyond the
document
Border removal Crops the image by finding the edges of the document
Edge Clean-up Eliminates edge lines but slightly over cropping the image Can cause data loss if information runs to the edge
Image Enhancement
Hole Fill Fill in paper punch holes on images
Edge Repair Fill in missing or folded corners Remove jagged edges
Background removal Eliminate background pictures or watermarks
Color Drop-out
Possible legal ramifications
Image Resolution
Myth: Higher resolution equals a better quality image
Increasing the resolution because the image quality is poor, typically results in a higher resolution poor quality image.
200 DPI (Dots Per Inch) is the “industry standard” resolution for black & white (bitonal) images
Explore methods of improving the image through other settings before increasing the DPI
An uncompressed image file is 2.25 times larger at 300 DPI than at 200 DPI. Consider image storage when increasing Resolution
Downstream Benefits to Quality Images
Higher Barcode and OCR read rates
Less manual data entry and validation
Smaller file sizes
Greater user satisfaction (internal and external)
Efficiency
Throughput
Every scanner has a “pages per minute” (PPM) throughput rating Panasonic KVS5055C – 90 PPM Fujitsu fi-5950 – 135 PPM IBML ImageTrac Lite – 286 PPM
But what is actual “real world” throughput? Likely somewhere between 10 and 80 percent of rated speed
A 2013 Audi RS4 Avant has a rated top speed of 174 MPH, but who will ever go that fast
Orientation
Landscape vs. Portrait If you are able to scan in landscape…….Do it! Portrait scanning reduces throughput by ≈ 20%
Image rotation Fixed rotation – 90˚ Auto Orientation – Performs OCR check of text
(may reduce throughput speed)
How much of the time is the scanner actually transporting paper?
How much of the time is the scanner idle while batches being opened and closed?
What can be done to increase the size of a batch? Automated document recognition and separation Intermixing multiple document sizes and types
Batch Size
Reduce Scanner Stops
How often does a scanner stop for an error condition?
Jam conditionsMulti-feed stopsVRS QC check
Best Practices
Regular Maintenance Clean scanners on a regular interval
What is the correct interval?
Have available and replace consumable items when needed
Service Contracts with PM’s are recommended
Ask for training and recommendations.
Don’t let problems creep up without noticing
Benchmarks
When a scanner and capture application have been configured and validated collect some benchmark data Save a sample set of documents; especially
documents with barcodes or extracted data fields
Save image files of these documents Record the amount of time it takes to
scan a batch
Document
Keep records of your settings Take screen shots of your setting windows Save copies of profile/settings files.
Keep records of logs, volume counters, consumable changes
Be aware of and note changes on the network, applications or operating systems
Troubleshooting
Problem Resolution
When an issue comes up, narrow the possible causes Use a test/utility application to isolate the scan application Scan to a location on the local PC rather than to a network Test with known good documents Test multiple batch classes or scan jobs
Reboot - Reset The number of times this resolves issues is high
Awareness
When something stops working or changes its behavior What may have happened prior to this?
Windows Update New Virus scan software implemented New equipment plugged into the same circuit Environmental conditions Equipment moved Cleaning
Common Issues and Solutions
Feeding problems (Poor feeding and/or Multi-feeding) Clean or replace consumable components
No Communication between PC and Scanner Reseat connecting cable Reboot scanner and PC Check the status of the scanner in device manager
Not reading Barcodes Check the image for lines, voids, or other quality issues Test with known good documents
Engage Security MicroImaging for end to end capture solutions!
Content Manageme
nt
Capture Application
Capture Hardwar
e
Thank You!
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