What is a Flatbed Scanner?

Scanners convert printed materials such as book pages and photographs into digital information that can be used on a computer. While most scanners require such materials to be thin and flat, flatbed scanners allow the use of three-dimensional objects such as books.

Parts

Flatbed scanners have a hinged cover that can be removed so that the object to be scanned can be positioned on the glass scanning bed. The scanning head moves under the bed to scan the object.

Books and Magazines

Books and magazines can easily be scanned without being cut or destroyed. Open the reading material and place the page to be scanned face down on the bed. Use the cover to hold the material in place.

Slides and Negatives

Most flatbeds eliminate the expense of an extra scanner allowing negative and slide scans through a built-in or accessory holder. Insert the film into the supplied holder, place the holder onto the bed, close the cover and scan.

3D objects

In a pinch, the scanner can act as a digital camera by capturing text or surface detail on one side of a 3D object. However, because the scan head has a fixed focus, areas beyond the surface of the glass will be blurred.

Disadvatages

Because material has to be positioned individually, flatbed scanners are cumbersome for scanning a stack of paper pages. In this case, sheet-feed scanners are more useful.

3D tips

If you remove the cover when scanning a 3D object, too much ambient light can cloud the scan. To prevent this, throw a jacket, tablecloth or blanket over the object and scanning bed.