How to Scan a Picture on a Multi-Function Printer

Pictures can be scanned with your multi-function printer just like documents. No more bulky photo albums for you, because you have turned those hard copies into data and posted the latest images of the family road trip to your computer's hard drive. After you scan your pictures you can share them on the Internet. Follow these steps to scan a picture on a multi-function printer:

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Multi-function printer

Instructions

1. Clean the photo you want to scan. If you have canned air handy, blow dust and lint off the surface of the picture (not recommended for fragile photographs).

2. Fire up your computer and multi-function printer. Check your connections and look the printer over, cleaning the scanning surface and the underside of the document lid.

3. Position the photograph face-down on the scanning surface. The alignment of your photo can be corrected in the editing process, but you can save yourself a step if you do this by hand, using the guides on the edges of the scanning area.

4. Shut the lid. Be careful to not disturb the picture's alignment when closing the lid.

5. Set the scan resolution. Increasing the dpi (dots per inch) count produces a clearer and sharper image and dramatically increases the file size.

6. Click the scan button on the software interface or push the button on the face of the printer. A preview of your scan should appear on your computer monitor.

7. Inspect the preview for any correctible flaws. If you need to start the scan over to fix something that went wrong, remember to label each scan of the same picture with a different name so you can sort through them quickly.

8. Choose the best version and save it to your computer's hard drive.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the inside of the printer lid and the glass clean with gentle cleaning materials and soft lint-free cloths. Avoid abrasive cleaners, excessive moisture and harsh chemicals.

• Photos look their best when scanning resolution harmonizes with display-size resolution. Don't expect a teeny-tiny picture scanned at low resolution to look great when you display it as a full-screen image on a wide-screen monitor.

• Use the scanning software to perform simple tasks, such as fixing red-eye or cropping. Open image-editing software for more complicated modifications.

• If your multi-function printer has a document feeder, do not use this to scan photos. Alignment problems and feeding issues will tempt you to throw the contraption down a flight of stairs.