How to Calibrate a Scanner

Scanners are used to upload your photographs to the computer. If the colors are off then you must calibrate your scanner. Follow these steps to learn calibration.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Purchase a scanner profiling chart. These are color reference sheets and color management profiling software that detect the colors the scanner sees compared with the actual colors on the sheet. You can order a chart online or buy one at your local computer store.

2. Install the color management software on your computer. Place the CD in the CD drive. If the auto run feature does not start, click on "Start," "Run" and "Browse." Locate the CD, and then choose "Setup." This will start the installation.

3. Clean your scanner glass with a lint-free cloth and a small amount of water. Don't use glass cleaner or any other cleaner with alcohol.

4. Place the color reference chart on the scanner glass and scan it. Defeat all the color management and color corrections. Clone all the dust and scratches to clean up the scan.

5. Open up the scanner profiling software. Choose the file for the chart that you just scanned. Load the scanned image into the program.

6. Crop the scanned image to select the area that you want analyzed by the software. This color difference will be saved as the color profile for your scanner.