How to Use a Handheld Scanner

Handheld scanners are one many input devices for putting data into your computer. You can scan photos, business cards, receipts and other documents quickly into your system for storage or printing. Handheld scanners are perfect for your home or office. Simply follow the steps below and you can be on your way to entering documents into your computer.

Instructions

1. Gather the documents you would like to scan.

2. Install the handheld scanner software and hardware, if you haven't already done so. Follow the instructions that came with the scanner. General installation usually requires you to install the software first and then the hardware.

3. Click "Start," "All Programs" and then click on the name of the handheld scanner software.

4. Set the DPI (Dots Per Inch) and other settings for the scanner. The higher the DPI, the better the quality of the scan.

5. Click "Preview," "Pre-scan" or similar wording to perform a test scan. Make any adjustments and then click "Scan" to complete a final scan. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each document.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a DPI between 200 and 300 if you are going to print the scanned document. Use a DPI of 72 to 150 if you are going to just store the document or if it will be used on the Internet.

Resources

• Home Scanner Bundles Viewing, Editing Software