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Area 49

This guide provides information on how to use technology within Area 49, as well as guides for digital technologies and physical projects. Area 49 is available for use by all current students, faculty, and staff.

Large Format Scanner

The large format scanner is currently available for use by a limited population. If you would like to use it, please email atkinsarea49@charlotte.edu to inquire about the possibilities.

Documents up to 50 in (1270 mm) wide and 0.1 in (3.0 mm) thick can be scanned. The maximum scan size is 44 in (1120 mm). Scans can be exported as PDF, PDF/A, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, and more. 

Large Format Scanner Info

WideTek Large Format Scanner

WideTEK 44 Large Format Scanner

Location: Makerspace

Use options:

  • Training

Cost:

  • No cost
  • Bring a USB flash drive to save scans files.

See Additional Resources for manuals and optimization guides.

Power On & Off

Controls on the large format scanner.

Powering On

  1. Flip Main Switch on side of scanner to “I”
  2. If Main Switch is already on “I” scanner is in standby and Power button on top of scanner should be illuminated red
  3. To start scanner from standby mode, press the red illuminated power button and light will turn blue
  4. Start Screen will appear on touch screen
  5. If additional Computer Screen does not turn on automatically, tap power icon located on front of screen near lower right corner

Powering Off

  1. At bottom left of screen, tap gray arrow that points right
  2. Extended menu will appear on the left side of the screen
  3. Tap User Logout (image of a door with arrow)
  4. Tap Shutdown in lower right corner of screen
  5. Wait for scanner to fully shut down before turning off Main Switch to power machine off

Scanning Items

  1. Remove all paper clips, staples, or clasps from the item you are scanning and ensure the item has no tears or adhesive (tape, glue, poster gum) that could damage or jam or scanner.
  2. Ensure that loose clothing is out of the way and lanyards are moved to the back for safety.
  3. Tap EasyScan or ScanWizard on Additional Computer touchscreen
  4. Select scan type
  5. Place item on Document Transport face up
  6. Tap start on Touchscreen (on scanner) and feed item into scanner
  7. Remove item from scanner. ​​​If item did not fully exit scanner, use arrows on scanner touch screen to feed item out front or back of scanner, do not pull item out manually. If item does not exit scanner, see Makerspace Monitor for assistance.
  8. Insert USB drive into port on front of scanner
  9. In EasyScan mode tap Done
    1. Tap USB in options that appear
    2. Select single file, zip file, or multiple files
    3. Change the file name by taping in the file name line and using the keypad that appears to make changes
    4. Change the directory (where on the USB drive your file is stored) by taping in Directory and selecting the appropriate location
    5. Tap Continue once all  file name and directory changes are made
    6. Transfer will start and show progress on the computer screen
    7. When transfer has finished, tap close window
    8. Select Exit, End or Continue from the screen - Exit leaves EasyScan mode and returns to start screen, End ends the job but remains in EasyScan mode so another scan can be completed, Continue allows the current job to be continued
  10. In ScanWizard mode tap Transfer
    1. Tap USB to automatically transfer the file
    2. To change file name, tap the Gear icon just below USB
    3. Tap on File Name and use keyboard that appears to make changes
    4. Tap Directory to change where on the USB drive your file is stored
    5. Tap Send File
    6. Tap X in upper right corner when transfer is finished

Troubleshooting Item Feed Issues

  1. If item does not feed into scanner, remove item from Document Transport area
  2. If error message appears on touchscreen, tap ok
  3. Set item onto Document Transport and slide into scanner until item stops, do not force into scanner
  4. Tap Start on touch screen
  5. Item should automatically feed into scanner
  6. If feed error occurs again, tap OK on touchscreen error message and remove item from scanner
  7. Do not pull item out of scanner, always use arrows on touchscreen or computer screen to feed item forward or backward
  8. Try steps again and if issue persists, see Makerspace Monitor for help

Scanning Options

large format scanner screen

The computer screen has two options for scanning:

EasyScan

  • Good for quick scans for personal use where quality does not need to be as high
  • Allows user to select scan template
  • Quickly edit a scan by rotating, cropping, and making other minor adjustments
  • No OCR option

ScanWizard

  • Good for scans where higher quality or more specifications are needed
  • Allows for more customization in scan speed, image type and quality, and file export type
  • OCR available

Easy Scan Screen Guide

The following menu options appear on the EasyScan Screen and can be used to adjust your scan parameters and file exports.

  • Color - select the appropriate color feature of the item being scanned
  • Speed - switch between fast or high quality scan speeds
  • Brightness - adjusts brightness of scan to make appearance lighter or darker
  • Magnifying Glass - (minus sign) & Magnifying Glass + (plus sign) - zoom in and out on sections of the scan
  • Arrows - Rorate the scan the amount listed below each arrow
  • Green Checkmark - Set scanner to only scan the area selected on the screen in the green or red box and applies this setting to all future scans until the the Green Checkmark is tapped again to unselect it
  • Scissors - Crops the scan to the area selected in the green or red box
  • Green & Red boxes - select areas of the scan to zoom in or out on, crop, or save
  • ? (Question Mark, to the right of EasyScan) - Pulls up help screen

Applying OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

OCR can not be applied to scans created under EasyScan. See ScanWizard instructions for how to create a scan and apply OCR.

Shutting Down Scanner from EasyScan

  1. Click on Image Access log in upper left corner of Computer Screen
  2. Tap Exit on menu that appears
  3. Tap Shutdown in lower right corner of screen
  4. Wait for scanner to fully shut down before turning off Main Switch to power machine off

Scan Wizard Screen Guide

To access Help Menu at any time:

  • In upper right corner of screen, tap gray arrow that points down
  • Tap ? (Question Mark) in upper right corner
  • Help menu will open

Top Menu Options (left to right)

  • Format - options for scan margins, edges, and density
  • Size - options for the size and features of the scan
  • Quality - options for color, resolution, and scan mode
  • Enhancement - modify the brightness, contrast, and sharpness of the scan
  • Transport - setting for how the machine feeds in the item being scanned, such as speed and how quickly the scanner pulls in the item when scan starts
  • Transfer - options for moving the scanned file from scanner to USB drive

Left Side Menu Options (top to bottom)

  • Start Scan - feeds item and creates scan
  • Zoom In - allows a closer view of a section of the scan
  • Job Mode - options for scan types based on the material type being scanned (currently shows the same options as Templates, but customized settings can be saved here for regularly used scan parameters)
  • Masking - allows selection of an area of the scan, OCR option is available under this
  • Templates - options for scan types based on the material type being scanned and the type of parameters of the scan file that are desired
  • Feed In (Up) Arrow - feeds materials from the front to back of the scanner
  • Feed Out (Down) Arrow - feeds materials form the back to front of the scanner

Applying OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

To apply OCR, the file format for you scan must be set to PDF. OCR can be applied to scans created using any of the Scan Template Options in ScanWizard, with the exceptions of “Use Default” option. OCR can not be applied to scans created under EasyScan.

Note: While the steps listed here allow you to apply OCR to your scan, the OCR file does not appear to export to the USB drive. Instructions will be updated when this issue is resolved.

  1. Tap Masking on left side menu - popup box will appear
  2. Adjust the size of red box to surround area you would like to OCR
  3. Tap OCR on popup window
  4. It may take a minute or two for popup window to appear with text
  5. Review and modify OCR text by tapping in the text box and using the keyboard to make changes
  6. Tap Include Text to save
  7. When finished, tap X in upper right corner to close popup window

Scan Template Options

 

Scan Option

Use for Scanning

Description & Example
Auto Halftone 300dpi PDF Halftone images

Halftone images are made of dots of various sizes and closeness. This process has been widely used to reproduce photos in newspapers. Example:

"Retro Halftone Clouds" by Nick Merritt is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Binary 300dpi PDF Binary digital images

Binary images are the simplest digital images that contain one bit per pixel. Each bit represents one of two values in a grayscale, i.e. 0=black, 1=white. Example:

Binary

"Binary Prints. Portraits." by Alex Trochut is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
Color 200dpi PDF Color or black and white photographs, posters, drawings Images that contain gradients of color changes, be them grayscale or color.
Drawing 24bit 300dpi PDF Color drawings, photographs, architecture plans, blueprints Images that contain full RGB color range, meaning they show a wide range of color variations.
FADGI Items being scanned for archival preservation Federal Agencies Digital Guideline Initiative (FADGI) are national standards that should be followed when creating archival quality scans. FADGI requirement work to ensure the scan are a quality and format that will remain accessible over time. It is not necessary to follow these standards when creating scans for person or short term use.
ISO 19264/ Metamorfoze Items being scanned for archival preservation ISO 19264 and Metamorfoze are international standards that should be followed when creating archival quality scans of photographs and paper documents. These requirements work to ensure the scan are a quality and format that will remain accessible over time. It is not necessary to follow these standards when creating scans for person or short term use.
Map 300dpi PDF Maps

Any maps that are not raised relief maps (3D maps or maps that have raised sections) can be scanned with this template.

*Note: Raised relief maps can not be scanned on the WideTEK44.
Newspaper 300dpi PDF Newspaper

Any newspaper that is in good condition can be scanned with this template.

*Note: Do not scan newspapers that are deteriorating and could fall apart when fed through the scanner.
Sepia 300dpi PDF Photographs, other images

Sepia images have a reddish-brown color. Many photographs from the 19th and early 20th centuries fall into this category, although it is a technique used in later photographs and images as well. Example:

"Shops on Main Street, Sepia Tones" by Kristin Nador is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Sepia(back) 300dpi PDF Items with a sepia colored background

Images that have a sepia or reddish-brown colored background, but the full image may not be sepia colored. Example:

"Liboriuskapelle B/W + Sepia" by Anna Lorenz is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Use Default Quick scan projects, items that do not fit any of the other categories

Use default setting if unsure what template applies to your item.

*Note: OCR is not available under this selection, so choose another template if OCR needs to be applied to the scan when complete.

 

Additional Resources