SCANNER

Scanners have become more popular as the price has fallen within the range of the average person. Scanners allow one to transfer pictures and photographs to a computer. A scanner 'scans' the image from the top to the bottom, one line at a time and transfers it to the computer as a series of bits or a bitmap. It is then possible to take the image and annotate or change it in a graphics package, send it out as a fax or print it. The two most common types of scanners are flatbed and handheld scanners. With flatbed scanners, the picture sits on a flat surface - the bed of the scanner - and the scanner moves across the bed. With handheld scanners, the picture is fed, by way of rollers, underneath the scanner.