Optimize your presets

Different originals require different scanning approaches. The right settings ensure that you capture precisely what you need, and produce files optimized for your particular workflow. In this article you will find our recommended settings for different types of originals including presets ready to import into Nextimage Apeiron and then save your own presets for future scanning.

This article has two parts:

• Quick reference guide with at-a-glance settings
• Guidelines based on type of original with a complete list of settings, including preparation and adjustment tips

Efficiency begins with preparation

It goes for scanning as with everything else, practice makes perfect. Learn from our recommendations and adjust your presets from there until you are satisfied. Note that these recommendations are for our contact-free scanner HD Apeiron/42 and the included software Nextimage Apeiron only, if you need guidance for any of our other scanners, do not hesitate to reach out.

We recommend that you:

1. Find your ‘Original Type’ in the table below
2. Import the preset into Nextimage Apeiron (version 1.2 or newer, download here)
3. Adjust and save your personalized preset

But first: Regardless of your original type, always begin your scan by adjusting the focus plane (video).

Paintings – Focus on surface texture

Align the painting with the scanner table, see video.

Settings

• Surface: Uneven, 3D effect
• Lamps: Left lamp up, right lamp down
• DPI: 300–1200
• Quality: Speed, or Quality up to 4 exposures per line
• Input size: Auto
• Image type: Color (24-bit)
• Levels: Default
• RGB: Color space: Device RGB for scanning. sRGB or Adobe RGB for scanning to print (see CLC below)
• Sharpen/Smoothen: Default
• Rotate: Default
• Resize: Scale to Input size (default)
• Output:
  • TIFF (recommended, uncompressed)
  • Choose preferred folder
  • File name (option to insert fields, such as numbering, date, etc.)
• 3D effect: 0–100 depending on preferred texture visibility

Close loop calibration (CLC)

Make a unique CLC media profile to ensure a perfect match between the scanner and a large format printer. Create media profiles for every printer, paper, and quality combination that you need. See how in this video.

Watercolor on paper

Consider adding a white background such as a large piece of paper on the table, especially if your original is thin and see-through. To reduce wrinkles and flatten edges add a large piece of plexi glass on top.

Align the watercolor artwork with the scanner table, see video.

Settings

• Surface: Uneven, 3D effect
• Lamps: Both lamps up
• DPI: 300–1200
• Quality: Speed, or Quality up to 4 exposures per line
• Input size: Auto
• Image type: Color (24-bit)
• Levels: Default
• RGB: Color space: Device RGB for scanning. For printing: sRGB or Adobe RGB
• Sharpen/Smoothen: Default
• Rotate: Default
• Resize: Scale to Input size (default)
• Output:
  • TIFF (recommended, uncompressed)
  • Choose preferred folder
  • File name (option to insert fields, such as numbering, date, etc.)
• 3D effect: 0–100 depending on preferred texture visibility

Apparel and fabric – Focus on surface details

Consider adding a white background such as a large piece of paper on the table.

Flatten the apparel or fabric to be as close to the +/-10mm focus depth as possible. To reduce wrinkles and flatten even more add a large piece of plexi glass on top.

Settings

• Surface: Uneven, 3D effect
• Lamps: Left lamp up and right lamp down, or both lamps down
• DPI: 300–1200 (depending on use case and preferred file size)
• Quality: Speed
• Input size: Auto
• Image type: Color (24-bit)
• Levels: Default
• RGB: Color space: Device RGB
• Sharpen/Smoothen: Default
• Rotate: Default
• Resize: Scale to Input size (default)
• Output:
  • TIFF (recommended, uncompressed), JPG for library or archive
  • Choose preferred folder
  • File name (option to insert fields, such as numbering, date, etc.)
• 3D effect: Between 50–100 to let the surface details in the fabric stand out

Documents

Consider adding a white background such as a large piece of paper on the table, especially if documents are thin and see-through.

To reduce wrinkles and flatten edges place small weights in the corners of the pattern or add a large piece of plexi glass on top.

Settings

• Surface: Uneven
• Lamps: Both lamps up
• DPI: 300–1200
• Quality: Speed
• Input size: Auto
• Image type: Color (24-bit)
• Levels: Default
• RGB: Color space: Device RGB
• Sharpen/Smoothen: Default
• Rotate: Default
• Resize: Scale to Input size (default)
• Output:
  • PDF, JPG or other preferred. TIFF for uncompressed
  • Choose preferred folder
  • File name (option to insert fields, such as numbering, date, etc.)

Reduce yellow tones in old paper documents

In Levels, reduce Gamma to 1.8 and white point to 200. If lines are smudgy and faded, this can be enhanced by increasing Sharpen Intensity to 5 and Sharpen Threshold to 5. These numbers are your starting point. See what your document needs to stand out as you want.