Scanners and Cameras
Table 15.1 describes new imaging features with Microsoft Windows 2000.
Table 15.1 Comparison of Imaging Features
Windows 2000 |
|---|
Windows NT 4.0 |
Image Color Management (ICM 2.0) with improved color space profiles. |
Plug and Play available for local devices. |
Still imaging architecture adds enhanced ICM 2.0, and continues to support universal serial bus (USB) and small computer system interface (SCSI) drivers and serial ports. |
Standard scanner and camera control panel provided. |
IrTran-P is supported for image transfer, when enabled by hardware. |
Expanded scanner and digital camera support through a wider range of drivers. |
Support for pushbutton scanning added as a standard image acquisition technique. |
The following section describes, in greater detail, new technologies available with Windows 2000 Professional.
Easier Installation and Maintenance Windows 2000 supports Plug and Play for easy scanner and camera installation. An enhanced hardware installation wizard walks users through configuration steps. Scanners and Cameras in Control Panel offers configuration options, as well as troubleshooting that works by means of user feedback to isolate problems and suggest solutions.
Color Matching: ICM 2.0 Image Color Management (ICM) 2.0 ensures that colors are accurately captured and stored by scanners and cameras. You must complete an initial setup of ICM 2.0 and your camera or scanner must support it. Initial setup of ICM 2.0 associates color profiles with scanners and cameras. This association can be completed either by the device vendor or the administrator, and once configured, can be modified by users with the appropriate permissions.
ICM 2.0 is mostly transparent for end-users, so when an application supports ICM 2.0, Windows 2000 uses it to produce high-quality color reproductions without requiring user intervention.
Scanner manufacturers might list their scanners as being standard RGB (sRGB) compliant (IEC 61966-2-1:1999). Most scanner vendors accurately support sRGB as the default color space, producing good colors for most users. If you require exceptionally precise color accuracy, use a third-party calibration tool to create custom profiles, and use software that operates effectively with ICM 2.0. For more information about ICM 2.0 and color profiles, see Image Color Management 2.0 later in this chapter.
Pushbutton Scanning Scanning can be initiated on some scanners simply by pressing a Scan button on the hardware. Pressing the button launches scanning software, scans the image, and displays the image on the computers screen.
Pushbutton scanning is configured in Scanners and Cameras in Control Panel.
IrTran-P Images can be transferred from cameras to Windows 2000 Professional using infrared transmissions. This makes a physical cable connection unnecessary.