Flatbed Scanner Software
When you buy a new scanner, the manufacturer provides flatbed scanner software. It works in conjunction with the scanner to capture and save images. Other than the basic driver and software that will allow you to scan images to your computer, the software package may also include a variety of other features.
The free scanning software that comes with your scanner will include a driver that you install onto your computer along with the other software. The driver lets your computer and scanner work together and it's a necessary component. The basic scanning software may offer all kinds of options. You may have a choice of scanning an image or text, a choice of what resolution to scan the text or image at, and black and white or color to name a few. You may also have a choice of where to send the image (usually into different imaging programs) or whether just to save it. Depending on the software package, you may also be able to create a PDF directly from the scan.
The software package may also include free imaging software. Imaging software is where the image scanners will generally send the images you scan (unless you just want to save it). The type of imaging program it comes with will vary. It may be a very basic program or something more professional from a company like Adobe or Corel. Once you've installed the flatbed scanner software, you can send images to this program. That way you not only can save the image as is but you have a variety of options to enhance or manipulate the image or document as you wish. This may include cropping, red eye reduction, rotating, resizing, and even special effects like blurring and various artistic effects.
If you have particular needs, you should look into the type of flatbed scanner software you'll get with the scanner. Higher end scanners may come with software that calibrates color and even repairs damaged photos. If you have specialized needs, look into what's available beforehand. If you plan to scan a lot of documents and you may need to edit those documents, you'll need OCR capabilities to change the text once it's scanned. Otherwise, you'll just have a flat, read-only document. As long as you have image-editing software (from the manufacturer or otherwise), photographs and illustrations are editable.
If your scanner didn't come with software for some reason or you have a used scanner, you can find free flatbed scanner software online. It's basic TWAIN software that allows you to do basic scanning, nothing fancy. But if you're needs are simple, this basic scanning software may do the trick. Otherwise, make sure your scanner comes with software to install.
Remember that depending on the quality of scanner you purchase, the flatbed scanner software will vary. You may end up with only very basic software features where it only scans, or for higher-end scanners, more complex features like advanced image editing. If you have specialized needs, look into this before purchasing a scanner.
