Using the USB Scanner in the DeRidder Lab

These instructions cover only the basics. For additional information about XSane (the program which controls the scanner) and The GIMP click the "Help" button on the program windows.

1. Check out the scanner at the computer lab desk. You will need a valid Beauregard or LSW library card. The scanner may only be used in the Library and must be checked back in at the end of your session.
2. Plug the scanner into a USB port on the computer you are using.
3. Load "The GIMP".
   • From the desktop menu bar select Applications.
   • Select Graphics.
   • Select "The Gimp"
   • If asked, accept the agreement and allow the program to install.
4. From the GIMP window, select File, Acquire and set the source to the one that begins "XSane: plastek: libusb"
5. If asked, accept the warranty.
6. Place the item to be scanned on the scanner glass face down with the upper corner at the arrow.
7. Select Acquire, preview and wait for the preview to appear. If you want to correct how the document is lined up, you can realign it and preview again. For other changes (intensity of color, etc), use the Help button on the XSane window.
8. In the XSane window click "Scan" and wait until the new "Untitled" window to appear. What is in that window is what will be in the file you save.
9. In the "Untitled" window click File, Save As.
   • Give your file a name. It is best to pick a short name and to avoid spaces or special characters (*, &, %, etc) in the name.
   • End the name with a period followed by the 3 digit extension which shows the file type you want to use. GIMP can handle many file types but to keep it simple, .jpg will do for most scans. Example: photo001.jpg
   • You will probably want to find your file again to print it, attach it to an email, or to save it to a CD or USB drive so make SURE you know where you are saving the file. The default will usually be your "home" directory or your desktop. You can change this by "Browsing for other folders".
   • Click "Save"
10. At this point your scan is complete. If you do not want to scan additional items you can close out XSane, unplug the scanner, and return the scanner to the lab desk. Please hand the scanner to a library employee. Do not leave it lay on the desk while it is still checked out to you.
11. The GIMP will allow you to make additional changes to the image you scanned. For example, you can crop the image or scale it to a smaller size. For help with this, click the "Help" button on the GIMP window. If you do not want to make changes, you can close out The GIMP window.
12. The image you scanned is ready to be attached to an email, printed, uploaded to the web, copied to a CD or saved on a USB flash drive.