Home > Articles

Acquiring Images from Scanners and Digital Cameras

This chapter is from the book

In this chapter

  • Installing Plug-In Files

  • Adjusting Scanner Settings

  • Scanning Different Kinds of Images

  • Scanning the Final Image

  • Accessing Images on the Camera

  • Saving Images

  • Selecting Devices

Photoshop Elements enables you to import images from a scanner or digital camera. Install software, connect a cable, and power on a scanner or camera to enable Photoshop Elements to acquire photos. After you have it all set up, you're free to download as many photos as you like. Available memory, processor speed, and disk space are the only limits to how many photos you can bring into your computer! This chapter shows you how to get a scanner or digital camera up and running with Photoshop Elements.

Installing Plug-In Files

To bring your images into Photoshop Elements from a scanner or digital camera, you'll need to install a TWAIN plug-in. All plug-in files are located in the Plug-Ins folder, in the Photoshop Elements 2 folder. The (Import/Export) [Import-Export] folder is where TWAIN plug-ins are stored. TWAIN plug-ins enable you to acquire images from the File, Import menu or Welcome window into the work area.

The following sections show you how to install a TWAIN plug-in for an HP scanner device. However, these steps are similar for installing any TWAIN plug-in with Photoshop Elements.

Installing Plug-In Software

If you're using Windows 98 Special Edition, Windows 2000, or Windows XP, plug your scanner or camera into your computer's parallel, serial, USB, or FireWire port. Windows will notice that a new device is connected to the computer and open the Found New Hardware Wizard (see Figure 3.1). Insert the CD for the scanner or camera into the CD-ROM drive, and then click the Next button. Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X users can install the TWAIN plug-in software by running the Mac software installer program, or by placing the TWAIN plug-in file in the Plug-Ins, (Import/Export) [Import-Export] folder, in the Adobe Photoshop Elements folder.

Figure 3.1 When you first connect a scanner or camera to your computer, Windows will try to install software for the new hardware.

For Windows users, here are the steps for using the New Hardware Wizard to install software drivers for a scanner or camera:

  1. There are two screens in the wizard that ask you how you want Windows to locate the driver software for the new device. Choose the radio button that searches for a suitable driver for the device in the Install Device Drivers window.

  2. Click the Next button, and then check the CD-ROM Drive check box in the Locate Driver Files window. Be sure you have the CD-ROM from your hardware (scanner or camera) in the drive.

  3. Click the Next button, and Windows searches the CD-ROM for the software driver. If a TWAIN plug-in file is on the CD, Windows installs both the driver and the TWAIN plug-in file (see Figure 3.2).

  4. Figure 3.2 If Windows can locate a driver for the device, it will install the driver.

  5. If Windows installs the files successfully, you'll see the Completing the Found New Hardware Wizard window. Click the Finish button to exit the wizard.

Accessing a New Plug-In in Photoshop Elements

Photoshop Elements scans the Plug-Ins folder only when the application starts. You must (Quit) [Exit] Photoshop Elements before you can use a newly installed TWAIN plug-in file. Click on the File, Import menu to view the list of installed plug-in files.

Before choosing a plug-in, power on the scanner or camera, and then connect the device to the computer. If you haven't already done so, start Photoshop Elements. To access any of the TWAIN plug-in files, choose File, Import. A submenu containing a list of devices appears, as shown in Figure 3.3. Select one of the TWAIN plug-in files from the Import menu list. The TWAIN plug-in opens a device-specific window in the Photoshop Elements work area. Use the device software to preview and download images into the work area.

Figure 3.3 Choose Import from the File menu to view a list of installed TWAIN plug-in files.

Troubleshooting Connections

Not all cameras and scanners come bundled with TWAIN plug-in files. If your device does not have a TWAIN plug-in file, you'll need to use the software that comes with the device to create an image on your computer. In either case, visit the vendor's Web site to see whether a TWAIN plug-in is available for your scanner or digital camera. Mac OS X and Windows XP include some software that may enable a camera or scanner to download images to the computer. Mac OS X users can use iPhoto to see whether the camera or scanner can be recognized by Mac OS X. Plug the USB, FireWire, or serial cable into the Windows XP computer to see whether Windows is able to recognize the device. Save the images as JPEG or TIFF files so that you can open them in Photoshop Elements.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020