Scanning under Linux using xvscan.
- Login and start X-Windows with: mitx
- Note it is a good idea to clear the background. From an xterm, type: xv -clear
- Start xvscan. Again, from an xterm, type: xvscan &
- Press [CTRL]-a inside the 'xv' window to open the 'XVScan' window
![]()
- Turn the Gamma Correction on by clicking the box to the left of the words "Gamma Correction" in the 'XVScan' window.
![]()
- Note, to prevent smudges or smears on scans, do NOT touch the scanner bed (glass) surface
- Do one of the following three:
- For a single page:
- Place the page to be scanned face up into slot on the top of the scanner
- Lock the page down with the 'lock lever' on the scanner
- Press "Next Page" to scroll the page in
- For a slide:
- Open the scanner lid
- Place the slide scanner thingie in the top right-hand corner with the arrow on the thingie facing that corner
- Leave lid open
- Set the slide face down on the scanner bed
- Gently push the slide through the opening on the right side of the slide scanner thingie until the base of the slide is even and completely within it
- For a book, stapled document, photo, etc.:
- Open the scanner lid
- Place item face down on scanner bed against the top right-hand corner
- Shut as well as possible (optional)
- Press the "81dpi Scan" button for 1st draft scan -Note that the 'Scan Progress' window will appear -Note also that this step may take several minutes the first time as the scanner lamp needs to warm up
(A)
- Use the left mouse button to click and drag on the image to create a box around the area you want to zoom in on
![]()
- Select "Apply Crop"
(B)
- If something is wrong and you need to change/undo the applied crop
- Click and drag the 'cropped area' box in the 'XVScan' window to suit your needs
- Go to (B)
- Do one of the following two:
- For another test scan:
- Press the "xyz dpi Scan" button for another draft scan -Note, after cropping, the dpi may change for the draft scans -This is the button above the "Apply Crop" button
- Go to (A)
- For a final scan:
- If you are not satisfied with the scan, go to (B)
- Do one of the following two:
- Eject the single page:
- Press "Eject Page"
- Unlock the 'lock lever' on the scanner
- Remove the scanned material from the scanner bed (i.e., book, stapled document, slide, etc.)
- Press the "Close" button in the bottom right-hand corner of the 'XVScan' window to close it -Note, this will not close the image (i.e., xv)
- Right-click on the image to bring up the 'xv controls' window
(C)
- If the image is not right-side up, do the following:
- Rotate the image using the circle arrow buttons which are above the "AutoCrop" button at the bottom, center of the 'xv controls' window
![]()
- Go to (C)
- Press the "Save" button to open the 'xv save' window
![]()
- In the 'xv save' window, move to the directory in which you want the scan saved
- Change the image type option by clicking on the "Format" menu:
- High resolution images:
- 'JPEG' is the default and is the best all-around option for general use
- 'PNG' provides the best quality but you must know what you are doing -Note, PNG is probably a good idea for Windows users
- Lower resolution images:
- 'BMP' is a decent quality and good compression
- 'GIF' is excellent compression but provides for only 256 colors
- If you have a greyscale or b/w image, select the approprate option from the "Colors" menu which is directly below the "Format" menu
- Give the scanned image a name by typing in the "Save file:" bar at the bottom of the 'xv save' window
![]()
- This should probably end in a '.xyz' where XYZ is whatever is showing for the "Format" option -Note, use '.jpg' for 'JPEG' format
- Also, this should probably NOT be a duplicate name of anything already in that directory
- Press the "Ok" button
- If a window pops up asking about additional save options, press the "Ok" button in that new window
![]()
- If you want to print the image:
- Press the "Print" button
- In the new window, give 'lpr' the proper options (typically ' -h -Pcolor' without the tics)
![]()
- Press the "Color" button
- Set the orientation and resize the picture to your liking
![]()
- Press the "Ok" button to print
- Press the "Quit" button to exit xv
- If you want to manipulate the image further, reopen it using The GIMP with: gimp &
![]()
If you have any questions or comments concerning the implementation of
xvscan, xv, The GIMP, X-Windows, Linux in general, etc., please contact me
or any other UC via e-mail at:
linuxman@nmt.edu
Thank you.
or
uc@nmt.edu
Documentation by: Scott Bucholtz Senior User Consultant, New Mexico Tech Computer Center