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Posted: Tue, April 22, 2003
Epson Perfection 1260: Ideal for home useBy Matt PearceOperation Software Scanning Verdict Out of the box, the Epson Perfection 1260 looks sleek and feels reasonably solid. The lid feels loose at first, but there's a benefit to this: it can be raised by a few centimetres to accommodate a book. There's no hard copy manual included - this is provided electronically on the software disc. You'll probably never need it.  Like most budget scanners, the Perfection 1260 is about as plug-and-play as you
can get. Load the software following
on-screen instructions, hook up your scanner via the USB, and you're off.OperationThe four buttons on this scanner enable you to perform four main scanning tasks in one touch:Scanning an image Copying an image and printing it Scanning an image into an e-mail Scanning and uploading an image to an Epson photo sharing website. While these tasks are performed automatically, they are not performed particularly speedily, as the scanner takes nearly a minute to warm up. Still, it's hard to imagine a more user-friendly operation. This is also the case when using the 'Smart Panel' interface. Talking you step-by-step through each stage of the scanning and editing process, the 'Smart Panel' makes any scanning task straight-forward, presenting options to: Scan to P.I.M. (Print Image Matching TM ) File Scan to PDA Scan to Web Photo Print Scan for Creativity Scan to File Copy Scan to OCR (Optical Character Recognition software) Scan to E-mail Scan to Application With the Full Auto Mode in operation, there is no need to tailor the scanner settings for these tasks - the Perfection 1260 decides exactly what is being scanned with its Document Type Recognition system ('illustration' or 'colour photo' for example), and scans accordingly. Automatic functions such as Auto Skew Correction are genuinely useful, but for many users, overriding the automatic mode is advisable (this means you can control settings such as the area to be scanned - on auto mode the scanner doesn't see the need for any extra white space). SoftwareThe software bundle that comes with this scanner includes the Arcsoft PhotoImpression TM image editing suite and Presto! Optical Character Recognition software.PhotoImpression 4 is basic. It incorporates the fundamental tools for touching up an image (paintbrush, eraser, red eye reducer, etc.) and it provides a number of image manipulating effects (from standard effects such as embossing, solarising and blurring to wacky effects such as melting, painting and even wrinkling). Altogether, the range of image-editing tools is entertaining, if not especially comprehensive. The interface itself is fairly intuitive once you've grown used to the bulbous icons and menus. In the office this simple editing suite would look and feel limited and gimmicky - but that's to be expected. For general home use, it's ideal - easy-to-use, effective at the basics, and fun. This is especially the case with the 'Create' menu. With the Create options, you can use graphics to create cards, calendars and party invites, and you can even download more creative graphics from the web. The kid in you would have great fun with these tools; the adult would wince at the results. The Presto! Optical Character Recognition software works well generally, especially with very clear text, enabling you to scan text and convert it into a text file. The scanner also supports Epson's Print Image Matching TM technology which promises better and brighter results from film scans. An optional transparency unit is available for scanning 35mm transparencies and negatives (at a premium of around £10). ScanningThe best feature of the Perfection 1260 is its impressive scanning ability - and after all, this is what most buyers will be looking at. It boasts 48-bit quality scanning and resolution of up to 1200 x 2400 dpi - adequate for all but the most demanding of jobs.In practice, the scanner produces scans of a surprisingly high quality. Colour is deep, rich and faithful to the original; detail levels are high. Scans of colour photos in particular are impressive at high resolutions and are sharp even when they're blown up to A4-size. Combine this scanner with a high quality printer, and you'll be pleased with the results. VerdictIn total, the Epson Perfection 1260 package represents very good value. For well under £100, you get a basic image editing suite and excellent quality scans.Whether you'll appreciate the PhotoImpression software depends what you want to use the scanner for. True, the Perfection 1260 can hardly be called speedy and the Presto! Software is not infallible. But if it's a straight-forward scanner for the home PC you're after, this package has huge appeal, and it will certainly keep the family entertained. The Epson Perfection 1260 retails at around £89.99. Click here to find your nearest Epson dealer. |
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