Plustek Optic Slim 2600 User manual

 Installation
 Usage & Maintenance
 Troubleshooting

Trademarks
© 2009 Plustek Inc. All rights are reserved. No portion of this document may be
reproduced without permission.
All trademarks and brand names mentioned in this publication are property of their
respective owners.
Liability
While all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of all contents in this manual, we
assume no liability for errors or omissions or by statements of any kind in this manual,
whether such errors are omissions or statements resulting from negligence, accidents, or
any other cause. The contents of this manual are subject to change without notice.
Copyright
The scanning of certain documents, for example checks, bank notes, I.D. cards,
government bonds, or public documents, may be prohibited by law and/or subject to
criminal prosecution. We recommend you to be responsible and respectful of the
copyrights laws when you are scanning books, magazines, journals and other materials.
Environmental Information
Attention for recycling (For EU country only)
Protect your environment! This product should not be thrown into the household waste
container. Please give it to the free collecting center in your community.
Screen Examples in This Manual
The screen shots in this guide were made with Windows XP. If you are using Windows
2000, Vista or 7, your screen will look somewhat different but functions the same.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................................1
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE.....................................................................................................................1
CONVENTIONS OF THIS GUIDE .............................................................................................................2
A NOTE ABOUT ICONS..........................................................................................................................2
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ......................................................................................................................2
BOX CONTENTS....................................................................................................................................3
PRODUCT INFORMATION.......................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER I. INSTALLING THE SCANNER ...................................................................................4
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS..........................................................................................4
HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................4
INSTALLING AND SETTING UP THE SCANNER........................................................................................5
Step 1. Connecting the Scanner to Your Computer.........................................................................5
Step 2. Installing the Software ........................................................................................................5
SOFTWARE SETUP TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................................................7
INSTALLING ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE ..................................................................................................7
CHAPTER II. USAGE AND MAINTENANCE..................................................................................8
OPERATING THE SCANNER ...................................................................................................................8
Testing the Scanner.........................................................................................................................9
Defining The Custom button.........................................................................................................10
Defining The SCAN button............................................................................................................10
THE SCANNER UTILITY PROGRAM......................................................................................................11
Connection Status .........................................................................................................................12
Calibrating the Scanner................................................................................................................13
Aligning the Scanner.....................................................................................................................13
MAINTENANCE ...................................................................................................................................13
APPENDIX A: TROUBLESHOOTING............................................................................................15
SCANNING PROBLEMS ........................................................................................................................15
COMMON -HOW-TO- QUESTIONS........................................................................................................19
APPENDIX B: SPECIFICATIONS....................................................................................................21
APPENDIX C: CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WARRANTY.........................................................22
STATEMENT OF LIMITED WARRANTY.................................................................................................22
FCC RADIO FREQUENCY STATEMENT................................................................................................23
CONTACTING PLUSTEK.................................................................................................................25

Introduction
Welcome to the world of Plustek scanners – the ultimate in computer imaging.
Your new scanner will improve the professionalism of your day-to-day computing
tasks by allowing you to input images and electronic text into your computer system.
Like all of our products, your new scanner is thoroughly tested and backed by
our reputation for unsurpassed dependability and customer satisfaction.
See the last page of this user’s guide for a complete list of Plustek offices
worldwide.
Thank you for choosing us as your scanner supplier. We hope you will continue
to turn to us for additional quality products as your computing needs and interests
grow.
How to Use This Guide
This User’s Guide provides instructions and illustrations on how to install and
operate your scanner. This guide assumes the user is familiar with Microsoft
Windows. If this is not the case, we suggest you learn more about Microsoft Windows
by referring to your Microsoft Windows manual before using your scanner.
The Introduction section of this manual describes the box contents and minimum
computer requirements to use this scanner. Before you start installing your scanner,
check the box contents to make sure all parts are included. If any items are damaged
or missing, please contact the vendor where you purchased your scanner or our
customer service directly.
Chapter I. Installing the Scanner describes how to install scanner’s software and
connect the scanner to your computer. Note: The scanner connects to your
computer through the Universal Serial Bus (USB). If your computer does not
support USB technology, you will need to purchase a USB interface card to add
USB capabilities to your computer, or buy and install USB connectors if your
motherboard has USB capabilities. This guide assumes that your computer is
USB-ready and has a free USB port.
Chapter II describes how to test, maintain and clean your scanner.
Appendix A contains technical support information that can help you solve
simple problems. Before calling for help, please read through Appendix A:
Troubleshooting.
Appendix B contains the Specifications of the scanner you purchased.
Appendix C contains our limited warranty agreement and FCC statement
concerning the product.
1

Conventions of This Guide
Bold — Important note or first use of an important term in a chapter.
ALL CAPS — Represents commands or contents on your computer screen.
A Note about Icons
This guide uses the following icons to point out information that deserves special
attention.
Danger
Danger: A procedure that must be followed carefully to prevent
injury, or accidents.
Caution
Caution: Information that, if not followed, may result in data
loss or damage to the product.
Attention
Pay Special Attention: Instructions that are important to
remember and may prevent mistakes.
System Requirements1
 Windows/Intel Compatible Personal Computer
 Pentium CPU or above
 CD-ROM Drive
 64 MB RAM (128 MB Recommended)
 700 MB Free Hard Disk Space (800 MB Recommended)
 USB Port
 Microsoft™ Windows 2000 Professional/ XP/ Vista/ 7 compatible
NOTE: Windows NT 4.0 does not support Universal Serial Bus (USB)
connectivity.
 Video card that supports 16-bit color or greater
1Higher requirements might be needed when scanning or editing a large quantity of image
data. The system requirements here are only a guideline, as in general the better the
computer (motherboard, processor, hard disk, RAM, video graphic card), the better the
results.
2

Box Contents2
1. Scanner
2. USB Cable
3. Quick Guide (Scanner)
4. Quick Guide (Scanner Buttons)
5. Setup / Application CD-ROM
Product Information
Please fill in the following information for your own records. You will need it
when you contact your dealer or our service center in the future.
Serial Number: 
(Located at the bottom of the scanner)
Date of Purchase:  -  - 
2Save the box and packing materials in case you need to transport this scanner in the future.
3

Chapter I. Installing the Scanner
Before installing your scanner, please verify that you have all of the proper
components. A list of the package contents is provided in the Box Contents section of
this guide.
Software Installation Requirements
Your scanner comes with the OCR software (FineReader), the document
management software (Presto! PageManager), the scanner’s driver and Action
Manager 32 software. All of these software applications use approximately 700
megabytes of hard disk space after they are installed into your computer. To ensure
ample room for the installation, as well as for scanning and saving images, a
minimum of 800 megabytes of hard disk space is recommended.
The USB scanner can only operate under the Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional, XP, Vista or 7 operating system.
Hardware Requirements
This scanner connects to your computer through the Universal Serial Bus (USB)
which supports hot Plug and Play. To determine whether your computer is
USB-capable, you must check the rear of your PC to locate a USB jack that looks the
same as the one pictured below. Note that on some computers, the USB port at the
rear of the computer may be occupied and additional ports may be found on the
monitor or keyboard. If you are having trouble in locating the USB port on your
computer, please refer to the hardware manual that came with your computer.
Upon examination, you should find one or two rectangular USB ports, which
usually appear as shown below.
USB Connector(s)
If you don’t find such USB ports on your computer, then you need to purchase a
certified USB interface card to add USB capabilities to your computer.
4

Installing and Setting up the Scanner
Please follow the step-by-step procedures described below to install the Plustek
OpticPro Scanner.
S
St te ep p 1 1. . C Co on nn ne ec ct ti in ng g t th he e S Sc ca an nn ne er r t to o Y Yo ou ur r C Co om mp pu ut te er r
1. Plug the square end of the included USB cable to the USB port of the
scanner.
2. Plug the rectangular end of the USB cable to the USB port on the back of
your computer.
Note: If there is another USB device connected to the computer, connect
the scanner to an available USB port.
3. If you plan to connect your scanner to a USB hub3, make sure that the hub
is connected to the USB port in your computer. Next, connect the scanner
to the USB hub.
Note: If you do not have a USB port available, you might need to buy a
USB port.
S
St te ep p 2 2. . I In ns st ta al ll li in ng g t th he e S So of ft tw wa ar re e
1. If the USB components on your computer are functioning correctly, they
will automatically detect the scanner causing the “Add New Hardware
Wizard” or “Found New Hardware Wizard” to be launched.
Note: If your computer was off when you connected the scanner, the “Add
New Hardware Wizard” message will be displayed when you turn the
computer on and when Windows starts.
2. For Windows 2000
a. Click on the NEXT button when the “Add New Hardware Wizard”
window is displayed.
3 The USB hub is not included with the scanner.
5

b. Select “SEARCH FOR THE BEST DRIVER FOR YOUR DEVICE
[RECOMMENDED]” and click on the NEXT button.
c. The next window will ask you where to search to find the drive.
Select “CD-ROM drive”, and deselect “Floppy disk drives” if it is
checked.
d. Insert the Setup/Application CD-ROM, included with your scanner,
into your CD-ROM drive and then click on the NEXT button.
e. Click on the “NEXT” button in the window that appears.
f. During the process of the installation, a message “Digital Signature
required” might be prompted. Please ignore it, and click on “YES” to
continue the installation without any misgiving at your scanner
functioning.
3. For Windows XP
a. Insert the Setup/Application CD-ROM, included with your scanner, into
your CD-ROM drive.
b. Select “INSTALL THE SOFTWARE AUTOMATICALLY
[RECOMMENDED]” and click on the NEXT button.
c. Click on the “NEXT” button in the window that appears.
4．For Windows Vista
a. Select “Locate and install driver software (recommended)” when the
“Found New Hardware” window is displayed.
b. Click on the [Continue] button when the “User Account Control” dialog
pops up.
c. Insert the Setup/Application CD-ROM, included with your scanner, into
your CD-ROM drive when the system prompts you “Insert the disc that
came with your USB Scanner”， and click on the [Next] button.
d. During the process of the installation, a message “Windows can’t verify
the publisher of this driver software” might be prompted. Please ignore
it, and click on [Install this driver software anyway] to continue the
installation without any misgiving at your scanner functioning.
5. For Windows 7
a. Insert the Setup/Application CD-ROM, included with your scanner, into
your CD-ROM drive. Close the AutoPlay window that appears.
b. From the Windows Start menu, right click on the Computer and select
Properties from the pop-up menu. Click Device Manager on the
following screen.
c. In the Device Manager window, right click on this scanner under
Other devices item and select Update Driver Software from the
pop-up menu. Click Browse my computer for driver software in the
window that appears, and click the Browse button.
6

d. In the Browse For Folder window, select the folder that contains this
scanner driver and click the OK button to return to the previous screen.
Click the Next button and click Install this driver software anyway in
the Windows Security window.
6. When the system completes the installation, click on the “FINISH” button.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to install all software that your new USB
scanner requires.
8. After the software is installed, close all open applications and click on the
FINISH button to restart your computer.
Attention
If the scanner installation is not started and displayed
automatically on the screen, click START, select RUN and type in
[d:\setup] (where d: is the drive letter assigned to the CD-ROM
drive of your computer.)
Software Setup Troubleshooting
Carefully review the steps outlined in this guide and the Quick Guide that
accompanied your scanner.
If you are still having problems, please check that:
• You have 700MB of free space on your hard disk drive.
• The scanner is plugged in and has power.
• You are using the USB cable supplied with the scanner.
• The square end of the USB cable is plugged into the rear of the scanner.
• The rectangular end of the USB cable is plugged into the back of your
computer.
If you deviated from the installation procedures defined in this manual, please
unplug the USB cable from the scanner and reinstall the software from the CD-ROM.
To reinstall your scanner’s software, click START, RUN, then type D:\Setup (where
D represents the letter of your CD-ROM drive). Carefully follow all the installation
instructions presented in the Setup Wizard. Reboot your computer when prompted,
and plug the USB cable back into the scanner while your computer is still turned on.
Installing Additional Software
Your scanner is TWAIN compliant and functions with virtually all available
TWAIN compatible software. If you purchase additional software to be used with
your scanner, please make sure that it conforms to the TWAIN standard.
7

Chapter II. Usage and
Maintenance
Operating the Scanner
Your scanner accepts documents as small as business cards and as large as
letter-sized documents. However, some software programs have limitations as to the
information they can handle. The capacity of the computer’s memory and free space
on your hard drive can also limit the physical size of the document that you scan.
There are two different ways to operate the scanner:
1. From within an image-editing program that can acquire images from the
scanner.
2. By using the Action Manager 32 program that is automatically installed as
your scanner software.
Your scanner needs to be driven by some type of software program. Since all
documents or images (whether text or pictures) that are acquired from the scanner are
treated by your computer as images, most scanning will probably be done from an
image-editing program where you can view, edit, save and output the scanned images.
What about scanning text documents and editing them in a word processor? This
is the role of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. OCR software converts
the image files that are created from scanning text documents into text files that can
be viewed, edited and saved by word processors. An OCR program has also been
bundled on the included Setup/Application CD-ROM, and if you wish to use the
scanner in this way you should install the OCR software that is included.
Action Manager 32 is a program that allows you to conveniently scan images
and text without the need to work directly within any image-editing application.
Action Manager 32 also includes features to allow you to use your scanner as fax4
and copy machines5.
Please refer to the Action Manager 32 section of the Software User’s Guide or
the Action Manager 32 on-line Help (accessible by right-clicking on the Action
Manager 32 window and choosing Help) for more information about these functions.
4A fax/modem and fax software is required to send faxes.
5A printer is required for the copy utility.
8

T
Te es st ti in ng g t th he e S Sc ca an nn ne er r
The following test procedure checks to see if the scanner is properly functioning
with your computer and the scanning software. Before testing your scanner, double
check to make sure that all connections are securely fastened.
To properly test your scanner, please perform the following steps:
1. Open the scanner's document cover and place a picture onto the scanner
glass headfirst and face-down.
Removable
Document Cover
Place document
facedown to center.
Front of Scanner
2. Gently close the document cover.
3. Next, launch Action Manager 32 program. Click on the Windows START
button and then PROGRAMS, Plustek OpticSlim 2600, and then Action
Manager 32.
4. Click the File Utility button in the Action Manager 32 window. In
the File Utility window that opens, the scanner will perform prescan
automatically.
5. If an image appears on your screen, your scanner is working properly.
To learn how to manipulate the image, please read the Chapter II. The Scanner
Software of the Software User’s Guide.
9

D
De ef fi in ni in ng g T Th he e C Cu us st to om m b bu ut tt to on n
With the Custom Utility, the users may turn the scanner’s Custom button into a
multifunctional assistant by defining it as any utility that is included in the Action
Manager 32. Once the Custom button is defined, the selected utility will be opened
with one press at the Custom button.
The following describes how to define the Custom button:
1. Click the Custom Utility button in the Action Manager 32 window.
2. The Custom Utility interface will be opened.
3. Select a desired utility from the list.
4. Click the button, and the selected utility will be launched and
appear on the screen instantly.
D
De ef fi in ni in ng g T Th he e S SC CA AN N b bu ut tt to on n
With the Scan Utility, the users may turn the scanner’s Scan button into an
Image Processing Function by defining it as any utility that is included in the Action
Manager 32.
The Imaging Processing Function allows you to scan the image directly to the
image editing application you have defined.
The following describes how to define the Scan button:
1. Click the Scan Utility button in the Action Manager 32 window.
2. The Scan Utility interface will be opened.
3. Select a desired utility from the list.
4. Click the button, and the selected utility will be launched and
appear on the screen instantly.
Add Other Image Editing Software
To add more image editing functions for the SCAN button, follow the steps
described below:
1. Click the Browse button at the far right end of the Purpose drop-down
menu.
10

2. Click Add button in the prompted out window to select an existing
application from your system.
3. The program name you have chosen displays in the list.
Note: You are allowed to add at most 3 image editing software in this list.
4. Click Edit button to rename the displayed name of the application, if desired.
5. Click Remove button to remove the option you have created, if necessary.
6. Click Close to accept the changes and close the window.
The Scanner Utility Program
The Scanner Utility Program can help you get your new scanner up and running.
In addition, it contains a number of other features to help you tailor and control the
scanner.
Most significantly, the Scanner Utility Program checks to make sure that the
scanner software is properly installed and the scanner and computer are
communicating with each other.
The Scanner Utility also allows you to define the exact position on the scanning
glass where scanning will begin. The scanner was tuned to its optimal working
condition at factory, but some refinement of the initial scanning position may still be
necessary.
11

Alignment
Position
Scan
Verify
Ali
g
nment
Windo
w
Attention
The Scanner Utility program does NOT affect the quality of scanned
ima
g
es. It is onl
y
used to establish a connection with the scanner.
Settings that affect the scanned image (i.e., color, size, readability,
clarity, etc.) can be found in the scanner software programs and
especially the TWAIN interface.
C
Co on nn ne ec ct ti io on n S St ta at tu us s
The first step to take when troubleshooting connection problems with your
scanner is to check all physical connections. Make sure your scanner is plugged in
and the USB cable is fit snugly into the rear of your scanner and computer.
Secondly, determine the status of your USB hardware and software
configuration. To do this, please run the Scanner Utility program as described below:
1. Click on the START button, then choose PROGRAMS, PLUSTEK USB
SCANNER and then SCANNER UTILITY.
2. If there is a problem with the installation, the following message will appear:
If you receive the above message, please refer to the Scanning Problems
section of Appendix A Troubleshooting.
3. If the connection is OK, the following window will be displayed:
12

C
Ca al li ib br ra at ti in ng g t th he e S Sc ca an nn ne er r
Calibrate the scanner if colors appear in areas that should be white, vertical lines
appear in the preview image, or colors of the preview image and the original vary a
lot. This allows you to adjust and compensate for variations which can occur in the
optical component over time by its nature.
To do this, please run the Scanner Utility program as described below:
1. Click on the Windows START button, then choose PROGRAMS,
PLUSTEK USB SCANNER and then SCANNER UTILITY.
2. Click on the “Calibrate” button to start this calibration process to
produce more accurate or desirable output.
A
Al li ig gn ni in ng g t th he e S Sc ca an nn ne er r
In most cases, the scanner doesn’t need to be aligned but there are instances
when the alignment might be required. You need to align the scanner only if parts of
the scanned document are missing from any of its edges. For example, the heading
of a document might be missing from the top edge after the document has been
scanned.
To align the scanner, follow the steps below:
1. Place a photograph on the top right side of the scanner glass (near the back
of the scanner). Please note that only part of the photograph will be
scanned.
2. Click on the SCAN button . Part of the photograph will be
displayed in the ALIGNMENT window.
3. Click on the ALIGN POSITION buttons until the top left corner of the
scanned photograph aligns with the top left corner of the preview window.
4. Click on the check mark button when the alignment has been
completed.
Maintenance
To keep your scanner working smoothly, take a moment to review the
following maintenance tips.
Caution
 Avoid using the scanner in a dusty environment. When it is not in use, keep
the scanner covered. Dust particles and other foreign objects may damage the
unit.
13

 Do not attempt to disassemble the scanner. There is danger of an electrical
shock and opening your scanner will void your warranty.
 Do not subject the scanner to excessive vibration. It may damage the internal
components.
 Be sure not to bump or knock the scanner glass as it is fragile and could
break.
 Clean the scanner glass by lightly spraying a non-abrasive glass cleaner onto a
soft lint-free cloth. Then, wipe the glass thoroughly with the cloth. DO NOT
SPRAY CLEANER DIRECTLY ONTO THE SCANNER GLASS. Excess
liquid residue may fog or damage the scanner.
 Your scanner operates best in temperatures between 10°C to 40°C (50°F
to 104°F).
14

Appendix A: Troubleshooting
Scanning Problems
Most problems are easily solved, and some of the most common questions and
their recommended solutions are listed below.
Symptom: After following the installation instructions, my computer cannot
find the scanner.
Cause 1: Some aspect of your computer system does not support USB.
Solution 1: Download and execute the file USBREADY.EXE at
http://www.usb.org/about/shopping_bag to determine the level of your
computer’s USB support.
Cause 2: USB is not enabled in your BIOS settings.
Solution 2: Enable the USB controller in your BIOS settings. This is typically
done by pressing a key6(usually <del>, <F1> or <F10>) during
startup. In the BIOS Settings screen that appears, find the option for
USB and enable it. Exit and Save the changes you made. Your
computer is rebooted automatically. Please consult your computer
vendor before attempting to do this change.
Cause 3: The USB controller was improperly installed on your computer.
Solution 3: To reinstall the USB controller, click on the Start button, choose
Settings and select Control Panel. In the window that opens,
double-click on the Add New Hardware icon. Carefully follow the
instructions that appear on your screen.
Symptom: The scanned image looks grainy on the screen.
Cause: Your video mode is not set to show more than 256 colors.
Solution: We recommend that you set your video mode to 16 bits per pixel
(65536 colors) or higher. Please consult your video card, computer or
Windows documentation to change the video mode.
Symptom: The scanner scans very slow.
6Please consult your computer manual on how to modify your BIOS/CMOS settings.
15

Cause 1: You are running other applications in the background.
Solution1: Close all the other applications that are running in the background.
Cause 2: You are scanning at a high resolution (DPI).
Solution 2: Reduce the resolution. See Chapter 2 of the Software User’s Guide for
information about recommended resolution settings.
Symptom: The scanned document comes out as strange characters on the
screen after the OCR process is completed.
Cause 1: Text page was scanned upside down.
Solution 1: Reverse the page and scan again.
Cause 2: The OCR software is limited to certain types of documents, fonts and
formats. You might be trying to scan a form, spread sheet, a hand
written letter or a document with color text or color page.
Solution 2: Scan a clean document that contains, preferably, one column and has
black text on a white page.
Symptom: The scanner is not in the list of supported scanners in other
commercial software.
Solution: Select TWAIN as the scanner.
Symptom: Unable to scan from other software other than the one that came
with the scanner.
Solution: Enter the Scanner Setup within the program, Select TWAIN and you
will see your scanner listed (e.g., Plustek USB Scanner).
Symptom: Unable to save to a floppy diskette.
Cause 1: The floppy disk might be write protected.
Solution 1: Move the write protection tab, located in the back of the diskette, to the
closed position.
Cause 2: Your disk might not be formatted.
Solution 2: Format the diskette.
16

Cause 3: There is not enough space available in the disk to save the document.
Solution 3: Delete any files that you do not need from the floppy disk.
Cause 4: You might be scanning your document at a high resolution.
Documents scanned using higher resolution modes will take a
considerable amount of disk space.
Solution 4: Reduce the resolution. See Chapter 2 of the Software User’s Guide for
information about recommended resolution settings.
Symptom: The image looks good in the software that came with the scanner
but it does not look good when I export the image to another
program.
Cause: Different imaging programs use different Monitor Gamma settings.
Solution: Change the Monitor Gamma settings in either of the programs so that
they match. Please consult the help files for each program to find out
how to adjust the Monitor Gamma.
Symptom: The image looks good in the screen but is very dark when printed.
Cause1: The Monitor Gamma Settings or the scanner brightness settings are not
set properly.
Solution 1: 1) Change the Monitor Gamma to a value between 1.0 and 1.5.
Please consult your help file for information on how to adjust the
Monitor Gamma.
2) Adjust the brightness control in the TWAIN window before
scanning.
Cause2: The printer brightness setting is not set properly.
Solution 2: Adjust the brightness in the printer. Some printers allow you to
change the brightness settings. Please consult your printer
documentation.
Symptom: The scanned image takes too long to be sent with an email
message.
Cause1: The image was scanned at a high resolution or is physically large.
Solution1: Scan at a lower resolution (DPI)
17