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Scanner Misc - Handling Dirty Scans

SUMMARY: Three ways to handle less than optimal scans.

If you have scanned a document, or have come upon a recently scanned document, that contains dust and scratch marks, here are a few things you can try:

1. If you have the original, rescan the document. First, be sure to clean your scanner as per the manufacturer instructions to remove excess debris. A minute or two of cleaning can produce a world of difference in image scan quality.

2. If possible, try cropping your scanned file, using image-editing software to remove the most egregious problem areas.

3. Many photo editing software packages come built-in with a "Dust and Scratch" feature. This may help you repair documents if you lack an original for a rescan. Be sure to experiment with the settings so that you remove just dust and scratches and not image detail.