Links

Microtek 30-Bit Color Flatbed Scanner
Scans in 300 x 600 dpi.
Easy plug-n-scan installation.
Includes image editing and text recognition software.
$89.99 - $30 Mail-in Rebate - $10 Instant Rebate = $49.99
$49.99 After Mail-In and Instant Rebates (V310)

( The cost at the store is $80 + local sales tax )

Complete specifications are available at the Microtek web site.

I have evaluated the V310 and it's good for web pictures. You don't have to open up your computer to install it, it plugs into the parallel printer port. There is another connector on the scanner to plug the printer into, so you don't have to switch the cable back and forth. The scanner includes good software and it can also be used with Paint Shop Pro or Photo Shop. The time required for a preview scan is about 15 seconds and the time to scan a medium size picture is 30-60 seconds. Filtering operations such as fringe pattern removal and sharpening can be done after each scan if desired.

Another feature I like about this scanner is it's smaller than most others. It's designed to scan pages up to 8.5 x 11 inches, which is plenty of space for web pictures. It fits comfortable on top of a tower computer case and you can still set a book or telephone on top of it when its not in use so it doesn't take up precious desk space.

Also, it only weighs 10 pounds, so a person could take the scanner and a laptop computer to the library (just a thought).

WEB CAMERA SITES:

The resolution of these cameras is approximately VCR quality but the pictures can be improved with filtering. Here is an example taken at a popular beach spot in California. This picture was sharpened using Paint Shop Pro. It did not catch a cast, but who knows when...?

If you find a webcam site that looks promising, let me know and I'll add it to the list. A lot of the cameras are outside and they may only provide pictures during local daylight hours. By looking at sites around the world, this can be a 24 hour a day experience.

• Hermosa Beach, CA - people near the camera are imaged with enough resolution to clearly show a cast.
  
  
• Bourbon Street in New Oreleans, USA.
  
  
• Indoor Lobby Cam.
  
  
• Hooter Cam at a Hooter's Restaurant. See why they call it "Hooter's".

• Headquarters of the Netcam Committee. Links to many webcam lists.
  
  
• Descriptions of many webcam sites.
  
  

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  ORTHOPEDIC RELATED SITES:

  
  
  
  Plaster of Paradise -- The premier casting site on the web. The 'Links' page is a gateway to other sites involving recreational orthopedics.
  
  

  GRAPHIC ARTS PROGRAMS AND TECHNIQUES:

  
  
  WEB Authors: reduce the size of your gifs, animated or otherwise, using Gif Wizard.   This program can be used to operate directly on gif files on your site by just logging on and giving the Wizard the URL.   Several different processed images are displayed so you can evaluate the tradeoffs.   For example, the animated gif on the Whatsnew page was reduced from 18K to 3.2K.
  
  Paint Shop Pro is the best shareware paint program available. Many compare it to Adobe Photo Shop .   You can evaluate the complete program free for 30 days. The registration price is $69. Check the reviewsand tutorials.
  
  
  For additional tips on using Paint Shop Pro, try :
  Several excellent tutorials at 'grafx-design.com'.
  PSP Tips and Tricks.
  More PSP Tips.
  
  
  Adobe Photo Shop is the standard for comparison in the paint program field. The price is around $500 to $600.
  
  Links to GIF related info such as animation and transparency.
  
  Infinite Fish is an excellent source of web page backgrounds, free for personal sites.
  
  Lake Applet is a very cool special effect using Java.