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What Is a Flatbed Scanner?

A flatbed scanner is a digital imaging device that captures high-resolution scans of physical documents, photos, or objects placed directly on its glass surface. Unlike sheet-fed scanners, it allows for the scanning of fragile items or pages from books without damaging the material.

Flatbed scanners are commonly used in offices, libraries, schools, and homes for digitizing both text and images.

Uses of Flatbed Scanners

Flatbed scanners are versatile and support a variety of tasks:

• Home and School Use – Scanning homework, artwork, ID cards, or certificates

• Offices – Archiving contracts, invoices, and other official documents

• Libraries – Digitizing book pages, historical archives, and research papers

• Photo Preservation – Scanning old photographs or negatives for digital storage

Key Features of Flatbed Scanners

Modern flatbed scanners come with features that enhance productivity and image clarity:

• High Optical Resolution – Ideal for detailed image scanning

• Color Depth – Captures accurate colors in photos and illustrations

• OCR (Optical Character Recognition) – Converts scanned text into editable files

• USB or Wireless Connectivity – For easy access and file sharing

• Multi-Page Scanning with ADF (Optional) – Speeds up batch scanning tasks

How Flatbed Scanners Connect and Operate

Flatbed scanners typically connect to your PC or network through:

• USB Cable – The most common connection for desktops and laptops

• Wi-Fi or Ethernet – For wireless scanning in shared workspaces

• Cloud Integration – Some models allow saving directly to Google Drive, Dropbox, or email

They operate by placing a document on the scanner’s glass bed, where a sensor passes underneath the item to capture its image as a digital file.

Whether you need a basic model for schoolwork or a high-end option for business documents, flatbed scanners remain a dependable choice for quality scanning in Kenya.