CamScanner Phone App
In February 2016, the Learning Center moved from the lower level of the library to the lower level of Vangstad. What didn’t get “moved,” along with the tables and chairs, was the scanner.
So, what is the big deal about a scanner? Well, a scanner plays a significant role in how the tutors and I help students. Here are a couple of examples. Math tutors handwrite math problems on paper and then scan and email to students for them to complete. Writing tutors respond to students’ citation questions by printing a hard copy of the written sample, write directions for change with words, arrows and circles, and then scan and email to the students. Yes, scanning is a tool the tutors and I use daily to support the learning needs of the students at VCSU.
Soon after the move, I mentioned to students in one of my classes I was looking for a portable scanner. And Mimi Undem, a VCSU music major, said, “What about using your phone? Have you heard of the CamScanner app?” From that day on, the need for a desktop scanner in the Learning Center was soon forgotten.
CamScanner is a free app that turns your phone’s camera into a scanner. After you take a picture/scan of a single or multi-page document, CamScanner allows you to enhance the scanned document and save it as a PDF or JPG file. You can then upload the file to Cloud storage, or you can email the file to yourself or a contact.
Here’s how to use it. After you download the free version of CamScanner, the CS icon is visible on your phone screen. You’re now ready to go.
1. Tap the CamScanner app icon. The opening screen provides a vertical list of your saved scanned documents represented by thumbnails and filenames. Three buttons and a swipe option are visible on your screen and assist in the scanning process.
· The Shutter button (camera encircled in green) triggers scanning.
· The Flash button provides for extra lighting via a flash during your scan.
· The Grid button adds grid lines for framing your scan.
· Single, the default option, is for a single page scan; for a multi-page scan, swipe to Batch.
2. Position your phone directly above the document to scan. I like to hold my phone in a landscape position when I scan.
3. Tap the Shutter button to scan document. The app adjusts the focusing and the lighting of the document so the scan looks like a scanned document, not a picture. You can rotate a scan either to the left or the right by tapping the rotating arrow buttons.
4. To save, tap the checkmark button. Green lines for framing your scan allow you to appropriately frame the scanned document.
5. To save after framing, again tap the checkmark button. Enhancing features appear on screen. I always tap Auto. Other enhancement options include Grayscale, B&W (for Black and White only), Lighten, and Magic Color.
6. To save after enhancing, again tap the checkmark button. CamScanner will save the document with the words “new doc #” with the # pending cumulative number of scanned documents stored. The “new doc #” filename will appear at the top of your screen. At the bottom of your screen are “sending/uploading” options.
· Sending. The free version allows emailing a scanned document to yourself or a contact. Tap the Email button and then tap the type of file to attach—PDF or JPG. You then enter your email program. Note the attached PDF scanned document in your message area.
· Uploading. The free version also allows uploading your document to the Cloud. Tap the More button and then tap Upload and then tap the type of file to attach—PDF or JPG. Six options appear (box, Dropbox, OneNote, OneDrive, EverNote, and Google Drive). Tap your Cloud option. You are now in your Cloud account Sign In screen. I haven’t uploaded a scanned document to the Cloud. I suppose I would use OneDrive if I needed to.
Additional CamScanner Actions from Your My Docs List
If you want to rename a scanned document:
1. Swipe the document name to the left.
2. Tap the 3 circles button.
3. Tap Rename.
4. Type the new filename.
5. Tap OK when done renaming a scanned document.
If you want to delete a scanned document:
1. Swipe the document name to the left.
2. Tap the 3 circles button.
3. Tap Delete.
4. Tap OK to delete a scanned document.
If you want to send an email with a scanned document:
- Swipe the document name to the left.
- Tap the envelop/email button.
- Tap PDF or JPG for the file type of the scanned document. You then enter your email program. Note the attached PDF scanned document in your message area.
If you want to change direction (Portrait or Landscape) of your scanned document:
1. Tap the document.
2. Tap the More button.
3. Tap the Attribute button.
4. Tap Portrait or Landscape to change direction of your scanned document.
If you want to change the page size of your scanned document:
1. Tap the document.
2. Tap the More button.
3. Tap the Attribute button.
4. Tap the page size option from the list to change the page size of your scanned document.
Yes, I was skeptical of the quality of a scan from a camera phone. But after I tried it, the proof was in the scan.