Document Scanners
When scanning forms that will be read using optical mark recognition software, the image produced must be sharp and clear so that the barcodes can be properly recognized and read, and the hand marks in checkboxes can be accurately detected. A decent document scanner for scanning omr forms is of great significance to ensure a high rate of accuracy is achieved when the forms are recognized by the omr software.
You can use flatbed scanners and Multi-Function Centers (MFC)'s with FormReturn - but many of these lower-end systems have issues with image accuracy, particularly blurring, image distortion and other issues. The simple rule with scanners used with software OMR and OCR systems is "you get what you pay for" - don't always go for the cheapest option.
Scanning your returned forms at a resolution of between 150 and 200 dpi (depending on the quality of the images your scanner puts out) will mean less space will be taken up storing the images on your computer and faster processing in FormReturn. Whenever possible, DON'T SAVE IMAGES AS A JPG (JPEG) FILE. This format is intended for photos and produces artefacts, reducing your image quality. Preferably save as a PNG or TIF image (Group 6 preferably).
Choosing a Document Scanner
There are many manufacturers of document scanners and some can scan at speeds of up to 80 pages per minute but most average at around 20 to 50 pages per minute. Some important features to look for when selecting a document scanner are speed, duty cycle (the number of pages the scanner is rated to process in a day) and paper-handling. Duplex operation is another feature of some scanners which means it can scan both sides of a double sided document.
When handling large volumes of forms, automatic document feeders that can often hold between 50 to 500 sheets of paper, for a low to medium cost machine, and will be more efficient and time saving than a flat bed scanner.
Document Scanner Brands
We recommend having a look at the following brands when selecting a document scanner:
Fujitsu - Windows & Mac compatibility:
http://www.fujitsu.com/us/services/computing/peripherals/scanners/
Canon - Some good high speed/large paper handling scanners:
http://www.usa.canon.com/opd/controller?act=OPDCategoryIndexAct&fcategoryid=2204
Panasonic - We test our forms on a Panafax DX-600 which has been very reliable. They also make good document scanners.
http://www.panasonic.com/Business/office/cat_scanners.asp
Kodak - Make a lot of large production scanners:
http://graphics.kodak.com/docimaging/US/en/Products/Document_Scanners/index.htm
Xerox - Popular document scanner manufacturer:
http://www.xeroxscanners.com/en/us/
Avision - A Taiwainese document scanner manufacturer, cost competitive and popular in Asia and Australia:
http://www.avision.com/usa/products/docs.html
A Word of Advice for Mac Users
If you are looking for the best document scanners for Mac, there isn't much choice apart from Fujitsu. The other option for Mac users is to use a "Network Document Scanner" or "Network Scanner" - these machines scan images to a network file share or send images via email.