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Glossary · Definition

Scanner Bed

The scanner bed (or flatbed) is the glass surface where a page is laid for scanning. Its cleanliness and the document's flatness directly affect scan quality.

By PrinterArchive EditorialEdited by PrinterArchive Editorial

The scanner bed, also called the flatbed, is the glass plate on which a page or object is placed face down to be scanned. A moving sensor passes beneath the glass to capture the image.

Because the bed is part of the optical path, dust, marks, or smudges on the glass appear in scans, and a document that is not lying flat can produce blur or shadow. Keeping the bed clean and the original flat is the simplest way to improve scan quality.

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