Ask Ms. Imaging
Column in Technical Support Newsletter published quarterly by Chartmasters 1995-1997

Dear Ms. Imaging,
Help! I am in charge of maintaining the corporate sales presentation. My boss asks me for the file, changes some slides, passes it on to the Marketing VP for more revisions, and it eventually gets back to me via the administrative assistant (more changes). Meanwhile, I get a second version of the file from my boss with a few last-minute changes. What can I do to simplify this process?
Signed, Swirling Dervish

Dear Swirling,
After catching her breath, Ms. Imaging realized the dizzying picture you have painted could be a new ride at the virtual reality fairgrounds. Let's start with your responsibility for what I like to call the "alpha file." When all is said and done, you are expected to have the most current and correct version of the presentation. Try to establish a corporate standard of how files are made ready for important presentations. To streamline the process, establish one main author of the presentation and have all input flow to that single person. As the author, this person will deliver the final file back to you for final editing, artwork design, archiving, printing, or delivering to the AV professionals.

Dear Ms. Imaging,
My boss gave me a business card, a coffee mug, and a bunch of photos to scan for his next big presentation. I don't know anything about scanning.
Signed, My World Is Not Flat

Dear Worldly,
Most flatbed scanners are designed to work optimally with art that is "flat" (hence the term "flatbed"). Ms. Imaging has even heard this question: "Can the crest embroidered on my golf cap be scanned and put in my presentation?". Answer: well...sure, but it won't look very good. Generally speaking, if the art can lie flat, then a flatbed scanner can give a good quality scan. Keep in mind there are varying degrees of "flat" which may affect the quality of your scan. The best scans by far are produced from completely flat, clean pieces of art. Good luck with the coffee mug. (Tip: Shoot a photo of it first.)