An optical scanner is a device that converts images from reflective surfaces, such as photographs or documents, or from transparent media, such as film or slides, into digital data. The scanner captures the image pixel by pixel, producing a digital file that can be edited, stored, or reproduced on computers and digital devices.
Optical scanners are widely used in photography, graphic design, and archiving, allowing high-quality digitisation of physical images. The quality of the scanned image depends on the scanners optical resolution and colour depth, making them essential tools for accurate digital reproduction of original media.