An article in last month’s newsletter focused on using FamilySearch photo tools. This article goes into more detail about successfully using your Lexmark multi-function printer (MFP) in multiple languages and about photo cropping tools available to you.
Lexmark MFP in Languages
Many family history centers serve visitors and staff whose native language is not English. Lexmark provides language-specific videos without audio to help install, use, and troubleshoot the MFP. Lexmark also provides an online user manual in various languages. Find the correct video or the user manual by following these steps:
- Go to the Lexmark Product Video list page.
- Click the S. flag near the top of the page.
- Click the language of your choice.
- If multiple country choices are offered, click the country of your choice.
- Find the correct model from the product page, and click the photo or model number.
- Under the heading “Categories,” select a video to watch, or open the link to the user manual.
Cropping Photos
The Lexmark MFP does not crop photos. With any scanning system you use, you may want to crop areas around the photo or document. The first step is to scan your photo with the Lexmark MFP or with the scanner available at your family history center. Then save the photo to a file where you can find it on the computer. Photos saved to the computer can be cropped with a program called IrfanView. IrfanView is free software that can be downloaded on family history center computers. IrfanView supports many languages. If IrfanView is not on your family history center computer or if it is not in the language you desire to use, follow these steps:
- Go to irfanview.com/, and download and install the program.
- In the left column on the IrfanView website, click IrfanView languages.
- Choose the preferred language, and click Installer to download the Installer for that language.
- Using the instructions at the top of the download page, install the language.
- Start IrfanView, and then in the menu at the top of the screen, click Options, and then click Change Language. Choose your language.
- If you already have IrfanView on your computer but need a new language, begin at step 2.
Follow these steps to crop a photo using Irfanview:
- Open IrfanView.
- In the menu, click File, and then click Open.
- Go to the fonder on the computer where you saved the scanned photo.
- Click the thumbnail of the image or the file name, and then click Open.
- Place the cursor at the top left of the photo near the area you would like to crop.
- Left-click and hold the mouse button. Slide the mouse pointer diagonally down across the photo. A selection area appears. Everything outside the selection area will be removed.
- If you are not satisfied with the selection you made, simply left-click outside the photo, and the selection area will disappear. Repeat the selection step until you are happy with your crop selection.
- In the menu, click Edit, and then click Crop Selection. Everything outside the selection area disappears.
- Save the edited photo.
- Upload the photo to Family Tree.
The Lexmark MFP can be an amazing tool to help you engage center visitors in finding and documenting their ancestors. Hearts will turn as people connect with their ancestors’ photos and documents. Invite center visitors and your staff to try the remarkable Lexmark MFP features. The additional skill of photo and document cropping enhances the experience that visitors will have as they find their ancestors, take their names to the temple, and share their experiences with their families.
