What is the first step in the operation of a 2D scanner?

The first step in the operation of a 2D scanner is illuminating the document with light. This is a crucial initial process because the scanner needs to effectively capture the details of the document's surface. By shining light on the document, the scanner enables the sensor to detect variations in reflectivity, which are essential for creating a clear image of the document.

Once the document is illuminated, the scanning is performed, capturing the light reflected from the document and converting it into digital data for processing. However, without this initial step of illumination, the subsequent actions of scanning and converting the image to a digital format would not yield usable results. Proper illumination ensures that colors and contrasts are accurately registered by the scanner, which is vital for high-quality image reproduction.