User interface high-lighter function to provide directed input for image processing

This invention relates to document scanners and more particularly to a user interface for document scanners. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a user interface high-lighter function for a user interface for document scanners that allows a user to automatically select a portion of text, or several disjoint portions of text, within one or more regions of text in a preview scan of a document or documents for directed input for image processing. A user interface high-lighter function for scanner software that allows a user to automatically select a portion or several disjoint portions of text within a region of text in a preview scan of a document. When activated, the high-lighter function causes the normal mouse cursor to be replaced with a high-lighter icon having an active edge. Using the mouse, the active edge of the high-lighter icon is moved across a desired portion of text, and background pixels traversed are displayed in a different color. The traversed pixels are then used as input for an image processing routine. Text regions are generated from the traversed pixels. The beginning and ending of lines not high-lighted are cropped. A polygonal bounding box is then displayed around the selected text. An un-highlight mode can be activated to reduce the selected text. An optimized re-scan of the to selected text can now be performed.