Once a scanner has been selected for a particular application, the available options for tuning the servo should be considered. The primary scanner selection criteria are usually the mirror size and the scan angle, single axis or XY configuration, and wavelength(s) of interest. Tuning options are divided into vector and raster.

Vector tunings are intended for applications where continuous random access to all parts of the scan field is required. This category includes vector graphics (e.g. DXF), text, barcodes, line art, or any application where scanners move point to point at constant velocity while firing a laser or collecting data. It also includes drilling applications where a laser is fired only after the scanner has completed its move. Vector tunings are fairly universal and generally do not have to be tailored for any specific application. In XY scanners the performance of the 2 axis are carefully matched.

Raster tunings are used when processing image files such as bitmaps. In these cases the scanners are used to fill out an image line by line. The first distinction from vector is that the two axis have very different requirements. Typically one axis of scan will move at high speed in the direction of the raster lines, while the other axis is stepped, or moved at a constant low velocity. The slow axis must move slowly and smoothly, while the fast axis must move forward at constant high speed, then suddenly reverse or fly back to the beginning of the next line. This large, fast fly back movement typically causes vector tuned servo’s to saturate, and vector tuned devices will not provide the optimum in constant forward velocity.

Since raster scanning systems always repeat the same motion sequence, regardless of the image being produced, it is possible to gain performance by tuning for the specific application. For this reason Raster tunings are less universal. The best performance can be obtained by tuning each raster axis for its specific task.