Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device used for the digital detection of transparent and opaque documents, comprising a CCD pick-up element, a document holder, an illuminating device and elements for covering the edges (masking unit) of the documents. The method comprises the following steps: a) placing the document on the document holder; b) determining the size of the document; c) automatically adjusting a zoom objective, assigned to the scanner, in relation to the document; d) automatically adjusting the masking to the document size; e) beginning the exposure process; f) automatically adjusting the illumination by determining the dynamic range of the image intensity; g) exposing the CCD chip in the camera (one shot); h) memorizing the digitized data in a PC memory; i) further processing the memorized data in the PC or in an external data processing installation.