New Computer, scan quality gone.

Andy K · Feb 20, 2007

I have recently ditched PC in favour of Mac.

My problem is all my scans now show lines. Also the editing program I was using (Photoimpression 5, free with my Epson 2480) functions completely differently on the Mac. For example, when resizing scans to post on APUG I would start with a scan 3500 pixels on the long side. This I would then resize in 200 pixel steps with a 5% sharpen in each step, until I reached a scan size 800 pixels on the long side. This would give me a good quality final image for upload.

Now I'm using the Mac I get appalling scans with lines. The sharpen function now completely over sharpens the image. Things are so bad I have not scanned a new print for two months.

Any hints appreciated!

Thanks,

Andy.

jd callow · Feb 20, 2007

Andy post an offending scan so we can see it. Do you get the lines on the scans or after the sharpening? Are the lines on the horizontal or virtical axis (prior to any rotation) and are they always there?

livemoa · Feb 21, 2007

Andy, have you tried using the Epson software (assuming that the scanner came with Epson software) or checked for updates? There may be problems with the software you are using and the Mac OS.

Then again, I might be talking thru a hole in my head.

Andy K · Feb 21, 2007

John, here is a negative scan, scanned at 2400 dpi and resized to 800 on the long side, no sharpening or anything else done. Notice the extremely poor quality with horizontal lines in the sky and coloured bands in shadow areas. This was scanned in greyscale. And here is a scan made with the same scanner and software with my old PC.

Livemoa. I am using the Epson Smart Panel software to make scans, and the supplied PhotoImpression 5 software for editing.

Something else I have noticed, the Epson software will not run unless the Epson CD is in the drive.

livemoa · Feb 21, 2007

hmmmm

ok, try this Dead Link Removed a news group or whatever for epson scanners. there may be help there.

and by the way, nice Citroen, had a '63 ID 19 for a few years. loved, and hated, that car

L Gebhardt · Feb 21, 2007

Are the lines in the full size scan? Have you tried using a single step resize? Also have you tried using the iPhoto software just to see if it is the scanner or the software (only if it happens during the resize)? If it is in the full size scan my guess is either the scanner driver, connection to the computer, or just a coincidence with your move to the Mac.

Andy K · Feb 21, 2007

Here is the unresized, unsharpened file. As you can see there are still lines but not as obvious as in the resized file.

L Gebhardt · Feb 21, 2007

Looks like your resize operation is just amplifying the lines. Do you have the old PC available to do a test scan with? If so that would be my next step.

Andy K · Feb 21, 2007

L Gebhardt said:
Looks like your resize operation is just amplifying the lines. Do you have the old PC available to do a test scan with? If so that would be my next step.

Unfortunately I don't. It suffered one too many Blue Screen Of Death. It sits behind the sofa awaiting repair.

@ Livemoa, that was my Uncle's DS and then my Father's. The man in the picture is/was my favourite Uncle, sadly he passed away after a long illness two years ago (the kid is yours truly ).
That neg was shot by my Father around 1964/5, I enlarged it last year as a memory of my Uncle.

bdial · Feb 21, 2007

Most likely a driver problem. How much memory on the Mac, and PC?
If this is an Intel mac, the driver may not be compatible, check on Epson's site for updates.

Andy K · May 11, 2008

An update.

For a while I was using PS Elements 4.0 on the iMac running Tiger with no problems, after the upgrade to Leopard PSE 4.0 will no longer run. I have checked this out and there are no plans for Adobe upgrades to make it compatible. I will now have to buy Elements 6.0.

I am also now looking for a new scanner. I have been using a Canon LIDE 600F. But it really can't handle neg scanning (and the neg scanning attachment is bloody clumsy) and now I get black lines in neg scans (it is fine scanning prints, documents etc).

So it looks like I'll be going back to one of the higher end Epsons.

Helen B · May 11, 2008

Hi Andy,

I'm running PSE 4.0.1 on a MacBook with Leopard. I installed PSE after Leopard, and have had no problems with it.

Good luck,
Helen

Andy K · May 12, 2008

Hi Helen,

I guess you're one of the lucky ones. A great many people have had the same problem I have. When opened PSE 4.0 begins loading and then crashes when it gets to 'reading workspace modes'. I have tried everything, deleting the plist pref in Library, uninstalling and reinstalling, you name it, nothing works.

It seems to be very hit and miss for a few people it works fine, for many more it just won't run.

I am using an iMac 2Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3Gb RAM, ATI Radeon X1600 graphics, running Leopard 10.5.2 (upgraded from Tiger, maybe thats the difference?).

Even Adobe say PSE 4.0 with Leopard is 'Likely to encounter issues for which there is no resolution.' They have also stated they have no intention of providing upgrades for any of their apps older than CS3 for Leopard machines.

Kino · May 13, 2008

Andy, please investigate GIMP (Graphics Image Manipulation Program) http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/ before dumping a load of money on an upgrade.

Heck, even IF you do upgrade, check it out anyway -- it is free and a very high quality program.

I have used it, albeit under Intel/Windows, for years and it has improved vastly and is quite easy to use. Documentation is free.... what do you have to loose?

Frank

Lee L · May 15, 2008

I know you're now on a Mac, and this doesn't help a lot with the scanning end of things, but for resizing you might want to try imagemagick, which is a set of image manipulation facilities that work from the command line. It's available for Tiger and Leopard.

imagemagick.org

Here's the list of the 194 switches/options (including "resize" and sharpening options/settings) available under the "convert" command of imagemagick.
http://www.imagemagick.org/www/convert.html

Obviously has a learning curve, but you could set up something that would process a single image or a batch of images consistently. It would probably be much faster and more consistent than repeated resize commands in PSE or The GIMP.

Moving to a *nix base for OS-X was one of the best decisions Jobs ever made. Lots of cool tools and programs have been ported over.

Lee

New Computer, scan quality gone.

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