Scanners&Software

[rogueish]

Any (attemps of) scanning is done on the Mrs' Epson 610 scanner which is wired to her Mac. The drivers came with the scanner and a software called "Hotsots". The scanner works (mostly) but the software dives me crazy!
(If you've heard this from me before, feel free to skip to the next paragraph)
I scan, then "save as" a ".jpeg". No problem, it saves. Unfortunately, it really saves it a ".jpg.hotshots.doc" Which means YES, it is an image file, but ONLY hotshots will reconize, and open it.

After a couple of year of fighting this(and humbily losing) I have decided on 2 things.
1> I will ask one last time if anyone, and I mean anyone can tell me why (for the love of god why!) this *&#$! program does this and how I can stop it in the future, or
2> NEW SOFTWARE!

What computer/scanner/software combo do you use? Any recommendations?
Please help!

 

[removed account4]

hi there

if you are on a mac, you might just click on the name twice- slowly - so you can just change the name to whatever you want to change it to ...

or if you don't like the driver you are using, check out vuescan.
it is pretty inexpensive, and when you buy it you'll get unlimited upgrades (for life!). i checked the site http://www.hamrick.com and the epson 610 is listed.

when i had a acer scanner i got vuescan, and used it quite a bit with my g4. it is a really nice program. its too bad the acer scanner didn't like my mac and the driver, cause after a while the scanner just decided to not scan, anything ... and i am back to my umax2100U and the really bad driver it came with .

 

[127]

If you're running MacOSX, then just use ImageCapture in Applications. If you're not using MacOSX, then you should consider an upgrade if your machine can handle it.

It's basic, but it comes with the OS, and is quick and simple.

If you need more functionality that that, then you're in the wrong place.

Ian

 

[inthedark]

Try saving as a .tif file, it is just as openable as .jpg and only slightly larger. Then using a different image editor,open it and re-save as a standard .jpeg

 

[rogueish]

Thanks for the replies!
I have tried saving the file as several differnt extensions, but it always throws that ".hotshots.doc" after. No other image software will reconize it. I have also tried resaving it and deleted the ".hotshots.doc" part so that it is just "photo1.jpg" (for example), but then NOTHING will open it, not even this cruel hotshots program.
I am concidering buying (please forgive my foal language) Photoshop Elements. Any other suggestions?
127 I'm not sure about your meaning "If you need more functionality that that, then you're in the wrong place."
jnanian I'm not sure the driver is the problem. Scanner seems to work fine, it's the image software that gives me grief. This vuescan you talk about, is it the drivers or is it photoeditting software? Or am I really confused and they are the same thing? :confused:
Perhaps I should just hit it repeatedly with my tripod, toss it out the window and forget the whole thing. It would save APUG from having to look at my attempts of photography...

 

[127]

127 I'm not sure about your meaning "If you need more functionality that that, then you're in the wrong place."

I just meant that ImageCapture provides a very limited interface. You press the button, and it scans the image - there's no provision for editing.

Suit's me fine, as it avoids the temptation to get dragged onto the digital tar pit. If you need image editing facilities, then you'd be better off asking in a digital forum...

Ian

 

[rogueish]

Thanks! That's pretty much what I'm looking for. Scan, Save, Post. Don't need or want ten thousand special effects.

 

[removed account4]

vuescan is just a driver -

 

[bmac]

For the price of vuescan, you might as well just buy another scanner. Hopefully one with better software. Around here, you can get them for $40-$50 for the low end canon, HP, and Umax ones.

 

[Deus]

I have a canon scanner and import directly into photoshop CS
it's alright

 

[Baxter Bradford]

I think that presentation of images in the Galleries is important. To do all of your hard darkroom work justice does require some investment of time, to primarily learn about how to scan and sharpen images so that they give an accurate representation of your print.

The digital interface is unavoidable for an internet web forum.

The investment need not apply financially beyond basic tools (hardware and software). Monitors also need calibrating to get to same benchmark as all other imaging users.

By switching to Vuescan at www.hamrick.com (full free working demo downloadable) I reckon that I doubled the performance of an Epson 1200 "perfection" scanner. At $99 for pro-version you get unlimited upgrades and the ability to fully colour manage, it works for just about any scanner worth its salt.
First - Multi-sampling where the scan does the number of passes you choose (I found 3 fine) it then averages readings which significantly reduces noise in the shadows and extracts better shadow detail, yielding an effective increase in DMax.
Secondly - ability to save the RAW files separately which can be reprocessed in Photoshop should the need arise, without the hassle of mounting and physically scanning the negs or prints again.
Finally, I was able to do ICC calibration with an IT8 target to enable far better colour accuracy with tranny films.
It is fully transferable should you change scanners in the future. I like the ability to save set-ups that you use often. These can be easily amended if necessary. It is not everyone's cup of tea, since you add numbers to boxes rather than use a more graphical interface. Suggest a Google search on Vuescan to get other testimonies.

The Help manual could do with improvement, but it is worth persisting with.

Personally although I tried hard with Silverfast, even reading all 380 pages in the manual(and still not winning the anorak!) I felt it lacked the control I was able to get with Vuescan. That said, there are many serious affictionados of Silverfast who get great results.

When neg scanning, Vuescan has a batch option where you can calibrate for filmbase+fog to get everything optimised for that film. I only ever scan one shot at a time.
Try misaligning the shot on purpose for the preview if the rebate not visible in the holder. This enables you to sample from the rebate to set a true black point. Ensure white point is not burning out.
Use 16 bit mono or 48 bit colour and resample to 8 or 24 RGB bit once you have made levels and curves adjustments. This prevents posterisation.
You will need to "capture sharpen" which is only a tiny amount. Use Photoshop or plug-ins available for this since you have more control. Other sharpening takes place prior to output. When resizing for the web, apply Unsharp mask in Photoshop. For a 480 pixel image I use amount 150, radius 0.8 and threshold 5. You may find that you need to amend this.

 

[oriecat]

I downloaded vuescan a week or two ago, but it keeps telling me I don't have a scanner hooked up. But I do.

 

[rogueish]

I finally surrended and gave up on using the the Mrs's scanner&software. She won't let me hit it with the tripod. I went and picked up a HP scanner, hooked it to my pc and am currently trouble free. The HP software (and scanner) work fine and have more options available than I need or currently use. Even saves as a .jpg ! (or tif or gif or...) with no added sugar errr I mean no added extensions. Am now happier. Guess I'll have to find something else to %*&# about. oh wait, I have a list...
I scan, adjust the contrast slightly so the image on (my) screen looks like the print, adjust the size for posting here (650x650 pixels or there about) and voila! more posts to hurt the eyes of my fellow Apugs!
Is it me, or does the first scan seem to be lower in contrast than the actual print?
Almost forgot. THANKS!! to all who replied and for the tips/suggestions.