My Canon printer/scanner just went out on me, and out of spite for Canon not producing any current models that use the same ink cartridges (of which I have 8 cartridges I cannot use now) I purchased a different brand (a Brother). Unfortunately, the scanner software that comes with it is severely lacking in features, which has already made me regret my decision. The Canon cost only $59, and the ScanGear software that came with it was, alone, worth the price.
These are some of the features it had which are lacking in my new one:
1. A preview scan from which you could crop 12 stamps, and the scanner would then make 12 separate scans.
2. A "Levels" adjust for setting dark/mid/high tones on the preview scan, and which persisted for subsequent scans (as long as you did not make another preview scan or exit the program).
3. A "Descreen" function.
While there are many more I could list, if I could only get these 3 features back, I would be a happy camper. These days, it is almost impossible to find in-depth equipment and software reviews. When researching printers, almost no one even mentioned the scanner, and those that did didn't say anything beyond, "Scans were acceptable."
So, now, I'm looking into getting 3rd party scanning software, and, again, I am frustrated by the lack of information available, especially when it comes to those that may have Free, Home, and Pro versions, but don't tell you anything about the differences, other than "Advanced features," or "More advanced features."
So, can anyone please point me towards a scanning app that will give me, at least, the 3 features I mentioned above? I will be forever in your debt. Thank you.
Sorry Tedski. I still continue to use Irfanview to Capture and autonumber/name my scans, Photoshop Elements to resize and prepare my images, and the Stamp Bursting Images app to autoframe and parse the individual images. I have yet to find any software that does all of the above.
I have a Canon Pixma that uses the 240 cartridges. I agree that it's a great machine. I love the scanner features that allow me to put several covers on the glass and it gives me separate jpgs for each of them. That's how I create the cover images I use here on the board. I haven't tried the individual stamps, now that you mentioned it, I'll give it a shot.
I also value the multi sheet feeder on the scanner as I use the machine for business. I am pretty mobile so I try not to keep any paper. I scan everything to have all my records accessible on the laptop.
It sounds like your solution is to buy another Canon with the scanner features you desire. Sell the Brother printer and old Canon cartridges on Craigs List..
" I have yet to find any software that does all of the above."
Want all the above & more than you will need
Time to move up to Vuescan as 100m's of others who are serious about scanning
& start getting images that look like this.
It's not free but it will support 4000 different scanners
A little trial and error (visible on the scan screen as you try different settings) and no more dark, blurry images.
Scanned on a $50 Canon LIDE 210 @300DPI (PPI)
AND if you want to know the plain facts about scanners read the
Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant 31 Dec 2016 03:18:31pm
re: Need Desktop Scanner Application
Ted, not a substitute for a good scanner, but I am using the new googlescan App, for the occasional scan on the run, right from my iphone. Free, and worth the money!
rrr
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"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
Vuescan is *the* app. Not free (which is why I don't have it yet), but I almost got it once before when my old scanner software wasn't compatible with a new computer. And the next time I have a little extra dough for software, I'm going to pick it up.
If that's not the budget at the moment, I do know of a fair number of folks who do what Doug does and use Irfanview.
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"You gotta put down the duckie if you wanna play the saxophone. (Hoots the Owl -- Sesame Street)"
Using the preview mode and drawing selection boxes around stamps, is just great...if you are only scanning a few dozen items.
If you are scanning thousands of stamps...VERY BAD idea. Why? I'm so glad you asked that!
When a scanner does multiple scans, if first locates the first one and scans from top of scanner bed to bottom of defined area. Next it goes all the way back to the park position (called HOME) to reset its location, and prepare for the start of the next scan. So it is traveling continuously back-and-forth, causing the scanning to take many times longer than necessary.
Also guess what component is most likely to wear out and break on scanners? THE BELT!
I do thousands of scans. I first scan the entire page as a jpeg file. I then open in a graphic editor, draw a box the size of stamp and use that same size selection box for all stamps that are similar in size. this saves a bunch of time over drawing boxes over and over in preview mode. Just save the information in the selection box with a new name and it is very much faster. Plus no broken belts, especially since nobody sells replacement parts for scanners.
I would never buy computer hardware without knowing what features were offered in the software that controls the hardware.
"... I would never buy computer hardware without knowing what features were offered in the software that controls the hardware ..."
Bold words, 'Raider, but maybe not all that easy to live by.
My 'old' HP flatbed scanner had sticky settings, so if I was doing small covers, for example, I only had to 'draw the box' once, and I could scan cover after cover.
My 'new' HP all-in-one doesn't know from this; it only starts from its defaults.
The change from WinXP to Win7 might play a role in this 'change'.
Reading scanner specs to discover the features of their accompanying software? Yeah, I tried that, and gave up quickly.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
That is why I would never buy an all-in-one anything.
That is also why I refuse to buy a point-and-shoot camera. If you need to be artistically creative, you have to be able to override presets. whether it is a scanner or a camera.
Except for girls...an all-in-one girl would be great!
I've been using Drake's for years along with Microsoft Picture Manager and have been happy. You have to keep everything up to date or you start to have to correct minor errors.
If errors persist I reload Drake's and all is well again.
Hi
I have been using Scan gear for years great piece of software.can't you just load the the scanning software from your canon and use it with your new scanner?
Brian
Hi Ted
Have You tried both ways IE: install the scanner software then the printer or the printer and then the scanner software?
Some times it will work one way and not the other.
Brian
