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Marjolein Katsma
Guest
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 Posted:
Sun Nov 13, 2005 4:37 am Post subject:
Evaluating VueScan with HP 3300c? |
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I just downloaded and installed the latest driver from HP for my 3300c
flatbed scanner. I also downloaded and installed the latest eval version
of VueScan, hoping to be able to at least *evaluate* it with my
scanner... no joy.
I'm really just exploring for now, intending to buy a film/slide scanner
(most likely Nikon Coolscan V) and possibly use VueScan with that - but
for now all I have is the HP 3300c. And yes, I know that VueScan does
not support that particular model - at least not "officially".
What I was hoping was that I could somehow convince it that I actually
have a different (but similar) HP scanner so I could get an impression
of working with VueScan - even if I expected that to be limited. (And if
that would work, maybe getting round some of the limitations of the HP
software for the 3300c.)
Alas, on starting up the software immediately tells me it cannot see any
scanner, and suggests starting the scanner and restarting VS. So I tried
"starting" the scanner by starting HP's own scanner software and then
retrying VueScan, but it still doesn't see the scanner at all. So I
can't see much more than the menu and the tabs on its UI, not actually
"do" anything with it.
Would there be some sort of workaround to convince VueScan that I
actually do have a scanner attached to that computer, or should I give
up all hope until I actually have a film scanner?
Any insights appreciated.
--
Marjolein Katsma
*Help with HomeSite/Studio: http://hshelp.com/
*Travel blog: http://blog.iamback.com/
*Spam reporting addresses: http://banspam.javawoman.com/report3.html |
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Don
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:58 pm Post subject:
Re: Evaluating VueScan with HP 3300c? |
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On 12 Nov 2005 22:37:20 GMT, Marjolein Katsma <nobody@example.net>
wrote:
| Quote: | I'm really just exploring for now, intending to buy a film/slide scanner
(most likely Nikon Coolscan V) and possibly use VueScan with that
|
Nikon Scan is far superior (definitely more reliable!) and it will
produce everything you need. Furthermore, you have ICE which is
several orders of magnitude better than Vuescan's buggy "IR cleaning".
What specifically are you hoping Vuescan will do that NikonScan can't?
The reason I ask is that, usually, this ends up being some image
editing feature which is better done in a proper editor afterwards and
- strictly speaking - doesn't even belong in scanner software.
| Quote: | Alas, on starting up the software immediately tells me it cannot see any
scanner, and suggests starting the scanner and restarting VS. So I tried
"starting" the scanner by starting HP's own scanner software and then
retrying VueScan, but it still doesn't see the scanner at all.
|
The reasons is that Vuescan access to scanners is direct and it
bypasses all standard interfaces (like TWAIN). The only way to fool
Vuescan would be to have the scanner send a different identification
code. And even that would probably not work, because there are bound
to be differences in actual command codes which Vuescan sends
subsequently.
| Quote: | Would there be some sort of workaround to convince VueScan that I
actually do have a scanner attached to that computer, or should I give
up all hope until I actually have a film scanner?
|
You can "test" Vuescan up to a point by using the misleadingly
misnamed "scan from disk" function. This will take any graphics file
and pretend it's coming from the scanner.
In reality that "function" just applies various image editing. You can
(and should!) do all that in a proper image editor. But it can give
you a feel for the program so you can "enjoy" it's so-called "user
interface". As you can see I don't think very much of it! ;o)
BTW, if you do that, the source graphics you are using should be in
gamma 1.0.
Of course, that doesn't actually test the scanning portion which is
key. Vuescan is very buggy and unreliable and most of these bugs and
other problems manifest only when you attach a scanner.
It all really depends on your requirements. If you want a quick and
dirty scan for the web using highly compressed JPG then even Vuescan
will do. But if you want high quality scans and examine the image at
100% magnification (or care for reliable software) than Vuescan comes
way short.
On the other hand if you don't plan to do any editing afterwards and
just want "one size fits all" scanner software then Vuescan may do but
then the question is why waste money on a dedicated film scanner. If
your threshold is that low then you may just as well scan film on your
flatbed. Especially if you only have a set number of film you want to
scan (for example digitize your film collection) and will not be using
the scanner on a continuous basis.
Don. |
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Don
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:13 pm Post subject:
Re: Evaluating VueScan with HP 3300c? |
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Pedantic P.S.
On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 12:58:01 +0100, Don <phoney.email@yahoo.com>
wrote:
| Quote: | you a feel for the program so you can "enjoy" it's so-called "user
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That should be "its", of course. (fx: smacks hand with a ruler)
Ouch!
| Quote: | 100% magnification (or care for reliable software) than Vuescan comes
|
And here it should be "then". (fx: goes and stands in the corner)
Grumble, grumble...
NOTE to self: First thing to do in the morning (before anything else)
is apply coffee! ;o)
Don. |
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Marjolein Katsma
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Nov 14, 2005 3:20 am Post subject:
Re: Evaluating VueScan with HP 3300c? |
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Don (phoney.email@yahoo.com) wrote in
news:us9en1lh87nb2omehai7bmqrvg5jppdu9r@4ax.com:
| Quote: | On 12 Nov 2005 22:37:20 GMT, Marjolein Katsma <nobody@example.net
wrote:
I'm really just exploring for now, intending to buy a film/slide
scanner (most likely Nikon Coolscan V) and possibly use VueScan with
that
Nikon Scan is far superior (definitely more reliable!) and it will
produce everything you need. Furthermore, you have ICE which is
several orders of magnitude better than Vuescan's buggy "IR cleaning".
What specifically are you hoping Vuescan will do that NikonScan can't?
|
All theory for now - I've just been reading. I got the idea that in the
case of bad negatives VueScan might help by getting higher exposure in
one or more separate channels (pardon if I don't get the terminology
right) and that the Nikon couldn't do this by itself. I may have
understood incorrectly.
Anyway, I always like to have several options so if one approach doesn't
yield what I hope I could try another. Without actually having touched
the film scanner I can't be more specific than that, really.
| Quote: | The reason I ask is that, usually, this ends up being some image
editing feature which is better done in a proper editor afterwards and
- strictly speaking - doesn't even belong in scanner software.
|
I do understand that most scanner software settings are indeed image
editing - but is exposure?
| Quote: | Alas, on starting up the software immediately tells me it cannot see
any scanner, and suggests starting the scanner and restarting VS. So I
tried "starting" the scanner by starting HP's own scanner software and
then retrying VueScan, but it still doesn't see the scanner at all.
The reasons is that Vuescan access to scanners is direct and it
bypasses all standard interfaces (like TWAIN). The only way to fool
Vuescan would be to have the scanner send a different identification
code.
|
Doesn't seem possible ;-)
| Quote: | And even that would probably not work, because there are bound
to be differences in actual command codes which Vuescan sends
subsequently.
|
I thought the 3300c was a derivative of another scanner (2200?) so my
guess was that it might have the same or a not a very different set of
command codes. I was hoping I could try that out.
| Quote: | You can "test" Vuescan up to a point by using the misleadingly
misnamed "scan from disk" function. This will take any graphics file
and pretend it's coming from the scanner.
In reality that "function" just applies various image editing. You can
(and should!) do all that in a proper image editor. But it can give
you a feel for the program so you can "enjoy" it's so-called "user
interface".
|
Whether you like the user interface or not - a user interface it is. ;-)
I'll probably try that to see a little more of the user interface at
least.
Evaluating the user interface was another reason for wanting to try it;
though I admit I was secretly hoping I could actually use it (however
limited) with the 3300c because I'm not very happy with HP's driver: it
has a rather nice ranges of settings but it often tries to "straighten"
an image when I'd rather it would leave it a lone and let me do any
rotation (if needed at all!) in PSP - but there's no way to tell it
*not* to do it. Apart fom that, the scanner really is good enough for
what I bought it for - which is definitely not photographic work.
| Quote: | As you can see I don't think very much of it! ;o)
|
Hehe, I already knew that... I've been reading quite a bit here. Thanks
for your helpful reply in spite of what you think of the program. :)
| Quote: | It all really depends on your requirements. If you want a quick and
dirty scan for the web using highly compressed JPG then even Vuescan
will do.
|
Mostly I want to scan in my archive of travel photography - many rolls
of negative film. And yes, in general I want it to be good quality
scans, but a quick and dirty scan to make a preselection for instance
might come in handy (I think...). I want to put the best ones online,
may also try to sell some of my work.
Then there are some "pictures of text" where all I want is the actual
text - doing that directly with VueScan's OCR function sounds
attractive, if it works well enough. But I wonder what it (or any OCR
software for that matter) would be able to work with text with a
perspective distortion - I'll have to experiment.
I had a cheapo PrimeFilm scanner before (though it was a lot more
expensive then than it is now), but it broke. I used it just enough to
learn that I did want to digitize all my films but that I definitely
needed something of a much better quality and more reliable.
I'm just back from another trip with 45 rolls of film - and I'm
frustrated I cannot do what I planned with it yet. :-( But I'll need a
new computer as well - it'll be a while before I will actually be able
to start practicing with a new scanner. (sigh)
--
Marjolein Katsma
*Help with HomeSite/Studio: http://hshelp.com/
*Travel blog: http://blog.iamback.com/
*Spam reporting addresses: http://banspam.javawoman.com/report3.html |
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