Can We Talk About Photo Scanners?

Pogo · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:35 pm

I need to get a scanner to digitize old snapshot photos, and thought it'd be a swell topic to post right here in the big middle of everything because maybe it could cause some old hand with a great warbird photo collection to get all fired up, buy one, and post the results. Me, I need it for an unrelated reason, although I have a few old airshow photos that might be worth posting here. Anyway.......

Scanners: would one of y'all pretty please care to tap out a quick overview? How much do they cost, are they easy to use, should we expect smooth sailing or expect to face a little work, that sorta thing? Let's assume we're addressing the home user who isn't interested in making a career out of photo processing, but who is basically computer literate, can manage digital camera photos efficiently, and knows how to post photos on the net. In other words, a good fair intermediate audience?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:38 pm

Well, about a year ago I found a CanoScan for about $10 at a garage sale and have been using it ever since. If you can figure out how to interface it with your graphics program of choice, it's a fairly straightforward deal. I personally use GIMP (because it's free) and have shortcut keys so I can quickly scan stuff. I think I scanned about 30 old drawings this afternoon that I wanted to keep, but get rid of the magazines I bought for them.

Ryan

Pogo · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:50 pm

Thanks, Ryan. I have an old HP flatbed scanner I bought years ago but never used much because it was slow as glaciers and prone to more SNAFU's than successful ops ..... a Win95-era model, I believe. I wonder if I can expect faster and more reliable now?

GIMP, talk to me (us). I Googled it, looks like a more casual version of Photoshop kind of thing, is that right?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:55 pm

Pogo wrote:

GIMP, talk to me (us). I Googled it, looks like a more casual version of Photoshop kind of thing, is that right?

Will do so later - just had company arrive.

Ryan

Ztex · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:11 pm

I've got a HP G4050 flatbed that will do prints, slides and negatives. The slide tray holds up to 16 at a time and the negative holder will do many sizes. 35MM medium format and large format. I have used it with old Brownie types as well..

Some examples....

Color Print:

35mm negative:

2-1/2 x 4 1920's negative:

Color Slide:

Owen Miller · **Joined:** Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:28 pm **Posts:** 614

I have an Epsom that I am very pleased with.
Before I bought I read through the CNET reviews,
I looked at other sites, read reviews. The more
I read, the more confused I became.

The reason I decided on the Epsom is because
the Kodak and Fuji machines at WalMart, CVS,
Walgreens, etc that produce prints from prints
ALL use Epsom scanners and they do a fine job.

As I indicated, I'm pleased with it.

HTH,
Owen

Michel C-GNCJ · **Posted:** Fri Dec 25, 2009 11:36 pm

Have an HP ScanJet 4370 that works fine on Vista for me !

Can also scan negatives and slides with built-in device in cover.

ScanJet 4370

Iclo · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:23 am

As working myself in mass scanning technology, I would just give you a small advice: prefer a scanner who's use the TWAIN protocol. This protocol will allow you to use the scanner with the wide majority of software (commercial and freeware), to be not restricted to the program provided with the scanner (who's sometime junk in regard of the extact work you want to perform)

just my 0.2 cents

fritzthefox · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 12:23 pm

I like Epson, since I use a Mac. (They tend to be Mac friendly) I agree, you want a TWAIN compliant scanner. The biggest difference you will find among scanner quality nowadays is color fidelity. They all have superb resolution. (Look for OPTICAL resolution, not interpolated) The technology is mature enough that even the low-end models are pretty good. Just beware the no-name brands. Many of them will ship with software to process your photos, although Photoshop (or it's kid brother, Photoshop Elements) will do all the correcting you need just fine.

You'll probably want to make sure it can scan transparencies well.

Roger Cain · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:05 pm

Pogo, I asked the similar question although it was more on the negatives than doing my prints at another site, which I currently use an HP flat top scanner.

Check this out: http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index. ... 195.0.html

PS. I find this is a very slow loading website, so be patient, some nice step by step reults are shown.

Pogo · **Posted:** Sat Dec 26, 2009 6:26 pm

Thanks fellas .... the most interesting thing I've learned so far is that Ztex is willing to bomb interstates. Wonder if he takes requests? Also, still waiting for Ryan's company to leave. He may need to start dropping less subtle hints..... :axe:

rreis · **Joined:** Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:42 pm **Posts:** 441

RyanShort1 wrote:

Pogo wrote:

GIMP, talk to me (us). I Googled it, looks like a more casual version of Photoshop kind of thing, is that right?

Will do so later - just had company arrive.

Ryan

GIMP is an open-source program (which means free as in liberty to copy, modify and distribute, not free as in gratis although you can get it for free). It runs on Linux, Mac and Windows. And it is very good for image manipulation although if you have previous experience with Photoshop may find some part of the interface less intuitive. Anyway, I use is daily and find it a great program. Recommend you to try it.

Pogo · **Posted:** Sun Dec 27, 2009 6:13 pm

rreis wrote:

(which means free as in liberty to copy, modify and distribute, not free as in gratis although you can get it for free)

Thanks. But could you translate the above into English? Or if it's already in English, then maybe something a dumb ol' Texan can understand?

rreis · **Joined:** Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:42 pm **Posts:** 441

Pogo wrote:

rreis wrote:

(which means free as in liberty to copy, modify and distribute, not free as in gratis although you can get it for free)

Thanks. But could you translate the above into English? Or if it's already in English, then maybe something a dumb ol' Texan can understand?

Simple pogo. Generally when you think free, you think gratis, meaning you don't pay a thing for it. But if it is only gratis it will still have a licence attached which means you are not authorized to change the program, to redistribute it or re-sell it. That is called freeware.

In "open source" free has the meaning of liberty. Meaning that you get the program but you can also get, if you want to, the source code. That you can change the program to better suit your needs, if you want you can give it to yours friends or you can put it in a CD and sell it. It's just a different way of working things out. The only string attached is if you change it you should make those changes available to everyone else because the initial program was also made available to you.

So, generally "open source" programs can be obtained at zero cost but they are not the same thing has freeware.

Putting it another way, you buy a car. If it is a proprietary software the hood would be welded down, you could not hotrod your car or do any changes without aprior authorization from the car maker. In the open source world the hood is open and it's fully yours.

If I failed to explain please just say so and I'll try to do it in another fashion.

(and, by the way, this forum is running on open source software)

Pogo · **Posted:** Sun Dec 27, 2009 7:45 pm

Thanks for that, makes sense now. Does 'open source' automatically mean free-of-charge? I feel like it's a dumbass Q, but my PhD needs new batteries.....

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