First, let me appologise if this is an old topic. I am new to the list
and did not see a way to search the archives.
Second, let me apologise if this sounds like a rant. I've just about
had it with certain scanner vendors. But a little background might help
to show what I am looking for.
I wish to do archival work - scanning old documents and pictures to
preserve them. So I need accuracy, not just pretty pictures. I'm sure
the immage enhansement software thirty years from now will do magic, but
only if it has raw data to work with. Enhansing interpolated data is
meaningless (that's how you put eyeballs in the face on mars).
So, all I am looking for is a flat-bed scanner with the following specs:
-) 1200 dpi optical resolution minimum. Both axis.
-) 30 bits per pixel minimum output to the computer. 36 bit color/12
bit greyscale preferred.
-) Software to actually scan at those resolutions.
First I bought an Epson which claimed to have these specs. But once I
plugged it in I found that it would only output 24 bit color to the
computer. The 36 bit data was only used internally to the scanner. So
after much fustration, I returned it.
Next, I investigated the HP 5370C. It claimed to do 42 bpp. But just
to be sure, I called HP tech support. Twice. Each time I was assured
that the scanner would actually send 36 bit pixels back to the
computer. So I bought one.
After much playing around with the setup I went to scan my first image
under Windows 95. And found that the included software would only
output 24 bit color/8 bit greyscale. ARRRRGGGHHHH!!!
So I researched the SANE site to see if it supportted the HP 5370C. The
answer was not encourageing. It needs the USB driver which is not in
the kernel distribution yet and the avision backend which needs to be
patched to accept an HP scanner. And noone seems to have made that work
yet.
I called HP tech support back and they seemed surprised that I could
even choose between greyscale and color. They kept asking how I knew
that I was getting 24 bpp. Aparently, the software is supposed to do
everything for you and you aren't supposed to be able to control it. So
I asked them to at least confirm that the scanner was able to output 36
bpp, even if the supplied software didn't support it. We could look for
third-party software once that was established. After several minutes
on hold I was told that they would have to get back to me. Sigh.
So, can anybody out there identify a scanner which can *REALLY* output
36 bpp? If I scan an immage which is 2"x2" at 1200 dpi will I actually
get a file over 8.6 MB in size? And I'll be able to achieve that with
xSANE or even the software which came with the scanner?
The store where I purchased the HP 5370C also sells the 6300C. This
appears to be better supported (supports SCL under the HP backend and I
have a SCSI I/F for it). But is it pulling the same marketing crap of
claiming 36 bpp while only delivering 24? I only mention HP because I
can get them locally. If there is a better scanner out there I wouldn't
mind getting it mail order.
Thanks very much for your help.
Bob Washburne
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Dec 07 2000 - 19:36:05 PST