What the heck am I doing wrong?

BigDaddyBowman

I bought a new scanner tonight.. an epson cx8400 because my old scanner scans were so fuzzy and distorted. I have tried several different things and the scans on my new scanner seem a little better but still fuzzy. I scan, then upload onto photobucket...then post on here...but the pics suck! Any tech guys that can help me out?

example

old scan:


new scanner


not much difference between the two..yet the dpi's on the new scanner are double the old one.

heres another scan with the new scanner..better, but not real sharp and crisp like most of teh scans I see on here....how do I fix?

Darin

Those are similiar to mine, I just posted on the mail call thread and I don't know how to make mine better, even tried a dark background like some suggested.

DavidPuddy

I have the same problem

Stone193

Wow Ryan - that's a mystery - I only know HP's.

This scan was just resized and scanned on a 5 yr old HP.



Do you choose the DPI setting?

mike

edit: also from same scanner recently rescanned:

DavidPuddy

I read an expanation someone wrote not to long ago and they said it has something to do with the depth. I think if you look close you'll see that the edge of the card cases are super sharp, but the card which is not against the scanner glass is fuzzy. Mine does raw cards really well, but not well with slapped cards. (Cannon F30)

elsnorto

You might want to check out this thread, started by yours truly, regarding fuzzy scans. I had the same problem with my original scanner, it did not scan slabs well at all, and I ended up picking up a new one accordingly. Not sure if the CCD addresses this or not as some have implied, but I doubt you are doing anything wrong BDB, you just need to upgrade your scanner.

Snorto~

ryaneversole

Yeah I had the same problem. I was using a 4 in 1 deal. Those scanners are junk, so I bought a Canon Canoscan 8800F - It's RAD and crystal clear.

DavidPuddy

<< <i>Also if you plan on scanning a lot of PSA slabs you should look for a scanner that has a CCD scanning element. Scanners with a normal scanning element don't handle depth well and that is what makes your scans look blurry. >>

"BrianWintersFan"

This is the comment I saw.

Stone193

I don't know guys - mine is a cheap 3 in 1 HP unit and I think the scans are pretty good.

As I said - what DPI are you guys using?

mike

JeremyDie1

I'am no expert. In fact I do not read directions. I just scan at the default of the setting. I know alot of board members have Epson Perfection 4490. I have one and think it does the job. I found mine a little over $100 bucks.

DavidPuddy

I looked at the specs of two of the scanners talked about in this thread.
Canon Canoscan 8800F = Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)
Epson CX8400 = Color (CIS) line sensor

I've tried everything. Changing the DPI, changing the background from white to black, I even tried to sharpen with Photoshop, but nothing seems to work with mine.
I'm not an expert, but this seems to be the problem. I'll be looking for a CCD scanner soon.

DavidPuddy

I don't mean to take over this thread, but I checked the Epson Perfection as well.
Epson Perfection 4490 = Scanner Element: Color Epson Matrix CCD™ line sensor

MooseDog

Big Daddy - pack that scanner up and take it back. Exchange for a CCD scanner...here are some models in the same price range (under $100)...any of them will work better than what you've got now for scanning slabs.

Epson V200 (it looks like all of the V series are CCD)

HP G3010

Microtek s450

Canon 4400F

Pittsburghese

Let me start by stating I am no genius when it comes to computers. We recently had out computer "cleaned" and the virus' removed. Now our computer will not accept our printer and says it does not recognize any printers. When it says "do you want to add a printer" it says it can't. Is there something easy I can do or do I have to get help? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Jeff

lawnmowerman

Try switching the scanning mode to professional, look under "adjustments" and change that to "high contrast". I have a Epsoin Perfection 4490 so yours should be similar

MooseDog

mowerman - the Epson Perfection series are mostly CCD. Big Daddy's CX line is not.

BigDaddyBowman

<< <i>Big Daddy - pack that scanner up and take it back. Exchange for a CCD scanner...here are some models in the same price range (under $100)...any of them will work better than what you've got now for scanning slabs.

Epson V200 (it looks like all of the V series are CCD)

HP G3010

Microtek s450

Canon 4400F >>




LOL That is what I did. I took it back and got the epson v200 with CCD. I don't have time tonight to hook it up and check it out...I will post results tommorow....I am keeping mu fingers crossed.

MooseDog

Pittsburghese - hope no one will consider this hijacking but try this for your printer...

Assumption is that you have Windows XP or earlier. If you have Vista all bets are off.

Go to Start -> Settings -> Printers and Faxes and remove any printers that are installed.

Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and remove ALL software relating to your printer - drivers, TWAIN, etc.

Reboot.

Some printers want you to install the software before plugging in the printer to the PC. Check your manual. Insert the driver CD for the printer and go ahead and install. Follow the directions. Then attach your printer and try to Add Printer like you did before. It should recognize it at that point.

lawnmowerman

<< <i>mowerman - the Epson Perfection series are mostly CCD. Big Daddy's CX line is not. >>



Uh...like words and stuff....me cut grass. What the heck is CCD?

iamthegreatcornholio

<< <i>

<< <i>mowerman - the Epson Perfection series are mostly CCD. Big Daddy's CX line is not. >>



Uh...like words and stuff....me cut grass. What the heck is CCD? >>



charge-coupled device

lawnmowerman

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>mowerman - the Epson Perfection series are mostly CCD. Big Daddy's CX line is not. >>



Uh...like words and stuff....me cut grass. What the heck is CCD? >>



charge-coupled device >>



A charge-coupled device (CCD) is an analog shift register, enabling analog signals (electric charges) to be transported through successive stages (capacitors) controlled by a clock signal. Charge coupled devices can be used as a form of memory or for delaying analog, sampled signals. Today, they are most widely used for serializing parallel analog signals, namely in arrays of photoelectric light sensors. This use is so predominant that in common parlance, "CCD" is (erroneously) used as a synonym for a type of image sensor even though, strictly speaking, "CCD" refers solely to the way that the image signal is read out from the chip.

The capacitor perspective is reflective of the history of the development of the CCD and also is indicative of its general mode of operation, with respect to readout, but attempts aimed at optimization of present CCD designs and structures tend towards consideration of the photodiode as the fundamental collecting unit of the CCD. Under the control of an external circuit, each capacitor can transfer its electric charge to one or other of its neighbors. CCDs are used in digital photography and astronomy (particularly in photometry, sensors, medical fluoroscopy, optical and UV spectroscopy and high speed techniques such as lucky imaging).


Uh... still like words and stuff.... all I know is my scanner scans my Emmitt cards very good

TNP777

I just fired up my new Epson V200 on Friday night and am so far liking it. It's much faster than the HP2600 4-in-1 that I was using, I'll say that much. I've been scanning at 600 dpi and the differences between the old and new are striking. I also ended up ordering a Canon 4400F from Amazon because Consumer Reports had it rated #2 behind a scanner that was twice the price. The V200 hasn't yet been rated, but the V100 that some people like a lot was something like #6 on the list. Not sure what changed from the 100 to the 200, though. I'll most likely take the Epson back to Best Buy as soon as the Canon arrives.