VueScan is an inexpensive program that works with most scanners to produce high-quality scans that have excellent color fidelity. It takes advantage of the advanced hardware capabilities of most scanners on the market today, and helps you do batch scanning while at the same time producing color-balanced and cropped images.
Available for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS 8/9/X
I purchased the Professional version of Vuescan because Mac OSX no longer supported my Microtek software or Silverfast version. There is a problem with Vuescan and my Microtek i900; the software produces jagged edges that produce very soft prints. I contacted Ed about this and he sent me numerous corrections, none of which worked. When I told him (after about 5 or 6 trys) that I couldn't spend any more time on it and would like a refund he didn't respond. I emailed him again and 5 days later he finally responds by telling me he's irritated I wasted his time, deleted my last email, and won't give me a refund! I could not believe how childish and unprofessional that is. He wasted his time trying to fix HIS software. If you buy this, document your interactions with him if you have a problem. I took it up with my credit card company and am getting a refund but his attitude stinks and is the reason I am writing this review.
Weaknesses: Software gets confused when scanning text. It won't scan an entire document without saving it in little pieces. My goal was to scan postcards my mom sent to her family when she was a girl to preserve them.
Ed Hamrick is a jerk with his ego too far up his butt.
Bottom Line:
I have nothing good to say about this man. He is a complete jerk and I'm sorry I ever encountered him. The software worked for a few days and then the selection box started not scanning the text I would outline. It would save the text in bits and pieces, never getting the entire box. When I emailed Ed Hamrick of my issue requesting assistance, this is the email exchange that resulted (starts at the bottom):
I've refunded $79.95 to your card. This should appear on
your statement in the next few days.
Please don't waste any more of my time.
Regards,
Ed Hamrick
----- Original Message ----- From: "Lindsey
To: "Ed Hamrick"
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 5:19 AM
Subject: Re: VueScan Problem Report
Thank you for your stellar customer service. Send me a full refund. This is the email address I used.
Lindsey
On Mar 29, 2011, at 12:54 AM, Ed Hamrick wrote:
I suggest we just stop this - you're not going to send me a
problem report, there was nothing attached to your e-mail
(including a vuescan.log file) and I'm not going to read any
more of your e-mails.
Regards,
Ed Hamrick
----- Original Message ----- From: "Lindsey
To: "Ed Hamrick"
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 7:44 AM
Subject: Re: VueScan Problem Report
I'm not sure where the communication went awry but I did a detailed description of the problem and attached the vuescan.log
Look to the bottom of this chain and you'll see it. I sent it yesterday.
Lindsey
On Mar 28, 2011, at 9:28 AM, Ed Hamrick wrote:
I've probably read 100 to 200 e-mails since you sent your
previous e-mail. There's more info about what's needed in
a Problem Report at:
http://www.hamrick.com/sup.html
I never, ever rummage through old e-mails.
Regards,
Ed Hamrick
----- Original Message ----- From: "Lindsey Drake"
To: "Ed Hamrick"
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 7:02 AM
Subject: Re: VueScan Problem Report
Yes I would like help. I bought the professional version and would like the software to work. If you didn't get the attachment, that is one thing and I'm glad to send it again. However, I sent it once and if you didn't get it, say so rather than send a form response.
Lindsey
On Mar 28, 2011, at 8:13 AM, Ed Hamrick wrote:
If you don't want me to help, just say so.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Lindsey
To: "Ed Hamrick"
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 4:34 AM
Subject: Re: VueScan Problem Report
I did send it vuescan.log and a detailed problem report, according to the directions in my original email.
Lindsey
On Mar 27, 2011, at 11:05 PM, Ed Hamrick wrote:
Hi Lindsey,
Could you send me a complete Problem Report, including
a procedure for duplicating the problem and a vuescan.log
file generated by this procedure? This is described in more
detail at:
http://www.hamrick.com/sup.html
Thanks,
Ed Hamrick
----- Original Message ----- From: "Lindsey
To:
Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2011 7:07 PM
Subject: VueScan Problem Report
I am trying to use vuescan to scan from my document feeder on my HP 6110. It feeds the document through but the scan quality is poor and it freezes when processing the image.
Also, when I'm scanning text from the flatbed, postcards in this case, it won't select the entire area even if I adjust the dancing ants border manually, instead scanning portions of the document in multiple files. I had this same problem when I put the letter I was scanning using the document feeder on the flatbed.
Lindsey
Epson 1240u would no longer work with new Windows 64-bit computer. While looking for driver I found the Vuescan softwqare. After a trial run that looked good I purchased and now have my scanner back. I plan to also order at my office to get my scanner back in service.
Strengths: Zero for the Coolscan 9000. It also works on an older HP flatbed scanner that is no longer supported on Win7. For sanning printed media like letters it'll work. For scanning high resolution slides and negatives, it is terrible.
Weaknesses: Overexposed scans, washed out scans,
Bottom Line:
I bought this software to use my Coolscan 9000 on Windows 7. I've reported at least half a dozen problems and have gotten similar customer service responses as others. The problems are easily reproducible, yet he keeps asking for additional "procedures". Emails to me are like he's talking to a 6 year old.
Major issues:
Scan is previews, color corrected and exposure adjusted. Looks great. Saan and save and all scans are washed out and flat compared to the preview. I've taken scrren shots showing the scan and the preview on the same scrren with a procedure to create. No response.
Crop mask is never placed correctly on 6x6 slides. So simple a monkey could create it. "I need more info on the steps.". Simple, power up, start it and scan. Don't change anything. Never heard anything.
Using multi-sample (2 CCD samples at the same position, and average). Scans are uniformly overexposed by 2 stops. Again, no exotic changes needed. No response.
Strengths: -Inexpensive way to keep Nikon scanners going. Good value.
-Interface easy to figure out
-Updated regularly (If you buy the pro version for 79.99 upgrades are free for life, and you have a year to decide, in which case you just pay the difference for the upgrade from the standard version)
-Will run a large variety of scanners with one program
-Stable--doesn't hang up or crash
-Many people now using, you can find answers to most questions on forums
-Manual focusing better on Vuescan than Nikon Scan.
Weaknesses: -Slower scans than Nikon scan. Even the machine sounds slower. Even after the scan, more time is needed to process the image and create a file.
-Colors don't match preview, not as accurate as Nikon Scan. Portra, for example, looks great on Nikon Scan, but weird on Vuescan. Just can't get it right
-Lack of batch scanning
-Process to scan frames 2/3 on a strip of 120 is laborious due to having to guess at frame offset measurements, a constant process of trial-and-error that differs with each frame unless they're all exactly the same (which they never are).
-Not the best documentation.
Bottom Line:
Having only recently acquired a Nikon Coolscan 8000 ED scanner, I purchased this software due to frequent crashes of the Nikon Scan 4.0.2 software on my Mac using OS X 10.5.8. Having experimented many hours with both programs (as long as the Nikon Scan will run, that is), I prefer to use the Nikon for several reasons. For one thing, Vuescan does NOT support batch scanning--each frame must be done one-at-a-time, which is very time-consuming. Another reason is that Vuescan is noticeably slower at scanning than Nikon Scan, perhaps twice as long. While may tout multi-pass scanning as a great feature, I've discovered that scans lose sharpness due to the small tolerances of the scanning mechanisms. They just can't scan exactly the same place on each pass, and each pass multiplies the error. True with both the Nikon 8000 and Epson V500.
Vuescan has less control over many features, such as sharpening and levels. And in spite of the many films supposedly programmed in, Nikon Scan gets better colors from negative film. This was true of both my Nikon 8000 and Epson V500. And colors don't match the preview.
In general, Vuescan is good for the price, is a good backup for Nikon Scan if it won't work on your computer, and is regularly updated.
