Which scanning software do you use?

[jbjints]

I have tried quite a few scanning programs and I cannot seem to find one that allows you to scan and crop. I have had to use 2 programs so far, one to scan and the other to crop and save. I have done my research and cannot find anything that does both, not even the 99.99 Photoshop unless I am not using it right. I have an all in one Dell 1235cn and I have no idea which software it came with but i know its not installed.

I'd appreciate any help at all.

[DaClyde]

My primary software is still a bootleg copy of Instant Photo Scanner. Bootleg because there is no legal way to purchase it in the US (it was originally released in Germany, then dumped on some software distribution company in the UK, and subsequently abandoned). It is fairly old, so I have to run it in an XP Mode window on my machine. Provided it can detect the edges of your cards in contrast to the background (and you can adjust the sensitivity), it can detect and auto-crop the images for you, saving them all as individual images.

The closest thing I've found to a replacement for it that is still being supported by the author is a program called RansenScan, which is not free.

The website for it is here: http://www.ransen.com/RansenScan/Default.htm

It is good, but the lack of ability to manage the background detection prevents it from being exactly what I need. In the comparison to Instant Photo Scanner they have on their site, they clearly didn't try to make the other software work, and use a default scan as their justification that RansenScan is better. That said, if you make an effort to scan dark-bordered cards against a light background and light-bordered cards against a dark background (or leave the scanner lid open), RansenScan does a pretty good job of cropping properly. Your mileage may vary, and of course the nature of the card border has a lot to do with how well the software is able to detect the card edges.

All in all, I'd say it's worth the $30 if you're going to be doing a TON of scanning, mainly because it is still being supported and the developer will actually respond to questions.

VueScan is the next level up of sofware I've heard about that can do the auto detection and cropping, but it costs $40 witha "pro" version for $80. Never used it.

[pwaldo]

You want one that automatically scans and crops or do you want one that can scan and then allows you to crop it?

[jbjints]

You want one that automatically scans and crops or do you want one that can scan and then allows you to crop it?

I do not mind the cropping either way. I tried the scanner app on Android which crops for you and I just cannot get the proper lighting and I have tried everywhere.

[jbjints]

My primary software is still a bootleg copy of Instant Photo Scanner. Bootleg because there is no legal way to purchase it in the US (it was originally released in Germany, then dumped on some software distribution company in the UK, and subsequently abandoned). It is fairly old, so I have to run it in an XP Mode window on my machine. Provided it can detect the edges of your cards in contrast to the background (and you can adjust the sensitivity), it can detect and auto-crop the images for you, saving them all as individual images.

The closest thing I've found to a replacement for it that is still being supported by the author is a program called RansenScan, which is not free.

The website for it is here: http://www.ransen.com/RansenScan/Default.htm

It is good, but the lack of ability to manage the background detection prevents it from being exactly what I need. In the comparison to Instant Photo Scanner they have on their site, they clearly didn't try to make the other software work, and use a default scan as their justification that RansenScan is better. That said, if you make an effort to scan dark-bordered cards against a light background and light-bordered cards against a dark background (or leave the scanner lid open), RansenScan does a pretty good job of cropping properly. Your mileage may vary, and of course the nature of the card border has a lot to do with how well the software is able to detect the card edges.

All in all, I'd say it's worth the $30 if you're going to be doing a TON of scanning, mainly because it is still being supported and the developer will actually respond to questions.

VueScan is the next level up of sofware I've heard about that can do the auto detection and cropping, but it costs $40 witha "pro" version for $80. Never used it.

I may try the RansenScan. VueScan is okay but they only give you one year of updates so I am not sure I want to pay for a scanning program more than once. I am guessing they must charge some kind of upgrade fee. As far as the background goes I plan on trying construction paper as the background so all potential buyers can see the corners.

[pwaldo]

I do not mind the cropping either way. I tried the scanner app on Android which crops for you and I just cannot get the proper lighting and I have tried everywhere.

Have you tried GIMP? I use that to scan, edit, and crop. It is an older version so I don't know if newer versions would work with what you are running but I've used it for years now and it is FREE.

[DaClyde]

It is somewhat surprising that the more advanced image manipulation software packages haven't put any effort into the actual image acquisition part of the process.

[jbjints]

It is somewhat surprising that the more advanced image manipulation software packages haven't put any effort into the actual image acquisition part of the process.

I honestly thought Photoshop and I was even willing to pay the 99.99 for it but after trying the trial version it is a 2 step process using 2 different programs. I just want a program that allows me to scan, crop and save. I am going to give GIMP a shot and if that doesn't work I am going to try the RansenScan which actually looks pretty straightforward.

[DaClyde]

I honestly thought Photoshop and I was even willing to pay the 99.99 for it but after trying the trial version it is a 2 step process using 2 different programs. I just want a program that allows me to scan, crop and save. I am going to give GIMP a shot and if that doesn't work I am going to try the RansenScan which actually looks pretty straightforward.

GIMP is just an open-source alternative to Photoshop, so it likely won't trim any steps from your current process.