"Gimp" Scan for scanners?

[RHPConsult]

In another thread I mentioned (complained is more like it!) the abandonment (to date) of my HP scanner (5300 cse) by the driver-writers of that corporate monolith. No Pantherized driver for the scanner.

Then, the other day, I heard one of the  denominated geniuses at the local Apple Store assert that a company called Esker, I believe, had a useful little app that would act as a geneeric driver for most every scanner . . . sort of a GIMP Print for scanners, I surmise.

Unfortunately, a search on the web for ScanView, while it brings up Eskler, does not identify anything that would seem to be what I was told.

Anyone out there in TeeEssland have any ideas/experience about/with such a creature?

[CyberPet]

VueScan might be with you're thinking of.

[Spartacus]

You might wanna try Silverfast. The HP 5300cse is not specifically mentioned, but the 5100c is, so perhaps it is compatible.

I haven't tried Silverfast myself, yet, but it was recommend by Heidelberg (my scanner manufacturer) after they discontinued the development of their scanning software.

[RHPConsult]

Thanks to both of  you.  

What service!

My scanner is the absolutely last (detectable) problem in getting the new iMac up and fully functional and the absence of any HP software for a  2+ year old scanner was a genuine and distressing disappointment.

You have made my day!

I'll post after some experience with each in case that's helpful to others.

Cheers.

DP

[Paddy]

Dick, for some reason or other I'd assumed that your scanner was part of an all-in-one, so I'd not replied when you talked about having problems with no driver support. If I'd been more on the ball, I'd have mentioned VueScan ages ago!!!

I've been using it for almost a year now, on my Microtek SCSI Scanmaker X6EL. I don't use the scanner enough to really warrant spending much on a new one (and if I bought a new one, I'd want a really good one!), so VueScan was the answer, given that there was never going to be OS X support from Microtek for this old beast! Anyway - works like a charm, and in fact is better than the software that came with the scanner originally, IMHO.

Anyway, the HP 5300c is on the list of supported scanners, so I would guess (hope) that this includes the cse too.

http://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/vuescan.htm#supported

The HP 5300 is not on the list of supported scanners at Silverfast.

[Xairbusdriver]

Interesting! I've just sent another e-mail with 7 attachments worth of '.ini' and '.log' files along with exactly what steps I took that created them, to the VueScan author. Was pleasantly surprised that he even responded to my first message. I have been able to get my scanner (Microtch X6 USB) to work in Classic after transferring some Extensions and Prefs. Couldn't make the installer work in Classic (it probably got confused about where the System Folder reall was) and had to do that back on the old OS 9 machine, then transfer them over.

VueScan looks like a much better program than what Microtech included, but it has crashed several times and usually only presents a 20,201x156 pixel 'image'! That converts to 67.3x0.52 inch image! Not bad for an 8.5x11 inch flatbed! But also not a very realistic scan!

Anyway, I am hoping he can find the problem(s) from the files, I also sent the CrashReporter file. We'll see...

In the meantime, I'll take a look at SilverFast. But I was thinking that was the name of a lite version of a backup utility from a HD maker.

So much for my memory (or lack of it...wonder if I can find a compatible chip for my brain...)

SilverFast is the same price as VueScan and says it supports my scanner. I'll report back how it goes. Thanks for the link spartacus

Dick, did you try it?

[RHPConsult]

I was a tad apprehensive about SilveFast after reading the docs on it and contrasting them with VueScan.

Can't say exactly what seemed troubling, but I decided to download VueScan and after 26.845 minutes of using it with my HP 5300a, I was S-O-L-D.

It is fast and easy for my aging brain to figger-out.

Again, "Fie on you HP". You oughta be ashamed of yourselves. If a sole entrepreneur in Phoenix can do it, how about your legion of techies paying attention to the paying customers. Say, I think I'll just write Carly Simon . . . and see what happens.

Tain't it amazin' what sole entrepreneurs can do!

Thanks again to everyone who pitched in to point me in the right direction here.

This makes my Panther install complete!

[Xairbusdriver]

Now this is the way programs are supposed to work! Download, expand, install, use! It even figured out where to put the plugin - the dialog said it was looking for PhotoShop, but it found Elements and knew it would work there but asked to be sure. And that's just the installer!  

The demo puts a "SilverFast" stamp in the middle of any image, as an inducement to buy. I had also downloaded a bunch of QT movies that demoed several features. Then I noticed that the individual tool panels have a QT button on them that probably will present the movie as a guide. Maybe better than a (usually) not to specific text description of what to do...

Funny thing about those movies. I double-clicked the first one but QT player didn't seem to do anything. Finally I used the "Open" command and it loaded fine. I was a little surprised that my brand new QT didn't seem to know what to do with a QT '.mov' file! I went ahead and set QT Player as the default program to handle all '.mov' files. Looked like I was using a Windoze OS!  

Back to SilverFast, it worked! Right in Elements. Didn't even have to tell it what scanner I was using. This may be related to the version I downloaded, I was asked for my OS, scanner maker, and model. Perhaps each version of SF is tailored to certain scanners. But one of the movies stated that you can select different models of scanners made by the same manufacturer.

Anyway, this thing looks great! It works! What more could you want?!

BTW, the voice on the movies had a strange accent, I couldn't tell for sure but it definitely was not from the Southern US!