Scanner Advice - Can't Stop Blurry Scans!!!
 

I have a very nice, brand new, HP scanner, that is capable of taking scans of up to 2400 DPI. The problem is that whenever I put a graded card in the scanner, it focuses only on that which is touching the scanner. So the edges of my scans where the slab touches the scanner is in perfect focus while the label and card itself are fuzzy as can be -- example here. I know nothing is wrong with the scanner, because if I put a raw card down on it, I can see every last pixel clearly. Anyone know any tricks to get a clear scan of a PSA slabbed card? I've tried everything I can think of.....

Here's a scan of a coin that I found on a golf course this week....it has no problem being scanned!

http://i49.tinypic.com/30jk19j.jpg

try putting a dark cloth over the cards, if your scanner allows it. might work, at least worth a try. I think it might be going a bit blurry due to light reflection, whereas a flat card wouldnt get that. so by using a heavy dark cloth will hopefully block out any exterior light. (its been 10 years since i used a scanner so i am a little rusty. I just take digital pictures of whatever now.

FYI - 1998 liberty nickel, poor condition.. approx value .03 cents! lol

that would take alot of effort to put a cross threw a nickel

No good...it focused even more on the slab when I did black...you can even see the tiny "PSA" logo on the bottom right corner... label and card are still fuzzy. Not much better with white.

http://i45.tinypic.com/a0hzzn.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/2mxrgh4.jpg

ask archive...

Ok, I was searching "scan" when I should have been searching "scanner". I'm off to buy a CCD (charge coupled device) scanner on the advice of many past members. Enough is enough.

JP, try adjusting the DPI to 300 when scanning. You should have a button somewhere to do that.
Once scanned at that DPI adjust the color and brightness to the true look afterwards.

Tony Andrea

DPI has nothing to do with it. As you can see in my first post, I could crank the DPI up to 2400 and it makes no difference. It is how the scanner scans and interprets the depth of field that is the problem. That is why I need a CCD scanner. The J4680 is worthless for scanning slabs.

Understood, but when you do get the proper scanner what DPI you scan in is everything. Scanning with to much DPI is no good either.
Scan something in 2400 DPI like you mention and it's gonna come out looking like an X-Ray... Good luck with new scanner.

I bought a Canon scanner recently and had the same problem. Cards in PSA holders came out blurry and if I scanned anything in an SGC holder you couldn't even make out the card. I guess I made the mistake of buying a CID scanner instead of a CCD scanner. Unfortunately on Best Buy's website I didn't see where it told you which ones are which and I ended up with an $80 paperweight. :(

A great scanner out there that is popular with a lot of board members here is the Canoscan 4400f.

I also own this scanner and it does a great job on any slab. And it is very reasonably priced. I picked mine up for $99 a couple years ago.

I use the HP officejet 7310xi and it works great. After I take any scan I pull it up in the photo shop, or paint shop and crop it and adjust the contrast, focus and color to reflect the card. Has worked great for me. Have you tried to do this?????

Scanner...
 

I feel for ya brother! I had the worst pictures ever until my friend Richard finally convinced me to buy an Epson perfection V500 photo scanner. The cost was approx. $175.00 and its been a terrific investment. My labels were always blurry and my pictures just weren't clear. Since I purchased my new scanner my sales are way up. Here's a picture of a 69 Topps FB card thats psa graded:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...bor/img849.jpg

I didn't mess with anything when it arrived. I scanned a card and couldn't believe how nice it looked. If I were you I would get rid of your current scanner and buy the Epson perfection v500.

Take care,

Paul

CanoScan 8800F
 

I have the CanoScan 8800F and it works great.
The Scanner Element is a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)
It costs about $200.

http://www.usa.canon.com/app/images/...0F_586x225.jpg

Did you try scanning with the lid open? I had the same problem, but I found when I set my slab on the scanner I got a result like this...
<img src="http://home.roadrunner.com/~jevintage/57SPAHN.jpg">

I had the same problem. Bought a fancy new CIS scanner that wouldn't focus off the glass. Fiddleflupped with every setting for hours... Very frustrating. She was just about to call an attorney when I discovered the solution.

Returned the GIS then asked around at work and several people offered their "useless" old scanners from the garage, attic, cellar etc. One old CCD beast worked flawlessly. I think it's a HP scanjet 3200. (came with Windows 95 software, but she worked)

A comparison test for off-the-glass focus;

http://www.carlmcmillan.com/DOF/P5302073.JPG

CIS
http://www.carlmcmillan.com/DOF/CIS_...ess_A3_USB.jpg

CCD
http://www.carlmcmillan.com/DOF/CCD_...ised_2inch.jpg

Try cutting out a rectangular template out of white paper that the slab edges can sit on. The focus may then switch to the card.

You can try all the gimmicks you want to improve the pics on a CIS element, but the simple answer is to MAKE SURE whatever scanner you buy the scanning element is CCD! End of story!

Yeah! Canon 8800F is all it is advertised to be!!!
 

Much, much better...

JP, keep the lid open and run a bit of sharpening (in Photoshop unsharp mask with 110-1-4 settings) and you'll be even happier.

Like this??

Ian says to make sure you have a black background behind your cards when scanning:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/calvindog/4193145484/" title="T206 Blue Portrait (Red Hindu) by calvindog65, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/4193145484_1283b00066_o.jpg" width="900" height="761" alt="T206 Blue Portrait (Red Hindu)" /></a>

O.K., tried that too....better?

Jeff - can I send my cards over to you for scanning from now on?

That's exactly why I only scan during eclipses.

Sure. Once he finishes with his Facebook updates he's usually got about an hour left in the day to concentrate on scanning.

he does a great job.

That Chase scan is really sharp.

I know, right? I'm also surprised at the collateral benefits of an Ivy League education.

Scans
 

JP, your scan is excellent now. One issue is the file size. If the size is too big, sometimes it won't load or it takes forever to load. If it worked on this forum, that's a good indication you've got this problem licked.

Ron R