OT: Scanner recommendations

Matt · #1 05-30-2009, 10:05 PM

Just to complete my comments above, attached is a scan of the same card from my new L7780 (just hooked up moments ago). As with the two scans I posted above, in the one on the left, I'm not using any sharpening or modification to the scan. Just for fun, for the one on the right, I sharpened and increased the color saturation of the image.

DixieBaseball · #2 05-31-2009, 10:31 AM

Jeff - I have always salivated at not only your cards, but the scans you put out seem to be the best of the best in my humble opinion. I have been needing to get a scanner for some time and after looking, again at the few scans you just put up, I have to go with the 8800F.

Is there anything about the Cannon you do not like ?

Thanks,

JJ

Matt · #3 05-31-2009, 11:12 AM

Jeff's scans have been enhanced with software - as I showed above (post above yours, image on the right), using free Picasa software I made my CJ Cobb bright and super sharp as well. It may be that the default setting on that particular scanner is to adjust the image to that level, but that's a function of software and NOT the scanner.

Brian · #4 05-31-2009, 12:07 PM

great discussion for me as I am looking to buy my first scanner at home.
Do the Canon scanners (4400 and 8800) work well with Macs and is the sofware easy to use/set up? I've heard mixed things about the software. Are there major differences between these two Canon scanners? Thanks, Brian

calvindog · #5 05-31-2009, 12:44 PM

Jeremy, the Cannon 8800F is great, was pretty cheap ($179) I think and I have zero complaints. It's important to use a black background on your scans and to make sure no light gets through.

Matt, I don't use Picassa and looking at your enhanced Cobb I'm happy about that decision. I think it's pretty clear that whatever you did to your card is not done to mine. I do sharpen my scans sometimes (because when the card is blown up it can sometimes lose some sharpness) but not too much as it would make the scan appear grainy. As for any color enhancement, I don't do the actual scanning (my secretary has that lucky job) but considering how lazy he is I doubt much is done at all to the scans other than some sort of automatic slight enhancement. Here are some additional scans that can give you an idea as to what my scanner can do, in color and one in black and white:

As you can see in the red flips in my T227 Cobb and Goudey Gehringer, the color red does not pop out the way it does in Matt's altered Cobb scan.

Matt · #6 05-31-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvindog

Matt, I don't use Picassa and looking at your enhanced Cobb I'm happy about that decision. I think it's pretty clear that whatever you did to your card is not done to mine. I do sharpen my scans sometimes (because when the card is blown up it can sometimes lose some sharpness) but not too much as it would make the scan appear grainy. As for any color enhancement, I don't do the actual scanning (my secretary has that lucky job) but considering how lazy he is I doubt much is done at all to the scans other than some sort of automatic slight enhancement.

Sorry Jeff - I didn't explain well. I know you aren't using Picasa; what I was saying is that your scanning software automatically is doing some color adjusting for you. As an example, my HP software has an option to "automatically adjust color on scans." If, in your software, such a setting was defaulted to being on, your scan is being "altered" without you knowing about it and without your lazy secretary having to do anything.
Are you suggesting the CJ Joe Jax you posted above looks that bright in real life? I've never seen a CJ that looks like that; my guess is your software is automatically adjusting color for you without you knowing about it.
As an aside - using Picasa doesn't automatically make your scans like the silly altered one I threw up there - it just gives you the ability to do things like sharpen and change color saturation; in that example I went WAY overboard just to show what software can do. I've attached a less extreme example, also achieved using Picasa. Bottom line; I contend that if you and I both scanned the exact same card, using Picasa I could get the scan from my HP L7780 to look exactly the same as the one from your Canon.

calvindog · #7 05-31-2009, 01:35 PM

Matt, ok, I understand. I'm sure there is some automatic adjustment done to the scans before they get to me; I only occasionally sharpen the scans via flickr.

The Jackson I have above was really bright regardless. I sold it recently (and it's been sold again) to a prominent dealer/collector in our hobby and he told me it was the one of the nicest 1914 CJs he had ever seen. It really is a spectacular card.

Jim VB · #8 05-31-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvindog

As for any color enhancement, I don't do the actual scanning (my secretary has that lucky job) but considering how lazy he is I doubt much is done at all to the scans...

I've been biting my tongue for two days, refraining from making ANY jokes about you doing your own scanning and/or the Columbia secretary.

Then you go and do it yourself.

Hats off to an honest man!

calvindog · #9 05-31-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim VB

I've been biting my tongue for two days, refraining from making ANY jokes about you doing your own scanning and/or the Columbia secretary.

Jim, he's actually studying to take the law school boards in a week and I'm quietly snickering at the prospect of it all. But I'm also very concerned about losing the best scanner in the business....sigh.