Scanning help for the helpless - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Great Scott · 10-29-2005, 06:00 PM

Hey everyone, been awhile since I was here begging advice, but here I go again...

I own a very nice HP PSC 1600 all in one printer. Now the wife got it into her head to make a nice photo project of both of us as kids. We borrowed all sorts of pics from Mom and Dad, and it's up to me to scan, copy, and resize them. Thing is I am stuck on a really simple problem that eludes my small brain:

Let's say I take a regular 4x6 print, use a 4x6 sheet of photo paper and use the color copy function on the printer. The pictures come out marvelous. Just about indistinguishable from the originals. Great stuff.

No the problem comes when I scan the same pictures. I get all kinds of artifact and graininess and low quality prints. This is when I keep the same size picture or even reduce it. I have tried messing with every setting I can think of. I raised the scanning DPI, tried the digital sharpening tools, everything. I have to believe that the printer is capable of scanning at the same resolution that it copies at, but yet I can't seem to reproduce it.

Just hoping someone out there is reading this and realizes that it's just a silly error I am making and can tell me how to correct it. here's hoping....

Scott

Aro23 · 10-29-2005, 06:36 PM

ok it seems like you're ok on the scanning procedure so far but when it comes to printing that's where the problem arises right? well try going to "page set up" or "print.... then you'll see a "preference button" it'll show you options and select what kind of paper you're using, horizontal or vertical printing, and on the photo paper check if it's photo paper plus, etc. hope this helps

MooseMan3000 · 10-30-2005, 03:57 PM

Question for ya. When you get the grainy picture, is it on the computer, or in the printout afterwards? If the picture you're scanning comes out grainy when you view it on the computer, chances are you're saving it wrong.

First, you want to do what you did: raise the DPI all the way. Then make sure you have it on full color settings (not sure what settings are available with HP scanners, but there's usually some sort of option). Then, and this is the most important part, make sure it saves it in the correct format. It sounds like it's saving it as either a jpeg or a low quality bitmap (or possibly a gif). You want it to save it as the highest possible quality BMP you can set it at. That will give you the most accurate picture of what it really is. Sometimes scanners scan things as TIFF, as well, but I've had bad experiences with TIFF sometimes, so BMP is really the way to go.

If this doesn't help, um... update your drivers? I don't know, I've got nothing else.

10-29-2005, 06:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Great Scott Insane Location: In a huge maze just trying to find my cheese	Scanning help for the helpless Hey everyone, been awhile since I was here begging advice, but here I go again... I own a very nice HP PSC 1600 all in one printer. Now the wife got it into her head to make a nice photo project of both of us as kids. We borrowed all sorts of pics from Mom and Dad, and it's up to me to scan, copy, and resize them. Thing is I am stuck on a really simple problem that eludes my small brain: Let's say I take a regular 4x6 print, use a 4x6 sheet of photo paper and use the color copy function on the printer. The pictures come out marvelous. Just about indistinguishable from the originals. Great stuff. No the problem comes when I scan the same pictures. I get all kinds of artifact and graininess and low quality prints. This is when I keep the same size picture or even reduce it. I have tried messing with every setting I can think of. I raised the scanning DPI, tried the digital sharpening tools, everything. I have to believe that the printer is capable of scanning at the same resolution that it copies at, but yet I can't seem to reproduce it. Just hoping someone out there is reading this and realizes that it's just a silly error I am making and can tell me how to correct it. here's hoping.... Scott

10-29-2005, 06:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aro23 Crazy	ok it seems like you're ok on the scanning procedure so far but when it comes to printing that's where the problem arises right? well try going to "page set up" or "print.... then you'll see a "preference button" it'll show you options and select what kind of paper you're using, horizontal or vertical printing, and on the photo paper check if it's photo paper plus, etc. hope this helps

10-30-2005, 03:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
MooseMan3000 wouldn't mind being a ninja. Location: Maine, the Other White State.	Question for ya. When you get the grainy picture, is it on the computer, or in the printout afterwards? If the picture you're scanning comes out grainy when you view it on the computer, chances are you're saving it wrong. First, you want to do what you did: raise the DPI all the way. Then make sure you have it on full color settings (not sure what settings are available with HP scanners, but there's usually some sort of option). Then, and this is the most important part, make sure it saves it in the correct format. It sounds like it's saving it as either a jpeg or a low quality bitmap (or possibly a gif). You want it to save it as the highest possible quality BMP you can set it at. That will give you the most accurate picture of what it really is. Sometimes scanners scan things as TIFF, as well, but I've had bad experiences with TIFF sometimes, so BMP is really the way to go. If this doesn't help, um... update your drivers? I don't know, I've got nothing else.