Vuescan Users

[Richard Black]

Since we share our work via computers, I would like some opinions, something this groups is not to shy about sharing, on Vuescan software. I'm using an Epson 3170 and am happy with the scans I'm getting. The Photoshop Elements 2 is a cause of great consternation for me and I am looking for some other software, suggestions?, but I would appreciate some advise.
Thanks

Richard

 

[lscaglio]

Try Picture Window Pro (http://www.dl-c.com/Temp/), it is intuitive, light...just great

Luca 😀

 

[bmattock]

Since we share our work via computers, I would like some opinions, something this groups is not to shy about sharing, on Vuescan software. I'm using an Epson 3170 and am happy with the scans I'm getting. The Photoshop Elements 2 is a cause of great consternation for me and I am looking for some other software, suggestions?, but I would appreciate some advise.
Thanks

Richard

Richard,

If you're happy with what you're getting, then I'd say stick with it! I use Vuescan Pro, and have for years, because I run Linux and haven't any choice. But I love Vuescan and would run it anyway. I run an Epson 2400 flatbed with transparency adapter for my 120 film, and a KM SD IV for my 35mm work - Vuescan is great with both.

I believe you can still download a 'free' version of Vuescan that puts watermarks on the images - but lets you play with the controls and view the output, etc. I could be wrong about that.

I'd say that Vuescan is less 'polished' in terms of user interface than most scanning software, but the learning curve, though steep, is short.

That's my take on it, anyway.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Oh, and if you don't like Elements, there is always The GIMP. Free. I use it and love it. Runs on Windows & Linux, not sure about Macs. Some hate it, never been sure why. It is not as powerful as the latest Elements, but I find it easy to use and works well. With a free plugin, it reads RAW files from digital cameras, too. Very nice.

Just my two cents, I'm sure others have their preferences as well.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Ukko Heikkinen]

Good evening Richard

Vuescan is worth its price.

Photoshop is, of course, THE graphics software, but some things are much easier to do using some others. Try for example Paint Shop Pro X - go to Corel.com and download their 30-day evaluation version. Then click for example Adjust - Brightness And Contrast - Histogram Adjustment - Midtones Compress-Expand. That feature alone is worth the price of the software with which you can do most of the other things, too.

Ukko Heikkinen

 

[djon]

Why don't you like Elements 2 ? What specifically?

I switched from E2 to PS7/illegal because I liked the traditional wet darkroom-style color / density controls, and I learned to like the "healing brush," especially for B&W (since Ice doesn't fix silver B&W).

PS CS2, which I use now, seems not much better than PS7 for my purposes, with the exception that it has very fine sharpening tools...it does want 1G.

If you're not experienced in the way color is corrected/adjusted in traditional color darkroom (ie dont easily think in terms of MCY / RGB sliders) but DO want simply to make traditonal photographic images, you may not need more than Elements 3.

PaintShop Pro 8 is credible, maybe like Photoshop 6, not quite Photoshop 7. I tried it and quit because it prevented communication with the majority, who are Photoshop/Elements users. Similar situation with GIMP and Picture Window Pro...good applications, not mainstream, not used by pros (it's nice to get advice from pros). The Adobe products share language and concepts that are not instantly understood by users of non-Adobe applications, and vice versa.

I use Vuescan Pro for two scanners (3200 and Nikon V), but Epson's application, as well as Nikon's and Minolta's (I've used all four, plus Silverfast SE), is fine for most purposes . Vuescan is the best, though a little confusing initially due to having many more possible adjustments/selections. I don't think the intro version of Silverfast has any value, and the advanced versions are wildly expensive Vs Vuescan, not to mention the cost of updates.

 

[kmack]

Oh, and if you don't like Elements, there is always The GIMP. Free. I use it and love it. Runs on Windows & Linux, not sure about Macs. Some hate it, never been sure why. It is not as powerful as the latest Elements, but I find it easy to use and works well. With a free plugin, it reads RAW files from digital cameras, too. Very nice.

Just my two cents, I'm sure others have their preferences as well.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Yes, GIMP does run on Mac's and very well too!

 

[nwcanonman]

I use Vuescan Pro with PS7, together with an Epson flatbed and Milnolta DualScan III film scanner. I find them a great combination.

 

[GeneW]

If you're happy with your scanning software, you don't need Vuescan. I purchased it because I found the software that came with my Minolta scanners always clipped the high and low ends of my B&W scans (it does a much better job with colour). I tried Vuescan and found it preserved a lot of detail in both the highs and lows that I couldn't get with Minolta. I've used it ever since, and have got used to it. The interface is a little primitive, but useable.

Gene

 

[pab]

I have a Nikon 8000. I prefer vuescan for negatives since it doesn't clip the shadows and has some useful film profiles. I use the Nikon software for transparencies.

 

[alliv]

I scan with Nikon Coolscan IV using Vuescan mostly. Vuescan is better than Nikon Scan for B/W. Color negatives are easier to scan with Nikon software, but vuescan gives more control. It has its quirks and weaknesses but overall it is good enough for my needs. I use Picasa 2 a lot - highly recommended. For postprocessing I use PS7

 

[fgianni]

Today I decided to give it a try, I downloaded the trial and scanned a (slightly underexposed) chrome that Silverfast failed miserably to scan.
The result: an almost perfect scan!

Of course I bought a license immediately after, I guess I won't be using Silverfast anymore.

 

[titrisol]

I believe you can download a trial version of Vuescan from hamrick.com
Give it a shot and see how it works out for you