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Scanner Specifications - best possible scan
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantPhe0nix
Registered: May 30, 2007
Posts: 77
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I usally purchase 3 or 4 titles every Tuesday and when i see an image for a title i just purchased that is not an actuall scan i feel obligated to scan my cover to contribute only to get negitive remarks. I scan at 300 dpi and use Photoshop to adjust brightness and contrast and then resize to 500 X 700 and add to DVD Profiler and submit to database. I am once again considering purchasing a new scanner so i don't waste my time on scans only to get NO votes complaining about grainy images and other attributes. When there is no cover for a dvd title in the database i am confused as to why people would rather have noting than one of my scans.

I would like for one of you that contributes regulary and who also rarely has thier scans rejected to tell me what specs i should look for in a new scanner. Right now i am looking at  the folllowing:
 
EPSON Perfection V500 Photo B11B189011 6400 dpi (max) 48bit Hi-Speed USB 2.0/1.1 Interface Flatbed Scanner - Retail
Model
Brand EPSON 
Series Perfection V500 Photo 
Model B11B189011 
Spec
Scanner Type Flatbed 
Image Sensor CCD 
Resolutions, Optical 6400 dpi (max) 
Resolutions, Hardware 6400 x 9600 dpi 
Resolutions, Interpolated 12,800 x 12,800 dpi 
Color Depth 48bit 
Max. Document Size 8.5" x 11.7" 
Interface Hi-Speed USB 2.0/1.1 
Operating Systems Supported USB 1.1: Windows Vista, XP Professional x64 Edition, XP Home/XP Professional, 2000 Professional
Hi-Speed USB 2.0: Windows Vista, XP Professional x64 Edition, XP Home/XP Professional, 2000 Professional 
Physical Spec
Dimensions 18.8" x 10.7" x 4.5" 
Weight 8.9 lbs. 
Spec
Windows Vista Certified for Windows Vista 


Looking to spend approx $200 on a scanner. Not sure what to look for in a scanners specs if any of you successfully contributors could tell me what is important or maybe a specific Manufacturer/Model # that i should buy. I could be of alot of help in this area as i buy many titles.

Thanks
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorbigdaddyhorse
Registered: June 21, 2007
Reputation: Great Rating
United States Posts: 2,621
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I think Epson makes some really good scanners, but not so much printers.

Since I wanted a good all-in-one, my research led me to the Canon-MP530. I had an Epson model just before this which was a much better scanner (I could scan anything, like action figures in the box for example. The scan light was bright enough to pick up a lot of depth. Scanning figures now doesn't work as the scan light is so much dimmer. I can't see the figures inside the box anymore, just shadows and darkness.)

I went with Canon cuz at the time printing custom covers was the #1 priority. The prints from the Epson looked like a$$, plus their ink is super-expensive and runs out super-fast (not to mention forcing you to refill when there's 25% left in the old tank. I did get my class-action lawsuit check for this practice, but it continues.) Next time I'll get a seperate scanner and printer and have the best of both worlds. The Canon does work fine for flat covers and whatever esle is flat, but I wouldn't recomend it as I know there's much better out there.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAstrakan
Registered: Feb 12, 2000
Registered: March 28, 2007
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I just bought my first Epson, a multifunction scanner/copier/laser printer and I'm loving the scanning capabilities. I don't know much about scanners so I can't give you any precise advice, but I've contributed about 20 scans since I bought it and none have been rejected.

The model I bought is DCP-7020.

KM
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 Last edited: by Astrakan
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantPhe0nix
Registered: May 30, 2007
Posts: 77
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Astrakan the DCP-7020 comes up as a Brother all in one with the following specs on scanning:

Optical: 600 x 2400 dpi
Enhanced: 9600 x 9600 dpi

Well that's much lower than the one i was looking at so maybe you can tell me at what dpi you scan at and how you touch up your scans and at what resolution.

thanks

p.s. i found this link that may prove usefull to other however it's dated back in 2001 but explains different areas of a scanners specs that would still prove usefull.

htp://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/features/2129917/choose-scanner
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 Last edited: by Phe0nix
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorBad Father
Registered: July 23, 2001
Registered: March 13, 2007
Posts: 4,596
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I use and like Epson as well. The V500 is a good scanner for the price. I use my old but trusted Epson Perfection 2400.

Your problem may not lie with your scanner though. When I first started contributing images years ago I was getting NO votes and declines left and right. I finally realized what the problem was. My monitor's colors weren't matching what other users were seeing in my contributions. I learned that what you see isn't always what you get. I'd never calibrated my monitor before then. Now I calibrate my digital flat panel every two weeks with the Spyder2 Pro from ColorVision whether it needs it or not. The calibration software creates an ICC profile that is loaded in Adobe Photoshop and my Epson scanner so that now my colors will actually match. The scanning software is an important tool as well. I normally scan as an uncompressed .tiff at 600dpi, 48-bit color, best Scanning Quality, medium Unsharp Mask Filter and Descreening Filter set to Fine Prints (175 lpi). The descreening filter helps eliminate moire patterning on most covers that I scan. I then edit the scans in Adobe Photoshop CS2 to adjust levels if needed, cropping and alignment, and cleaning dust and scratches. I then save the final image on an external hard drive for backup purposes. Without closing the image I then resize incrementally by 500 pixels (to avoid artifacting) to the closest I can get to 500x700 and save for web reducing the quality until its size is closest to the allowed 200k. I save that image in the DVD Profiler Image folder with the UPC file name assigned for that cover. I very rarely have cover contributions declined now.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantVega
Registered: May 19, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
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I think most any scanner in the $200 area would probably do what you want to do.  I purchased a "Canon CanoScan 8800F 2168B002 4800 x 9600dpi 48bit USB Interface Flatbed Scanner" from NewEgg a few months ago and have nothing but good things to say about it.  The scans come out clean and the color matches exactly.  Usually all I have to do is clean up some minor dust/scratches in Photoshop and then brighten the image a bit for the CRT users (otherwise they complain they're too dark   ) and that's about it.
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantPhe0nix
Registered: May 30, 2007
Posts: 77
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I just finished setting up the Epson V500  ( posted specs above ) and when i scan the scan comes out looks horrible but when i click the preview button it does a quick scan and that quick scan looks awsome but the actuall scans look bad. Guess i need to learn how to setup the scanner. I will take a screen shot and maybe someone can suggest what setting to use. I can set the dpi all the way up to 12800. My old scanner only went up to 300.

Compression settings
Configuration settings
dpi options
Image type settings

I noticed the image sized were 9 MB and looked terrible. Doesn't make sense.
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar Contributorcmaeditor
Registered: April 14, 2007
United States Posts: 433
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I stopped using Unsharp Mask and IMO my scans come out cleaner than they used to. Also I would not have the scanner compress the image. I would do that in the photo editing program.
Chris
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantVega
Registered: May 19, 2007
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Quoting Phe0nix:
Quote:
I just finished setting up the Epson V500  ( posted specs above ) and when i scan the scan comes out looks horrible but when i click the preview button it does a quick scan and that quick scan looks awsome but the actuall scans look bad. Guess i need to learn how to setup the scanner. I will take a screen shot and maybe someone can suggest what setting to use. I can set the dpi all the way up to 12800. My old scanner only went up to 300.

Compression settings
Configuration settings
dpi options
Image type settings

I noticed the image sized were 9 MB and looked terrible. Doesn't make sense.


Turn on "Descreening".  That will make the biggest improvement most likely.  I'm not sure about the "Document Type".. you have it set to "Reflective".  Perhaps one of the options may be better, but without knowing what they are I can't say.
"Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men" - Douglas Bader
"A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools." - Douglas Adams
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributormwkirchner
Everybody down!
Registered: March 13, 2007
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For what it is worth ... I do all my scanning with my Canon LiDE 35 that I paid $45.00 for brand new (after rebate).

I tried all different ways to scan and never got as good a look as I thought I could get. After getting many scans declined ... I contacted Skip for some advice.

Here is how I do my scans and have excellent luck doing them:

I scan the cover in at 800 DPI using the TIFF format. This makes for a BIG file but an excellent scan to work with. Once I cropped the cover (be it front or back) I end up with a file that is approximately 4000 pixels in width and 5700 pixels in height. I then (using PhotoShop 7.0 go to Image > Adjustments > Auto Levels and apply that. I then go to Filter > Noise > Dust & Scratches and when the window pops up I set radius to 1 pixel and Threshold to 255 pixels. I then click OK. My next step is to go to Image > Image Size and set the Width to 800 to 1000 pixels and click OK. Then I use the Magnifying Tool to bring the image back to a workable size. I then go to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen and apply that. I then go to File > Save As. When that window opens you will still see TIFF as the file. I open the Format window and go to JPEG and use that. I then save it as either front or back (depending on the cover I am doing).

I then open DVDP and once I get the DVD up I right click the cover image and go to Edit Cover Images. Once that opens I go to File > Clear and clear the existing image. I then go back to File > Open and get the file I just saved in PhotoShop. Once I have it imported into the program, I go to File > Adjust Compression. Once there I set the quality scale at the bottom to 100. I then look it over then click OK. Once the picture is done with that I clcik OK again and it installs it into the program. I do the same with both covers and then you are ready to upload to the online database.

I do some adjustments to colors etc when working on it in PhotoShop, but that is something you will have to play with.

I can honestly say that I went from getting about 8 out of 10 of my scans declined to 9 out of 10 getting accepted. I have one here and there that do not make it, but my overall experience has been positive.

I have Skip to thank for this.

Hope this helps you a little. I do not personnaly think the scanner has as much to do with the scan as the settings do. I used to scan at 600 DPI using JPEG and when I changed to 800 and TIFF it made all the difference.

Mark
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 Last edited: by mwkirchner
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantPhe0nix
Registered: May 30, 2007
Posts: 77
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We'll with those settings this is what i get. It's 3 MB though, how do you guy compress it. When you resize it in Photoshop to 500 x 700 is what you mean i guess. Anyways here is what i am getting now.
What do you thing about this scan?
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributortweeter
I aim to misbehave
Registered: June 12, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 2,665
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Quoting Phe0nix:
Quote:
I just finished setting up the Epson V500  ( posted specs above ) and when i scan the scan comes out looks horrible but when i click the preview button it does a quick scan and that quick scan looks awsome but the actuall scans look bad. Guess i need to learn how to setup the scanner. I will take a screen shot and maybe someone can suggest what setting to use. I can set the dpi all the way up to 12800. My old scanner only went up to 300.

Compression settings
Configuration settings
dpi options
Image type settings

I noticed the image sized were 9 MB and looked terrible. Doesn't make sense.

The first picture indicates JPG compression settings.  Are you using the Epson software to capture a JPG which you then open in some other software?  If you have to do it that way slide that bar to high quality.  Presumably there is a way from within whatever graphics app you use to open the scanner and have the results land in the app after scanning, avoiding any compression.

I'd at least try turning the Color Restoration and Dust Removal off to see what impact it has.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributortweeter
I aim to misbehave
Registered: June 12, 2007
Reputation: High Rating
United States Posts: 2,665
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Quoting Phe0nix:
Quote:
We'll with those settings this is what i get. It's 3 MB though, how do you guy compress it. When you resize it in Photoshop to 500 x 700 is what you mean i guess. Anyways here is what i am getting now.
What do you thing about this scan?

The image colors look good (reasonable - i don't have this DVD) but i don't see enough detail when zooming in.  I'd expect more detail from a 4500x3200 pixel picture.

Mine are about that size when i start but come straight from the scanner into Paint Shop Pro (poor man's Photoshop) never being compressed.  I save it as an uncompressed TIF file then work on that.

When i'm done fixing scratches and dust motes i reduce it in size in steps (like 8ballMax mentioned earlier) till i get the dimensions under 500x700.  Only then do i save as JPG.  I try different Quality settings till i get one under 200,000 bytes which is the max size stored on the DVDp server.  Then i copy it manually into the DVDp image folder because importing it thru DVDp will change the file size.

The important thing is not to let any compression happen till the end.  Compression means lost data.
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantE.Honda
Registered: January 25, 2008
United Kingdom Posts: 2
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Quoting Phe0nix:
Quote:
Anyways here is what i am getting now.
What do you thing about this scan?

As tweeter said, the colours are fine, it's just badly overexposed.  Are you doing an autolevel anywhere?  Either the scanner isn't calibrating itself properly or the 48bit to 24bit bit conversion isn't being handled properly.

It's not very sharp either, but that might just be the printed quality.  It wouldn't really show up at the DVDP resolutions either way.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantAstrakan
Registered: Feb 12, 2000
Registered: March 28, 2007
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Quoting Phe0nix:
Quote:
Astrakan the DCP-7020 comes up as a Brother all in one

Doh. Yeah, you're right. It's a Brother.

I scan at 300 DPI.

KM
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
Don't be discommodious
Registered: March 13, 2007
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Phoenix:

Not having the title to actually compare it to, I will offer a few qualified criticisms to you.

1) Lose the Sticker
2) Your black level looks to be a litt6le on the light side
3) I suspect that the red uniforms are a little bit closer to a "true" red than you have them.

Like I said those qualified as I can';t compare it to the real cover.

Skip
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