Message-Id: <199702100819.CAA27155@library.wustl.edu> Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 12:42:44 EST From: Helen Page <mailto:hpage@NEWVENUS.SLV.VIC.GOV.AU> Subject: Umax Powerlook 2000 To: mailto:IMAGELIB@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
Has anyone had the following problem with the Umax Powerlook 2000sWe have two of these scanners and have been testing them for some months now with a recurring problem that the dealer/distributor here in Melbourne has not helped us resolve at all. Occasionally images scanned have a washed out look - the information is just not there. We scan into Photoshop and the only consistent piece of information that we can ascertain that indicates it is a problem with the scanned file and not the original is that in the bottom left corner of the Photoshop screen the right hand figure of the "layers" file size information is always lower than the left, whereas a good image gives both sizes the same.
We've swapped scanners between computer systems, we've had the software re-installed. We're using Magiscan v 2.4.1. We have 64MB of RAM on a Gateway G6-200 with Vivitron 17 monitor. Its not the monitor as we save the files and reopen on other systems and the image is just as bad. One scanner is worse than the other, invariably on this scanner the problem starts after an hour's work. The other scanner is not so consistent in its timing, but does exhibit the problm. We are mostly using multiple scan with reflective materials, but we have had the problem in single scan, although no record of it in batch scan. We use autoadjust on when scanning. Once we start having a problem with a particular image it seems to persist - but there is nothing about the images that we can perceive that would make them susceptible, they're all different. We can place the image at different locations on the scanner bed, physically rotate it, switch the computer and scanner off for half an hour and still the problem occurs, but if we take the image to the other scanner (in relation to which ever one is acting up), the image scans OK, or if we try scanning as the first job the next day, it scans OK. So to me this seems like a scanner rather than image problem.
I did think I had pinpointed the problem when I discoverd that the worst scanner had Firmware version 1.3 and the other version 1.7, when the Umax web site was advising the firmware version for the Powerlook 2000 is 1.6. We've had the firmware upgraded (now to 1.8) but still the problem occurs.
Does anyone have an e-mail contact address for Umax - they're very shy of giving this on their Web site?
Any suggestions?
Regards Helen Page
We've
The systems are in very well airconditioned environments with constant environments. We thought we had the problem identified at one point as the workst ************************************************************ Helen Page, Multimedia Co-ordinator State Library of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000 AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 3 9669 9991 Fax: +61 3 9669 9885 Email: mailto:hpage@slv.vic.gov.au WWW: http://www.slv.vic.gov.au ************************************************************