General Forum

We have had a chance to look around the site, read posts, blogs over our 1st month. We notice that scanning is a very common topic. Goods and Bads. We ourselves have little use for scanning in large quantity, each of us just pass it on to our respective office staffs. 

With that in mind, if we plan on updating this collection, we better learn the ins and outs of scanning. We notice that quite a few members swear by Photoscape, we took a look, seems complicated for novice scanners. We tried a trial run with ScanSpeeder, that we liked, seemed much more easier to use. Problem is you have to buy this scanning software. Is Photoscape free? Are there other ones? To be honest, purchasing a good, easy-use scanning program is more important for us than battling thru a freebie. Any thoughts? RSM

I use the scanning software that came with my all-in-one and then use PhotoScape (freeware) to straighten, crop, and if the scan doesn't look like the card in hand, make those adjustments. Works very well for me. No office staff here to which to pass off scanning.

I scan images to my iPad and use the built in editing tools that Apple provides in the photo gallery.

I evaluated a number of scanning packages a few years ago, including Photscape and ScanSpeeder. I came to the same conclusion as you - ScanSpeeder was more intuitive to a casual user. I ended up spending $30 for the ScanSpeeder. Another deciding factor for me was ScanSpeeders ability to scan multiple cards (as many as will fit on the scanning bed) at the same time and automatically split into multiple images. I have a large bed scanner and am able to scan 18-20 standard size cards at a time. A standard size bed can scan 9 at a time.

I don't know how ScanSpeeder and Photoscape match up today, but I am mores than satisfied with ScanSpeeder.

I have a 2008 vintage Epson CX6000 scanner/printer. It doesn't print anymore but scans fine. Up until recently I used Epson Scan software but when I updated my Mac OS, this wouldn't work any more. Apple provides an app, Image Capture, that can't do all the Epson Scan did but does everything I need. I use Photoshop Elements to do any post adjusting of the image needed.

I scan with the software that came with the printer, and then crop and adjust them in photoscape.  It's usually not receommended here to use software that auto crops etc as far as I have seen.

I use the scanning software that came with my HP all-in-one - the advantage I find is that I can set the scan size to only scan the size of the card (any size or orientation) - I then use the cropping function in the database to refine the image when I upload 

Thank You, more info the better. We would like to make a decision soon, but far from scanning too much at 1st. jayonelli, really made a compelling pitch for ScanSpeeder. That was pretty much our take, easy to use was/is a huge selling point for us, $30 or whatever split 3 ways isn't that much more than a Happy Meal. lol. We each have different home scanners as well. We have access to a number of makes and models that ScanSpeeder documents well. We were surprised that there was minimal praise for Photoscape, yet many members use their scanner's software. Since we are working as a unit, we would like to settle on the same software. We were wondering how the members felt about ADF scanners. Any input on their use would be much appreciated. Thx again RSM

I have an old combo printer where the ink costs more than what the printer is worth so I scan cards on it to my phone and use the Google software installed with my Galaxy and then upload. I haven't had anyone say anything bad- some are always better than others for all of us when it comes to certain sets (the Panini Prizm Silver and Optic Holo come to mind).