scan, crop, enlarge, print

[Charlie Klatzkin]

I am looking for scanner software that will allow me to scan, crop, and
print. Unfortunately, Vuescan is not compatible with my Epson 4180. In
addition to cropping, I would like to enlarge a cropped scan. My older HP
Scanjet IIcx hardware/software allowed this. When I bought the Epson 4180,
I thought I could do at least this.

 

[Wayne Fulton]

I am looking for scanner software that will allow me to scan, crop, and
print. Unfortunately, Vuescan is not compatible with my Epson 4180. In
addition to cropping, I would like to enlarge a cropped scan. My older HP
Scanjet IIcx hardware/software allowed this. When I bought the Epson 4180,
I thought I could do at least this.

What seems to be the problem with enlarging prints? You need to realize that
the Epson field named Resolution is the Printing Resolution (not the scanning
resolution - all scanners are like this). Then you have the field Target
Size which appears to be the key to enlargement. However, I am only looking
at the manual online, and it doesnt show what choices you have there at
Target Size. Normally we would expect choices of 100% size, 200% size, 400%
size there, some way to make the indicated printed dimensions be say double
size.

If you simply scan 4x6 inches at 300 dpi (Original size or 100% scale), you
get 1200x1800 pixels, and that image will print 4x6 inches.

If you can 4x6 inches at 300 dpi, but at 200% scale, then it silently scans
at 600 dpi, and creates 2400x3600 pixels, and this image is scaled to print
double size 8x12 inches at 300 dpi, as specified.

So what are your choices at Target Size?

 

[Charlie Klatzkin]

No. This is not the problem. I want to scan a 8 1/2 x 11 document, crop
it, then enlarge the cropped area, and print. Epson software does not allow
for scanning, croping and printing in one application. As I stated, my
older HP ScanJet software (DeskScan II) allowed me to preview, then crop,
then enlarge the cropped area, and then print.

 

[Wayne Fulton]

No. This is not the problem. I want to scan a 8 1/2 x 11 document, crop
it, then enlarge the cropped area, and print. Epson software does not allow
for scanning, croping and printing in one application. As I stated, my
older HP ScanJet software (DeskScan II) allowed me to preview, then crop,
then enlarge the cropped area, and then print.

I get it now, I think you are saying that the Epson scanning interface itself
does not support printing. Some scanners do there, and some dont.
In those cases that do, often it depends on if you have have started the
driver standalone or not (from the Start menu, as opposed to starting it from
a photo editor, in which case the image is only going back to the photo
editor).

Most do also have a copy utility that scans and prints, but often copy
utilities do not invoke the driver user interface to be able make changes
(like crop), so they do want to scan full page, simulating an office copier.

Looking at the Epson 4180 manual online, the Copy Button does show a dialog
box where you select printer, etc. It also has a Customize button in its
lower right corner. What does it do? Does that invoke the scanning
interface? Manual doesnt show this result. In best case, perhaps it only
adds another click or two.

 

[Charlie Klatzkin]

The copy facility for the Epson is a joke. I cannot select color depth or
resolution. It takes forever to copy and print. And you cannot crop. I
sent them an email about this, and they responded with the following (in
part):
If the settings in the copy utility aren't sufficient or if it is too slow,
you may want to try a third party utility to see how it does:

the free version of Photocopier www.nicocuppen.com.

Instead of fixing their application, they point me to another vendor. As a
copier, this other app is good. Still can't crop though.