Scanner Advice - Can't Stop Blurry Scans!!!

I use the HP officejet 7310xi and it works great. After I take any scan I pull it up in the photo shop, or paint shop and crop it and adjust the contrast, focus and color to reflect the card. Has worked great for me. Have you tried to do this?????

[prestigecollectibles]

I have the CanoScan 8800F and it works great.
The Scanner Element is a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)
It costs about $200.

[effe]

Did you try scanning with the lid open? I had the same problem, but I found when I set my slab on the scanner I got a result like this...

[Ladder7]

I had the same problem. Bought a fancy new CIS scanner that wouldn't focus off the glass. Fiddleflupped with every setting for hours... Very frustrating. She was just about to call an attorney when I discovered the solution.

Returned the GIS then asked around at work and several people offered their "useless" old scanners from the garage, attic, cellar etc. One old CCD beast worked flawlessly. I think it's a HP scanjet 3200. (came with Windows 95 software, but she worked)

A comparison test for off-the-glass focus;



CIS


CCD

[egbeachley]

Try cutting out a rectangular template out of white paper that the slab edges can sit on. The focus may then switch to the card.

[GoldenAge50s]

You can try all the gimmicks you want to improve the pics on a CIS element, but the simple answer is to MAKE SURE whatever scanner you buy the scanning element is CCD! End of story!

[JP]

Much, much better...

[Griffins]

JP, keep the lid open and run a bit of sharpening (in Photoshop unsharp mask with 110-1-4 settings) and you'll be even happier.