VueScan, scanner software

[Ramchu]

 I found VueScan today and am wondering, has anyone tried it ?
I downloaded the software and gave it a try and it got my scanner working, as I have been unable
to locate a driver for it in linux.

It does not install anything in to your system, it just run's from the folder after extracting it from the tar
file.

It is compatible with Windows, Mac and linux and is suppose to support some 1850 different scanners.

The catch is, it does have a cost of: $39.95 for the standard edition or: $79.95 for the professional edition

More on VueScan can be found here : http://www.hamrick.com/

[YouCanToo]

I think it is great if Sane doesn't work with what you have already.  I used Vuescan a long time ago when I had Windows and a new (back them) Astra SCSI 14in scanner. When I completely dropped using Windows, it worked perfect under Linux using Sane.

[parnote]

Ramchu,

You don't mention the make or model of your scanner. That information would be useful. Sane (backend) and Xsane might actually do what you need, without you laying out cold cash.

[Ramchu]

Ramchu,

You don't mention the make or model of your scanner. That information would be useful. Sane (backend) and Xsane might actually do what you need, without you laying out cold cash.

parnote,
The scanner is part of the New Epson WF-3540 all-in-one that my wife and I just got for our Home Office.
I found a printer driver ( http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,111812.0.html)
but am still unable to get the scanner portion to function under PCLinux using Sane (backend) and X-sane.
I admit that I haven't started a thread requesting help on this issue as I have been trying to get it working
on my own.

I forgot to mention, There is a work around for this scanner, I can scan to a USB Stick and/or an SD Card
and then move it to my computer, seeing as how this All-in-One has that built in. I just can't scan directly
from PCLinux .

[Old-Polack]

Ramchu,

You don't mention the make or model of your scanner. That information would be useful. Sane (backend) and Xsane might actually do what you need, without you laying out cold cash.

parnote,
The scanner is part of the New Epson WF-3540 all-in-one that my wife and I just got for our Home Office.
I found a printer driver ( http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,111812.0.html)
but am still unable to get the scanner portion to function under PCLinux using Sane (backend) and X-sane.
I admit that I haven't started a thread requesting help on this issue as I have been trying to get it working
on my own.

I also have an Epson all in one, and there are no Linux scanner drivers for my model, only printer drivers, which seems to be the case with your unit also.



Don't hold your breath waiting for a Linux scanner driver from Epson... I've been waiting since 2007. The only way I've been able to use the scanner is through a Win2K VBox VM, using the Windows driver from the unit's included CD. I save the scans to a shared directory between the host OS and the VM, so I can use the scanned images in my PCLinuxOS host system.

[Ramchu]

I also have an Epson all in one, and there are no Linux scanner drivers for my model, only printer drivers, which seems to be the case with your unit also.

Don't hold your breath waiting for a Linux scanner driver from Epson... I've been waiting since 2007. The only way I've been able to use the scanner is through a Win2K VBox VM, using the Windows driver from the unit's included CD. I save the scans to a shared directory between the host OS and the VM, so I can use the scanned images in my PCLinuxOS host system.

Old Polack,
Yes, that is one of the things that I have figured out.
I did find and install the Full Feature driver that you mentioned and do have the printer portion working .

[Old-Polack]

I also have an Epson all in one, and there are no Linux scanner drivers for my model, only printer drivers, which seems to be the case with your unit also.

Don't hold your breath waiting for a Linux scanner driver from Epson... I've been waiting since 2007. The only way I've been able to use the scanner is through a Win2K VBox VM, using the Windows driver from the unit's included CD. I save the scans to a shared directory between the host OS and the VM, so I can use the scanned images in my PCLinuxOS host system.

Old Polack,
Yes, that is one of the things that I have figured out.
I did find and install the Full Feature driver that you mentioned and do have the printer portion working .

I downloaded the VueScan trial app, and it doesn't cover my particular Epson unit either. It does however cover my old Canon Canoscan FB 630U scanner, but not very well; scans are somewhat grainy.

Last time I checked, about two years ago, Sane also did poorly with the Canon unit, but just for laughs, I tied it again today. Surprise!... they finally got it right, and I now get beautiful, clear, full color photographic scans from it, using XSane. Much better quality than what VueScan produced. I now have two scanning options, without having to pay extra for the privilege.

[parnote]

Wow, Ramchu. That's one nice looking printer. I can see why you were drawn to it.

Maybe I can help just a little ...

First, I followed the link to your first post about the printer driver. It appears that it's just a print driver, from what I can tell (didn't install it since I don't have that printer).

Then, I went to the Support section of the Epson website. When I entered the MF-3540 model number, I got this message:




I then went looking for the manual/user guide for the MF-3540. Inside it, I found this:




So, while it appears that the scanner portion of your All-In-One isn't directly supported, it does appear that you can definitely scan to a memory card, and even possibly scan to the "cloud." The last 3 options don't, however, appear to be available to you from your PC without having driver support. If you scan to memory card, you could then move the memory card from the scanner to your PC and read the files that way. Not ideal, but definitely workable.

It looks like Epson has made the scanner TWAIN compliant, instead of SANE compliant, and Linux support for TWAIN devices is spotty at best. While SANE is a public domain, openly developed backend to communicate with imaging devices and is released under the GNU General Public License, TWAIN is a closed source "solution" backed by and lead by a conglomeration of those device manufacturers. Back in 2008 or 2009, there was talk of including Linux support in the TWAIN releases, and there was some progress made at that time. However, there is no mention since then of any significant Linux support. There have been some efforts to get TWAIN devices working under Linux (SANE support for TWAIN devices is spotty at best). There is the ScanTWAIN SourceForge project, but I don't know helpful this will be for your situation.

I hope some of this has been helpful.

parnote

[Ramchu]

parnote,
Thank You for looking into this for me, I had already figured out that I can scan to a USB Stick and/or a Memory card
(see Reply #4).

I may just Hook up my HP DeskJet f-4235 all in one again, and use only the scanner portion to scan directly to my computer,
 then send the scanned images to the New Epson printer. There is always more than one way to skin a horse. 

[parnote]

parnote,
Thank You for looking into this for me, I had already figured out that I can scan to a USB Stick and/or a Memory card
(see Reply #4).

I may just Hook up my HP DeskJet f-4235 all in one again, and use only the scanner portion to scan directly to my computer,
 then send the scanned images to the New Epson printer. There is always more than one way to skin a horse. 

Ramchu,

Using your HP to scan and your Epson to print sounds like a great idea! Indeed ... more than one way to "skin a horse" ... but not that I wanna see a bunch of naked horses running around. 

[Ramchu]

Ramchu,

Using your HP to scan and your Epson to print sounds like a great idea! Indeed ... more than one way to "skin a horse" ... but not that I wanna see a bunch of naked horses running around. 

      

[Ramchu]

Plugged in a usb wireless adapter and set up my Desktop Computer on my wireless
Network.
Opened XSane thinking I was going to have to use my old HP f4235 scanner to scan
a photo for my wife.
 Lo and Be Hold XSane found the scanner on our new Epson WF- 3540 All in one.
So I gave it a shot and it worked.

I now have ALL of the WF-3540 functions working in PCLinux

[Old-Polack]

Great news! There may yet be hope for my all-in-one too. 

[parnote]

No such luck on my "rescued-from-the-curb" Lexmark all-in-one (my brother was going to just pitch it ... I know the printer works ... he just couldn't afford the expensive ink cartidges ... nor can I). I forget the exact model atm (been a month or more since I messed with it), but it was from before the time that Lexmark decided to become friendly to Linux. PCLinuxOS can see the printer, but not the scanner.

But boy was I surprised when I hooked up my old Canon CanoScan FB-620 P parallel port scanner! Xsane/Sane actually supports it! Now, I have two scanners that are recognized under PCLinuxOS. Granted, due to the parallel port connection, it's rather slow ... but it DOES work.

My "other" scanner is a HP ScanJet 8250, which works very, very well (just so long as you don't try to use the ADF ... it locks up Xsane and the scanner if you try to use the ADF ... no Linux distro has gotten the ADF to work). Brand new, it cost ~$1000. I picked it up used for about $65 a few years back. Even today, you can pick it up Ebay for $55.