If you're considering investing in a new Kodak scanner this video gives an interesting insight into relative speeds of Kodak's current models.
Take into account cost per unit, reslience to machine faults, which would you go for? One big fast one or two slower models?
Jeff Underwood
1Scan
Photo scanning service
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Brillianize Miser
We use Brillianize wipes to keep the two scanning glasses clean. They seem very expensive to me but they're worthwhile in improving the quality of photo scanning. The instructions are on the little packet but I was thrown when I was asked a simple question - why do you throw the wet one away and keep re-using the dry one?
So this last week, thanks to a sealable plastic bag, I've kept the wet part and used it a few times each day. Works a treat and you can call me miser any time.
So this last week, thanks to a sealable plastic bag, I've kept the wet part and used it a few times each day. Works a treat and you can call me miser any time.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
New Software Treasure Hunt
Just found out there's a new version of the Kodak software for our s1220. I've downloaded it and will install it shortly. Great news - this version seems to support Windows 7 which is installed on the most recent PC we've installed. Also a suggestion that the image order number will be improved so final numbering reflects what the client wants. Sounds vague I know but if you've been running an s1220 you'll know what I mean.
Small beef - I found this update by accident. We own many devices, not just scanners but Flip camera, iPods, all of which get upgraded by a clever system of automatic notifications usually when the device is connected. Even our Epsons, the workhorses of our photo scanning service, which run Silverfast, have a function which checks for software updates every month.
Come on Kodak, can't we have the same feature?
Jeff Underwood
www.1Scan.co.uk
Small beef - I found this update by accident. We own many devices, not just scanners but Flip camera, iPods, all of which get upgraded by a clever system of automatic notifications usually when the device is connected. Even our Epsons, the workhorses of our photo scanning service, which run Silverfast, have a function which checks for software updates every month.
Come on Kodak, can't we have the same feature?
Jeff Underwood
www.1Scan.co.uk
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Scanning Today
My apologies to the guy who rang earlier this afternoon and asked about throughput on our Kodak s1220. I have tried to email this to you but it bounces back. The answer to your question is that we've scanned 1421 standard sized photos today.
Small Problem, Solved
Normally we scan 99.9999% of our photos on our Kodak s1220 with any odd ones done on our Epson flatbed. Either those that are that bit too big for Kodak or ones that are too small, and normally its the tiddlers that are a problem.
So when I opened a box with a few hundred photos and about 20 sub passport sized prints dropped out I knew I had a problem. You see our Epson packed up and I'm waiting on a spare, and in the absence of the Epson those small pics would hold up the return of the complete batch. Not the best for customer service. Then I had a brainwave ....
I thought maybe, if I attach each small image to an upturned post-it note, it would be big enough to go through the s1220. Then I could open the scans in Photoshop and crop out the surplus yellow background. Amazing, it actually worked. One happy customer, one happy scanner.
Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
Photo scanning service
So when I opened a box with a few hundred photos and about 20 sub passport sized prints dropped out I knew I had a problem. You see our Epson packed up and I'm waiting on a spare, and in the absence of the Epson those small pics would hold up the return of the complete batch. Not the best for customer service. Then I had a brainwave ....
I thought maybe, if I attach each small image to an upturned post-it note, it would be big enough to go through the s1220. Then I could open the scans in Photoshop and crop out the surplus yellow background. Amazing, it actually worked. One happy customer, one happy scanner.
Jeff Underwood
1Scan.co.uk
Photo scanning service
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Large Image Scanning
One of the s1220 features I took a long time to appreciate is its ability to automatically crop images neatly from photos fed in at an angle. I've got into the habit of allowing some "wiggle room" when loading stacks of photos. For small to medium sized originals I've been very pleased with the results of scanning in this way, letting Kodaks software trim the images.
Today I was faced with a massive pile of monochrome images, just under A4 sized. They'd been stored in a large, deep box. They were glossy prints so they'd almost become fused into one lump, no way the hopper was going to be able to handle those. So I was concentrating on splitting the stack and making sure they fed into the scanner. After about an hour I had completed the first batch. Oh dear, very poor result.
I had set the feed guides quite wide and just dropped the photos in as they came to hand, with some "wiggle room". Unfortunately the scanner had done a relatively poor job with the edges of the images, giving a jagged edge rather than a smooth finish. So it was back to square one, this time setting the guides tight. Thankfully the scanner ran through the photos at a great rate, each one with a sharp edge. One happy scanner.
Today I was faced with a massive pile of monochrome images, just under A4 sized. They'd been stored in a large, deep box. They were glossy prints so they'd almost become fused into one lump, no way the hopper was going to be able to handle those. So I was concentrating on splitting the stack and making sure they fed into the scanner. After about an hour I had completed the first batch. Oh dear, very poor result.
I had set the feed guides quite wide and just dropped the photos in as they came to hand, with some "wiggle room". Unfortunately the scanner had done a relatively poor job with the edges of the images, giving a jagged edge rather than a smooth finish. So it was back to square one, this time setting the guides tight. Thankfully the scanner ran through the photos at a great rate, each one with a sharp edge. One happy scanner.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Photo Scanning Today - Update
One reader - I trust not the only reader - has asked me for an update on our scanning process with our Kodak s1220. Earlier I'd said the 1Scan photo scanning method was to scan face down, well no longer, as recommended by Kodak we scan image side up.
The current release of Kodak's software requires you to feed the photos in upside down. I often forget but it does ensure that images with areas of smooth blue sky are scanned properly. Previously we'd noticed some banding in large areas of colour, but no more.
Both of us now use "Laura's Method". We feed photos in the correct way round. Neither of us have anything against using the software rotate feature, we just like the time saved in not having to do so.
When we first had the scanner we experienced issue with tiny streaks on the image, but this too is no longer an issue. First we scan with the image cleaner setting on and I'm sure that helps. We regularly use the Brillianize anti static cleaning wipes along with an anti-static cloth. Experience has taught us the prime culprit in causing streaks is the non-drying adhesive sold here in the UK as Pritt Stick. One added benefit of carefully feeding images in by hand, and rotating them, is getting (literally) a feel for those with the damned bits of adhesive stuck on the back. Worse still, this often causes two images to stick together. So we can take pre-emptive steps to stop nasty bits of gunge getting into the scanner.
What hasn't changed is the very positive feedback from our clients. The speed of operation is one big "Wow" factor. We get people who start scanning using their simple flatbed only to find a deadline fast approaching and the pile seems undiminished. We can get through a couple of thousand images in a day, so we can help them hit their deadlines.
The biggest "Wow" comes from the colour restore function. If you haven't yet used Kodak's s1220 let me explain how easy this is to achieve. You just scan a batch of photos, then hit a single button marked for colour restore - no complex options, settings, parameters - just let Kodak work their magic for a few minutes. The results never fail to impress.
Surely there's something to moan about? Well, no - not really. The scanner is great and does everything we could have hoped for and a fair bit more. The challenges we face in building our photo scanning business are really marketing issues. How can we get more clients, how can we persuade British clients to trust Royal Mail to safely deliver their precious photos?
The current release of Kodak's software requires you to feed the photos in upside down. I often forget but it does ensure that images with areas of smooth blue sky are scanned properly. Previously we'd noticed some banding in large areas of colour, but no more.
Both of us now use "Laura's Method". We feed photos in the correct way round. Neither of us have anything against using the software rotate feature, we just like the time saved in not having to do so.
When we first had the scanner we experienced issue with tiny streaks on the image, but this too is no longer an issue. First we scan with the image cleaner setting on and I'm sure that helps. We regularly use the Brillianize anti static cleaning wipes along with an anti-static cloth. Experience has taught us the prime culprit in causing streaks is the non-drying adhesive sold here in the UK as Pritt Stick. One added benefit of carefully feeding images in by hand, and rotating them, is getting (literally) a feel for those with the damned bits of adhesive stuck on the back. Worse still, this often causes two images to stick together. So we can take pre-emptive steps to stop nasty bits of gunge getting into the scanner.
What hasn't changed is the very positive feedback from our clients. The speed of operation is one big "Wow" factor. We get people who start scanning using their simple flatbed only to find a deadline fast approaching and the pile seems undiminished. We can get through a couple of thousand images in a day, so we can help them hit their deadlines.
The biggest "Wow" comes from the colour restore function. If you haven't yet used Kodak's s1220 let me explain how easy this is to achieve. You just scan a batch of photos, then hit a single button marked for colour restore - no complex options, settings, parameters - just let Kodak work their magic for a few minutes. The results never fail to impress.
Surely there's something to moan about? Well, no - not really. The scanner is great and does everything we could have hoped for and a fair bit more. The challenges we face in building our photo scanning business are really marketing issues. How can we get more clients, how can we persuade British clients to trust Royal Mail to safely deliver their precious photos?
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