VueScan
9.7.23
VueScan
9.7.23Scanner software with advanced features.
Overview
VueScan is a scanning program that works with most high-quality flatbed and film scanners to produce scans that have excellent color fidelity and color balance. VueScan is easy to use, and has advanced features for restoring faded colors, batch scanning and other features used by professional photographers.
Why should you use VueScan?
- Easy to use - just run VueScan, press Preview, adjust the cropping, then press Scan.
- Accurate colors - uses ICC profiles and IT8 calibration.
- Powerful - dozens of advanced options.
- Faster workflow - can edit one image while the next image is being scanned (most scanner software won't let you work with one image while another is being scanned).
- Simple to install - installing VueScan changes nothing on your system, installs nothing in your operating system and all other scanner software will continue to function.
The list of supported scanners is available here.
The list of supported digital camera RAW files is available here.
What's new in VueScan
Version 9.7.23:
Note: Currently available for $39.95
Fixed:
- Problem with Canon LiDE 120
- Problem with Fujitsu fi-7260 and fi-7280
Added:
- Support for Fujitsu fi-800R
- Support for Canon MF260 series: MF264dw, MF267dw, MF269dw
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VueScan Screenshots
$49.95
App requirements:
- Intel 64
- Mac OS X 10.7.0 or later
Category:
Downloaded & Installed 1,381,597 times
652 VueScan Reviews
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Most helpful
I can tell you that VueScan works with the latest version of macOS, because it does on my Mac.
Sounds like the HP driver was interfering. That is a common problem (that is not VueScan's fault), so it is a reasonable suggestion to remove it. You can't have two drivers fighting over the scanner.
Hamrick can be a difficult person, but I can find no error in what he was saying. For me, VueScan has been 5-star software for the at least 15 years I've been using it.
THE SCANNER SOFTWARE ON MY PRINTER WAS GONE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I EVEN BOUGHT VUESCAN SCANNER SOFTWARE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO AND IT WORKED ON MY OLD COMPUTER JUST FINE. THE HAMRICK SITE SAYS THAT MY PRINTER AND MY CURRENT SOFTWARE ARE COMPATIBLE AND THEY ARE NOT. IN CHECKING ON VARIOUS SITE FOR VUESCAN AND HAMRICK REVIEWS, THEY GET MANY, MANY BAD REVIEWS FOR THE SAME REASON. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THEY EMAILED ME, AND OFFERED THE LATEST UPDATE TO MY SOFTWARE, IT WAS JUST A COME ON AND A FRAUD - TRYING TO GET THE $50 FOR THE UPGRADE BECAUSE THE "FREE" VERSION NEVER WORKED EITHER. I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY REVIEWS WITH THIS CLAIM. ALL ANYONE HAS TO DO IT SEARCH GOOGLE FOR VUESCAN OR HAMRICK REVIEWS. THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE GUY WHO RUNS IT IS STILL GETTING AWAY WITH IT. I HAVE REPORTED THEM TO THE DEPT OF JUSTICE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT SITES. HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL BE TAKEN DOWN.
If your HP scanner was old, what the HP rep was probably saying is that the *HP* software for that scanner probably doesn't work past 10.8. We see that a lot more often...scanner makers not updating their software to keep up with macOS. That's why I started using VueScan, when Nikon stopped updating their software to keep up with Mac OS X. But VueScan is ALWAYS updated for the latest Mac system. It keeps our old scanners alive on the latest system, that's why you see so many positive reviews here.
What is the model of your HP scanner? Maybe we can clear up whether the HP software still works past 10.8.
https://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/hp_laserjet_m1522n.html#technical-information
and why didnt you install the software and tested it before buying?
Your childish behaviour does not help anyone.
To find the plugin, right-click/Option-click on the application and select Show Package Contents; inside you'll find only the Contents folder; open this and you'll see the Plugins folder; wherein you'll find the Vuescan.plugin file. The easiest way to move this to the Photoshop Plug-ins folder is to select it and copy it to the clipboard (Command-C). Then open the Photoshop folder, navigate to the Plug-ins folder; open this folder, and paste the file (Command-V) to the folder. Thereafter it should (it did for me) show up in the Photoshop File>Import pop-out menu. I found very few items in the CC2019 plugins folder. No Import/Export folder as in past versions. Nevertheless, VueScan showed up in the File>Import pop-out menu in Photoshop. Over the years Photoshop has often changed the way it does things. To use it you have to adapt to those changes. That's another reason people don't upgrade. They don't want to learn new sh*t.
FYI: here the plugin is specified for Photoshop CC 2019, but it also works, in my testing, in Photoshop CC 2018, which the installation of 2019 did not replace. It also works in Photoshop CS6, though you should remove any other VueScan plugins you find there, including the TWAIN plugin. It also works in Photoshop CS5.5, for whatever that's worth. The point of replacing any old VueScan plugins is so that you can be sure of launching this latest version of VueScan in Photoshop. When you scan an image it will open in Photoshop, as it should do, for editing purposes.
By the way, I did not get this solution from VueScan tech support. They insist that VueScan installs the plugin, which it does not. Perhaps it once did—I found a VueScan plugin in Photoshop CS6; I don't remember how it got there. But I figured this out on my own and tested it. Hopefully this solution will work for you, whatever version of Photoshop you're using. You might also try it in other applications, like Adobe Photoshop Elements, and any other app that has a plugins folder or capability. Just a suggestion, if you like VueScan.
I though to give VueScan a lower score because of how disputatious their tech support turned out to be. But for the most part I think reviews should restrict themselves to the quality of the app, which is what I've done here.
One weak spot however is: Every time you open the program, you have to do another pre-scan, which means scanner lamp warm-up and full scan time. This is VERY time-consuming if you have a number of slides or negatives in a holder in your scanner. They could easily solve this problem by holding the previous pre-scan in memory. I expressed this to the developer, Ed Hamrick, but he didn't seem to understand what I was talking about. If you are only scanning one print, slide or negative per session, it won't matter to you. But when I have a large number of images to do it does! I now have to use SilverScan for multiple scans, which does hold the pre-scan in memory and thus, takes far less time to get my job done. After all these years and all the other improvements he has made, I wish the developer would make tis one simple improvement that would save so much time and make the program an A+ for pros. Are you listening Ed?
If you are annoyed by getting a preview every time you start the program while scanning a lot of images, then keep the program open during long scan sessions instead of quitting it. Maybe I don't have the problem because I don't insert a filmstrip into my film scanner until after I have turned it on. Or maybe we don't understand the exact issue either, or maybe it's specific to how your scanner works.
When VueScan is first opened after an update, dragging its icon out of Dock will "snap back" but _sometimes_ keeps it from being permanently added (and annoyingly restarting Dock) when quitting VueScan.
Therefore the UI is the same across Windows, Mac and LInux versions, because the UI is being coded once, and thus will look and act the same. Calibre is another example of a program that is built one from one set of source code and runs on Windows, Linux and Mac. Given that Windows is by far the largest user base, the developer has opted to design the UI in favor of that majority. Technically, the developer could if desired, coded the UI to look and act more like Mac or Linux, but then it would be the Windows users complaining that it "looks like a Mac" and probably not buying. In very short time, the company would not sell enough licenses to make it viable to continue.
Some people will be quick to say why doesn't the developer simply write three different versions of the program, and tailor each version to the platform. Well, that takes resources, be it time, knowledge, software tools, people, money, hardware to build and test it on, etc. I suspect, just my guess, that the market share for Mac and Linux is not large enough to justify hiring and paying Mac and Linux developers to code native versions from the ground up. Or else in order to do so the price of the software would have to be increased to cover additional costs, but that would only LESSEN the number of Mac and Linux copies sold. As it is, look at some of the reviews already complaining that feel $49 is too high for what the app does.
For the most, part the company is marketing and coding to the Windows user base, and the fact the tools they use allow them to produce Mac and Linux versions with relatively minimal additional labor, is a value add.
So, I wouldn't hold my breath that version 10 will look much different, or if does it won't be to accommodate Linux or Mac look and feel, but to adapt to Windows 10.
You must use Ed Hamricks site for updates. It's safe and reliable.
Reading many responses related to VueScan it appears that those that have fully paid for the software don't have any issue. Those that want something for nothing ie. get free trial to use as a one off and never intend to purchase have problems. Also be aware that the number of fully paid happy and content users far outweighs the tiny number that get it via MU. The downloads number of 1.25 million doesn't reflect those that downloaded directly via VS but the 1.25 million does reflect numbers of those just 'giving it a go'.
This also goes for all the other software available on MU, providing they are honest and responsible developers. MU is the best for just seeing what has been updated by the respective developer and then it's up to you to go direct rather than the reseller. If I wanted to buy a Bentley I wouldn't go to a Suzuki dealer.
VueScan gets a 5 star review
MacUpdate a 0 star review for packaging other software in an installer.
This is the kind of thing Windows users are plagued with. Mac users should not put up with this!!
This is the kind of thing Windows users are plagued with. Mac users should not put up with this!!"
And MacUpdate do not even inform users and force them to use this!
ALWAYS DOWNLOAD FROM ED'S SITE.
MacUpdate has been great for the Mac community and I am sorry to see the management taking this site into the slime pit.
An excellent piece of software.
Simply remove it.
There you go........Happy again.
It's easier for people who do want it in Dock to add it _once_ and have it remain there after each update done (well-behaved OS X app behavior) than it is for those of us who don't want it there to remove it after each update done.
Repeatedly forcing itself to stay in Dock is undesirable.
From recent release notes:
What's new in version 9.4.34
Fixed problem with adding icon to dock on Mac OS X 10.9
That would be *Created* problem in my case, when this trouble started.
Some Dock-related stuff can be found in the app binary:
% strings /Applications/VueScan.app/Contents/MacOS/VueScan | grep -A 6 /usr/bin | head -6
/usr/bin/defaults
read
com.apple.dock
/usr/bin/killall
-HUP
Dock
The only flaws clearly present here are yours and others poor rationalizations and/or manipulations of my otherwise logical provided solutions.
If "pro scanner" production peaked years ago then obviously the market demand for them has dwindled to nothing making them obsolete. I am not in the field so whatever has replaced them, the true professionals apparently have moved on to another technology hardware wise.
Secondly, when did I state that the viable alternatives that exist correlates to any similar/identical type of software as VueScan ?
I have had MANY folks write and thank me for the suggested simple/free/effective alternative of simply creating a 8 GB partition/volume via terminal on any given pre-existing Mavericks/Yosemite boot drive. Install OS X Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion (whatever) on it. Then simply install the manufacturers original drivers as well and BAM your done !
If you would rather pay 40 bucks rather then take 15 seconds (Solid State Boot drive),to restart, press alt, select your alert native 8 GB OS X boot drive, and scan yourself silly then by all means....
You said: "If "pro scanner" production peaked years ago then obviously the market demand for them has dwindled to nothing making them obsolete.." Well duh...you're trying to rebut a point by stating something both obvious and irrelevant. Sure, pro scanners are obsolete because production images now originate with digital cameras. But what about professionals who still need production quality scans of non-digital art and film from the archives? The solution to that is a scanner with professional controls. That is why the more obscure features of VueScan are there. Those options do not exist in most of what you consider to be VueScan's "competitors," which is why what you said doesn't make sense.
You said: "when did I state that the viable alternatives that exist correlates to any similar/identical type of software as VueScan?" When you said in your original post, "Overall I find Vuescan a far lessor of the many options/alternatives available." If you don't think they correlate, why say they are available? (Also, that's not what "lessor" means, you spelled it wrong.)
And there are flaws in your last suggestion, to create a boot partition and install an older OS and original drivers. That will work for some people, the people who thanked you. That's great, and it could work for casual users when a scanner won’t work with Image Capture. But...it will not work for people with SSD-based Macs who have so little onboard storage to start with that they can't spare the space. It will not work for newer Macs where you are simply not allowed to install an OS X old enough to install old scanner drivers (this is pretty common). And finally, rebooting is a pain because in that special partition of yours, you're cut off from the rest of your Mac. With VueScan I can stay in my main partition, scanning entire filmstrips to a watch folder and while VueScan is still scanning frame 3 of 6, I am already editing frame 1 and 2 in Lightroom or Photoshop, and can immediately import them into the apps where the images will be used. With the separate partition solution, you are cut off from using your primary set of production apps and projects until you reboot back into the main partition. That might not bother more casual users, but it won't work for productivity-oriented users. (You might suggest installing those apps and files on the second partition, but then you're starting to eat up more disk space with redundant app copies and creating a whole other set of apps to keep up to date.) Occam's Razor would point to VueScan as the simpler solution.
Maybe VueScan is too expensive for you, but for me and many others, VueScan is an affordable way to run any scanner we have, using one UI, on the CURRENT version of OS X, with access to ALL of our other apps and documents at the same time, without rebooting, on ANY Mac now or to come. Go ahead and call that "pound foolish" if you like; but for us, that is "penny wise" as the old saying goes.
The problem is, that people like you misguide potential users, who—when seeing 2 stars—they might think that it is a bad app., which is not true.
Believe me, potential users do not need your idiosyncracies, they do not a correct analysis and a correct evaluation. Try to respect others just as you wish them respect you.
the word "lesser".
At any rate,
"I am sorry the admins of this site allow such illogical, senseless ratings because they misguide potential users."
....or more accurately "dissuade potential buyers".
At any rate...Is it just me or has the truth of my remarks potentially cut into someones bottom line thereby causing those with their proverbial "hand in the cookie jar" to come out swingin' ?