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Question

Can I scan an image from Photoshop CS4 (or another component?)

Forum|Forum|16 years ago
March 18, 2009
8 replies
26961 views

I'm new to Photoshop (used to Corel PhotoPaint where I have a command under "File" to "acquire" an image from an external scanner).

Is there a way to do it in Photoshop or do I look for another app in CS4 for that purpose?

Thanks,
Rob

This topic has been closed for replies.

A

Antero52

Participating Frequently

I have a CanoScan 8800F, which I can use through Twain (PSE, CS5/32-bit) or WIA (also with CS5/64-bit). The WIA interface offers only very rudimentary functionality (eg no activation of backlight for scanning transparencies). I don’t buy the argument that I should not tie up a $1000 piece of software for $200 (or so) piece of hardware. When I scan, and particularly when I scan old off-color slides, I don’t know beforehand if I can salvage the image with post-processing or if I should adjust the scanner settings. If I scan from Photoshop, I can adjust color and tonality, and I fail to salvage the image, I can re-scan with different settings, while the slide is still in the holder.

Some say that it is silly to a tie up a $1000 piece of software for $200 (or so) piece of hardware. What, then, do you call investing money and learning time for another piece of software if I already own Photoshop and can use it?

The present implementation of the Twain scanning with the 8800F is suboptimal, however. For instance, if I have been scanning slides and the scanner driver is set up for color transparencies, and I then configure the scanner for scanning paper (by removing the slide holder and inserting the back plate which blocks the backlighting), my next attempt to scan aborts with an error message that the scanner is unable to scan slides, probably because the backlighting is blocked. The scanner UI, along with the tab for adjusting scanner settings, is visible in the background, but I can’t access it because of the error message. And when I acknowledge the error message, the scanner UI disappears. I must physically re-configure the scanner to scan slides, then select paper scanning (in the software) and again re-configure the scanner for scanning paper.

Best regards,

Antero

A

Anonymous

Well yes but nobody ... etc, etc ...

Rob_Keijzer

Known Participant

Buko:
>you are tying up a $1000 application as a UI for a $100 scanner

I don't understand this. It's like saying "Why would I tie up a 1000 euro application with a 100 euro Wacom pen?"
Would you abort the scan process when you discovered that the application is more expensive than the scanner?

Michael:
>but it also introduces the need to save interim image files

Exactly. When you "pull" an image into PS, it's an image, not a file yet. Just like having opened a New image.

JJ:
>Nobody answered the question directly.

I think Dave did :-P

Rob

A

AccesRez

Participant

The most accurate answer comes from (Ping_Zheng).

Thanks mate.

_

_Ping_Zheng_

Participant

With an external scanner connected, you can import scanned image via File > Import > WIA Support in Photoshop

M

MartyR707

Known Participant

I am having this problem too. I have always scanned through PS using Twain. But now I have new PS - CS4 and new scanner - Canon pixma MX 330. When I go to Import, there are no options to scan. I also don't see anything like WIA support there.

I ended up using the software that came with the scanner but it is very VERY awkward to use.

Any suggestions?

A

Anonymous

Not SURE my facts are correct plus I use an Epson scanner so this may not be informative to you. I think WIA is just a Windows program to run a scanner. However it is very basic with only simple settings. Not ideal for quality scans. I've never used it. If it were an printer, rather than a scanner, for instance, you would not be able to print at best settings for best print.

In the past, (CS1) I did use twain but all it did was bring up my Epson scanner software. Since PsCS4 I just use Epson scanner software and save in a folder I call SCANS. I then open from Bridge into Photoshop.

I don't understand when you say the software for your scanner is very awkward. There is nothing in Photoshop that tells your scanner what settings to use for scanning. That HAS to be done in your scanner software. I would think that Canon would have pretty straight-forward software.

A

Anonymous

Nobody answered the question directly. Yes, Photoshop works in the same way as Photopaint. When a scanner is installed, a menu item appears in Photoshop for aquiring images via the scanner.

Whether you use this to scan with or start up the scanner's software outside of PS all depends on the nature of the work. For the odd scan it's quicker to use the PS route. If there's a lot of scanning at regular intervals it's better not to tie up PS during scanning.

Michael D Sullivan

Inspiring

Or better yet use VueScan from http://www.hamrick.com.

I have at least two minds about scanning in-program vs. in a dedicated program. Yes, using a separate program frees up Photoshop, but it also introduces the need to save interim image files. Also, some scanner software is simply horrendous. I'm thinking HP and Nikon; Canon isn't nearly as bad, but is far from good. VueScan is much better in many ways (but it may require that the maker's driver be installed, so it's still dependent on the maker), but it's far from perfect. Some have raved about Silverlight, which I haven't used.

A

Anonymous

Photoshop in and of itself is not scanner software. the only scanning ability Photoshop has is through a 3rd party scanning plugin that comes with your scanner. the plugin will still access the stand alone software.

the problem with using Photoshop to scan is that you are tying up a $1000 application as a UI for a $100 scanner. seems a bit silly. just use the software that came with your scanner and use that.

Now you can keep working in Photoshop while you are scanning.

A

Anonymous

file> import?

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