MetaChat - Ask Mecha: scanner help!

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12 May 2007

Ask Mecha: scanner help! My scanner has started adding a black line to my scanned film pics. Aaagh.→[More:] I can see it on any pics I've scanned in the last couple of weeks... here's an example where it's very visible.

What could be causing this? And can it be fixed? This scanner is only a couple of months old.

It only seems to happen on transparencies, not on opaque objects (I scanned a couple of CD covers to test), so I assume it something to do with the lamp in the lid that come on when you're scanning negatives and the like. Any ideas?

post by: BoringPostcards at: 18:30 | 6 comments

What make of scanner? Is it a scanner/printer?

posted by essexjan 12 May | 18:46

There's some info here. Hope this helps.

posted by essexjan 12 May | 18:56

Is the streak horizontal or vertical? I mean, I see it's horizontal on the photo but I don't know how you place it to scan.

One is usually dust but I can't recall which...I'm going to google it.

posted by iconomy 12 May | 18:57

This is what I was thinking of. Canned air might help if it is a dust issue.

posted by iconomy 12 May | 18:58

It's a Canon CanoScan 8600F. (Not a printer, just a scanner.) And the lines are vertical, moving along the scan itself.

Thanks for the links, y'all! I'll give it a good dusting and see if that helps.

posted by BoringPostcards 12 May | 20:16

Doesn't the scanner have a recalibration thingie? I mean, a software program that you run when it gets a little odd? My man has to do that once a month with his film-scanners it seems. That and go at it with a can of air to blow dust out.

posted by dabitch 13 May | 10:14

← Okay, like here's what went down.... || Pips to the Green Courtesy Phone, Please. →

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