Scanning Stamps...i Can't Get Good Images.

Seems to me the best scan would be the one that best represents the actual stamp scanned (in good lighting). According to what you say (jkjBlue) the first from the HP All in One best represents the actual stamp. That's the best scan, provided that is your criteria (which would be mine).

The third one looks enhanced. Does the stamp actually look this bright in good light?

The actual stamp looks (to me) between Image one (HP) and Image three (Epson). I'm not going back to the HP, as the Epson is much quicker,and is now my designated scanner for stamp images.

For more on the art of scanning, and my approach see..

http://bigblue1840-1940.blogspot.co...15-1940.html

The discussion is embedded in the post about half way.

Has anyone tried a Lexmark? I inherited an all-in-one from my Ma-n-law, (more of a hand me down actually) that has no ink, but the scanner works beautifully. The software allows me to select an area the size of a stamp using the 75 dpi review function then it will let me scan at unreasonably high resolutions. they look more like baud rate then dpi. I haven't tried over 600 but it says in the menu it will scan up to 19200 dpi which is picture quality. May have to try that to see if there is a difference. At any rate one of these gems can be found at almost any goodwill store for cheap and the software is online for free.

Guykickinit: I was about to throw out a Canon Multipass C5500 4-in-1 printer because I hit a wall getting cartridges for it. I had given no thought to its ability to still scan. Some of these old things (e.g., monitors) are starting to pile up around me but after reading your post I think I will hang on to it.

Yeah, I have 2 scanners; a multi sheet auto feed for making copies and the all-in-one flatbed. It works even better after taking a piece of black craft paper and taped it to the lid. I always get a black background. The only draw back is some times I need to crop the area myself. Plus Stampmanage knows how to communicate with it. makes adding images to my Software a snap.





All my stamp scans, no matter the size, get a black back ground.



Stamp manage allows me to rotate and crop within the program, which makes things soooo much easier.

Jkjblue, since no one else has responded to get your "points" for identification, the Country of the stamp image you posted: France; French Colonies stamp overprinted for the French possession of Annam and Tonkin in the Malayian Peninsula--1888 for the year of issue. Is that correct?

Man that's great idea! I think I'll affix a black vario divider page (solid black & no pockets) to the lid. That way I'll never have rush around looking for one all the time. Thank you.

AL E. Gator - you get the points!

Part of French Indo-China- now the northern part of Viet Nam with Hanoi the Capital.

Congrats!