New Scanner Does Wonders.

Hi guys...Broke down and bought a new (medium price) flat bed scanner and as you can see from the picture below, it makes a difference...The stamp on the left was using my old scanner (2400 DPI) and the stamp on the right with my new scanner (2400 DPI)..Now there is a nice scanner program that is FREE (and donations are not expected, but would be appreciated)...see pic. below.





If any one with Windows or Mac, want to try out a FREE scanner program, the link is below...



WINDOWS XSANE
http://www.xsane.org/xsane-win32.html br /

MAC XSANE
http://www.fbakan.de/xsane-os2.htmernatives

While you are at it, I use Linux and there is a KRULER program for screen measuring..see below...Now you cant use KRULER, but the link below shows alternatives for this software so you can have it for Windows or Mac...enjoy

Kruler alternatives for windows, mac
http://alternativeto.net/software/kruler/

Robert,
This is exactly what I was talking about in my posts about the deltas between scanners/hardware/software. What color shade is the stamp really? The images we generate completely depend on the scanner, software, and the user process. If you hold onto this stamp and scanner for 5-6 years and repeat the same scan, chances are the image shades will look different again. This will be due to the light source in the scanner having grown dimmer over the years with use.
Don

Don...Yes, you are sooooo correct...I understood what you were saying, but this little test put it into perspective...And yes, you were correct in saying that from monitor to monitor, colours change.,

That is why I have arranged with Benjamin Moore representative to to use their colour analyser to replicate a few stamps at first...They are very receptive to what I am trying to achieve...Once I have say a colour for a mint stamp, it would be easy enough for say you Don to walk into that store..grab the colour chip and see exactly what colour my stamp is...Does this make any sense...??

Robert

Robert,
Yes, if I walk into the same store, used the same device, and if the equipment is properly maintained and calibrated. But my Benjamin Moore store/device would not be exactly the same as your store and deltas would probably exist between them. They do indeed use some decent color measuring devices and try their best to keep them consistent but unless they can show you that they regularly calibrate the devices in all stores, all bets are off.
But you are on the right track, standardizing the device, light source, and user process goes a long way towards getting consistent results.
Don

Thats note quite what I was referring to Don...Every paint store company has standard paint..Now say I have a stamp that is classified as ROSE, and I tell you it is number 12548 for instance...You could go to the same company store and pick out the sample that says 12548 ROSE and know exactly what colour my stamp is...If I find out this week that say the 3 stamps I bring to them turn out to colour identify, then I will start to build a database with numbers, not colours for others to use...Going to give it a try Don..Wish me luck..????....haha

The right image does appear to have greater clarity, but with respect to color, is the left image oversaturated or is the right image washed out?

Without having ever seen the stamp in question, unless the stamp itself is faded, I would expect the image on the left to be closer to what you would see in hand versus the image on the right.

Then again what I see on my monitor may be completely different from you are seeing...

I have always wondered why the Pantone colour matching system is not used for identifying stamp ink shades. This should work well because it is designed as an ink matching system for printers and graphic artists. It would also ensure that there are consistent colour sample chips readily available (albeit somewhat expensive) for everyone to acquire. I am not sure why this ideally suited system has never been adopted by philatelists. It could be related to copyright ownership of the Pantone colour names.

Well Scottamer I have arranged to scan say 3 different colour stamps with this company...I will post my findings as they happen...I am a little excited about the outcome, but if it fails, as Don would probably say "well at least our forum tried"..


revenuecollector...you are correct about monitors being different...That is why I am pursuing paper identification that everyone can use...paper doesn't lie.

wert, what is the make of your scanner?

Hi lithograving...Nothing fantastic, just a plain ordinary Canon LIDE210 scanner...Still working with the settings along with the new scan program I use.

I always use a separate flat bed scanner rather than a combination scanner/printer...if you use them they take away from each other a bit..so, separate scanner and separate printer..

BTW...I was not posting for colour, but for more clarity.

Robert,
Of course I wish you success, just not so sure it will be forthcoming. I think your method will work after a fashion, but keep in mind that colors 'change' with the light. What looks like one shade in the light controlled device in the store look much different in other light conditions (daylight, on your wall, etc.). What is Benjamin Moore's policy on changing the names of their colors? Is this years 'eggshell' always going to be called that or will your database also keep the running changes in the names?


Scottamer,
I concur, Panton would be a one possible solution. At least they have standardized on color names. They also sell some nice color determining devices which, albeit expensive, would serve well if everyone used it. I would caution about using their color matching charts. They need to be replaced every few years due to possible color fading and care use be used in storing them. You also have to use the correct 'texture' chart. The same color, one with gloss and one with flat, can look very different. Lastly, buying their color charts every few years can get to be a bit expensive.
Don

I agree with you about those 3 or 4 in one print/scan/copy/fax
combos. Anyone who expects to get nice scans using one of those
is just fooling themselves.

My Epson Perfection 4490 is still working fine but I was thinking
of getting a V500 or V600.
That's why I asked which brand of scanner you bought.

I usually scan my stamps (mainly engraved) at 1200 dpi,
just wondering why you scan at 2400 dpi.
I see hardly any difference in the end result and it takes 3 times as long to sacn.

usually at 4800 to get detail on a part of the stamp then bring it down to fit the forum.

lithograving...I tried to pick up a Canon LIDE700f which is a stand alone flat bed scanner capable of 9600 DPI optical..but were out of stock everywhere...The V500..V600 sounds great.



Don, keep them, they might fade the same as your stamps...true colour then...haha

I think Robert is also working on a huge database of inking varieties!! So those hi-res images help him!
Don

haha...Don you kill me..Maybe I should control my flyspecking...haha

I'll tell you one thing I hate about all flatbed scanners, the scanner lube. They have to keep the thing lubed but it is inevitable that a 'lube haze' will begin to coat the inside of the platen glass. But it always frustrates me to have a perfectly clean platen but after a few months the 'haze' begins to build back up. The lube itself simply coats the glass and then over time dust will slowly cling to it. I think as the scanner gets warmer the lube tends to atomize inside the scanner. The only solution is to disassemble the scanner and clean it but this is often not for the faint of heart. Many scanners have to be 'pried' apart to get to the underside of the glass. There is always the chance that you will snap off one of the plastic latches that hold most of them in place.
Don