USB Microscopes Or Scanners ??? (Mac Users)

MAC USERS: I need your help!

QUESTION: A MAC Compatible SCANNER or a MAC Compatible USB Microscope:
WHICH provides the best enlarged stamp image?
WHICH Is the best Mac-compatable Scanner?
WHICH is the best MAC Compatible USB Microscope?
WHICH IS THE BETTER BETWEEN THE TWO DEVICES TO ACHIEVE A HI-QUALITY ENLARGED PRINTED OUTPUT TO AN 8-1/2" x 11" PAGE?

Thanks for your help in advance!
Hal

Scanner
Microscope are good for fly-speccing or other highly detailed close ups. A good scanner is what you would want if you are scanning full pages. A good scanner can also do close ups and be used for viewing some detailed close ups. So a scanner wins based upon versatility in my opinion.
Don

Just to clarify, do you want to enlarge and print one stamp to a full page?

Thanks, Don…

I am interested in doing closes-up fly-specing and other close-up detail close-up researching engraving re-cuts, engraving touch-up, dies palimpsest trace impressions, scratches, etc.
Is there a mac-friendly (USB) microscope that your are aware of?

I currently an Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner in conjunction with a MAC Mini and AdobePhotoshop. I am not happy with the results I am obtaining. Of course, it is probably "operator error" (in my case), however, this is 2014 technology and this is 2017, almost.

Thanks for your help.

Best,
Hal

Increase the dpi on the scanner. Push it to 2400dpi for great, large images. A block of 4 that I last scanned at 2400dpi was 4mb in size. I opened in EzImage and used the wand tool outside the stamp and "delete" which makes the background blacker. Then resave and the file drops to under 2mb.

I use an Epson NX510 printer/scanner. It is about the same age and works great.

THANKS!! joxom100

Your input and advise is GREATLY appreciated.

Best,
Hal

Hi Kelump,

I may want to enlarge by a ratio of 1:5 (1" to 5"), or in the case where there may be a die palimpsest impression left or an engraved line is re-cut may the size may be .075" and I may wish to increase it to 1" to 1.5" to be seen clearly.

Hal

Hal, I would not increase the size (zoom in). Use the DPI increase instead. It does the same thing but does not distort the original size. When you use programs like EzPerf, it will accept DPI change but not zoom change which alters the original size of the stamps.

Hi Hal,

Most of that stuff is way above my pay grade... I have an HP scanner if you want me to try something for you to compare to other scanners.

Jim

I have a scanner that I use with Photoshop, which has a tool for sharpening. This seems to work for me. Remember that even good quality photo paper will only reproduce 200DPI. The paper will only accept so many dots.

jaxom100 - THANK YOU for the information.

Hal

Kelump - Jim, Thank you for your assistance.

Hal

sdtom - Thank you for the information - I wasn't aware that even good photo paper will only reproduce 200DPI. Interesting.

Thanks,
Hal

Anyone have any other ideas an experiences using microscopes??

I haven't used an USB microscope, but do use an old binocular Wolfe microscope for flyspecking. The Wolfe is 20X & 40x, at 20x, the average value number will fill your field of vision. Great for flyspecking but not too practical for the whole stamp picture. However, with a high quality scanner, you can still flyspec AND reduce the size of the file.

THANKS for the info Littleriverephil! Greatly appreciated.