Programs for scanning mac os x. VueScan

Apple computers come with scanning software. Once you connect your scanner or MFP, you can add it to your devices and scan using Preview or Image Capture.

Steps

Part 1 Connecting the scanner

  1. 1 Connect your scanner or MFP. Connect the device using a USB cable to your computer.
    • You can also use wireless scanner via Wi-Fi.
    • If you prefer to connect your scanner via wireless network, follow the scanner setup procedure. Make sure it's connected to the same high-speed network as your Mac.
  2. 2 Click on the apple icon in the upper left corner of your desktop. Select “System Preferences”, then “Printers”.
  3. 3 Wait while the computer adds the printer/scanner. If this does not happen automatically, click + (plus sign) and “Add” to add manually.

Part 2 Selecting a scanning application

  1. 1 Place the object to be scanned into the scanner. If you are using a scanner with a paper feed system, place a sheet of paper in front of it.
  2. 2 Open the application. You have a choice of several apps that come pre-installed on your Mac. Select one of the following applications:
    • Using Preview. If you have an icon on your desktop, this will be the fastest way to scan.
    • Using Image Capture. If you're using devices on the same network, you can easily select from cameras, shared devices, and more.
    • Using the scanner program. After installing the device, place its icon in the dock. Whenever you want to scan or print something, click on the icon and select “Scan” in the top right corner.
    • You can also open the device through the Printers panel in System Preferences.
  3. 3 Scanning.
    • If you are using Preview, select “Import from Scanner” from the “File” menu.
    • If you're using Image Capture, simply open the app from your Dock or Applications folder.
    • If you are using preinstalled program scanning, then just click on the “Scan” button on the right top corner its interface.

Part 3 Configuring Scan Settings

  1. 1 Your scanner may support different scanning types, such as transparency settings.
  2. 2 Click “Scan” to warm up the scanner. You'll see what your scan will look like and can change the sheet position or settings. If scanning is automatic, return to the scan menu to configure before scanning again.
  3. 3 Select the exact scan area. A dotted line outlines the selected area. You can refine the area by dragging the corners of the selection.
  4. 4 Select “Scan Size”. Choose the size that suits you.
  5. 5 Click on the drop-down menu next to the “Scan to” button. Select the path to save the file. You can save it to your Desktop, Documents or Pictures.
    • If you use Image Capture, you can also directly open your scanned file in Preview, Mail, or iPhoto.
  6. 6 Turn the option to detect different data types on or off. If you are scanning something that has both text and pictures, turn the feature off. If the feature is enabled, you will receive pictures separately from the text.
  7. 7 Click Details to change the orientation, resolution, color, or file format. Here you can add brightness or saturation.
  8. 8 Find the document. Click the “Scan” button and you can open a previously scanned document in the folder where you saved it.
  • Update the programs on your computer using Software Update before connecting your scanner or printer. Click on the apple icon in the top left corner of your desktop and “Check for updates” from the drop-down menu.
  • If you are using a wireless scanner and it is not working, check to see if the scanner is connected to your wireless network. After a long period of inactivity, it could turn off.

Warnings

System application Image Capture allows you to scan documents, books, family photos in OS X

02/11/14 at 18:15

Recently, paper documents are increasingly being translated into electronic format If you recently bought a scanner and decided to scan family photos or important documents, then you may have a question: what program should you install so that you can scan documents in OS X?

Actually none third party programs are not needed, and your Mac already has everything you need. Search for Spotlight and search for Image Capture or search for the app in Launchpad.

Image Capture Application

The Image Capture app allows you to download photos and videos from various devices: video cameras, photo cameras, as well as from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch. But this application is also used to work with scanners. Once you've connected your scanner to your Mac, turn it on and Image Capture will show it in the list of devices.

An easy way to scan documents and photos in OS X

At the bottom, Image Capture has a panel with basic settings, in which you select the folder where to save the result and paper size, for example A4. All you have to do is click the Scan button and a document scanned in color will appear on your desktop. The whole operation takes a matter of seconds and is almost completely automated, but if you need to do something special, you need to use an advanced method.

An Advanced Way to Scan Documents and Photos in OS X

By clicking the more details button, a panel will be displayed where you can select many useful parameters: image type, resolution, selection of scanning areas, image format and correction.

Scan Settings

Image type. This parameter is needed so that you can choose whether the result will be in color or black and white. If you're scanning documents, black and white may be preferable. There is also a mode called “text”, but it is very rough and the result is only suitable for very primitive sketches.

Permission. This parameter is responsible for the number of points per unit area. Simply put: the higher the resolution, the larger size has a scanned image and the more details it contains. When scanning documents, 100-300 DPI will be enough. More a high resolution will be convenient when scanning photos.

Scan zone selection. By default, the application will scan the entire surface of the scanner and save the result as one file. Let's assume that you have several pieces of paper or objects on your scanner at once, this option allows you to select them into separate areas, which will be saved as separate graphic files.

Format. If you need to get some special file type as output, for example JPEG, PGN, TIFF, then this can be configured at this point.

Image correction. This item allows you to edit the brightness, contrast, and color of the picture immediately, so that later you do not need to change it in a graphics editor.


If you have recently started mastering Mac, then you still have to learn how to competently use various additional devices and accessories for these computers, including scanners. And taking into account the fact that a scanner for Mac, if necessary, will have to be purchased separately, you need to know not only which of them are available for sale today, but also be able to determine the models that are compatible with your Mac.

In this regard, some tips and tricks with which you can quickly and efficiently select a suitable scanner for Mac .

So, let's start simple:

10. scanner for mac — Determining what to choose from
You should consider the models that you can buy. The fact is that not all scanners that the manufacturer recommends, or that you learned about, for example, from reviews on the Internet, may be available for sale in your city, region, or even country. However, you shouldn’t be too upset either, since many peripherals for Mac (printers, scanners, MFPs and other office equipment), including new and/or specialized ones, i.e. those, which may be produced in limited quantities, can be easily found and purchased online in other regions. The only caveat: for such a scanner, the price will also include the cost of shipping, but you will receive exactly the model that you need.

9. scanner for mac — Compatibility
Before purchasing the selected scanner model, you should separately double-check whether it works with Apple computers. This point is important because some printers, scanners, MFPs and other types of devices are designed to work only with Windows PCs and are not included software, which allows you to connect them to computers with other operating systems, including Mac OS. Thus, it is better to once again study the scanner specification or ask the seller again than to buy a model that simply does not have drivers for Mac OS.

8. scanner for mac — We update the software
Next, you'll want to make sure your Mac is running the latest software, especially if you're purchasing new scanner and you plan to connect it to a not-so-new computer. Without installing required updates operating system The device connection procedure may not go as smoothly as it should.

7. scanner for mac — USB powered
There are quite a few different portable scanners available for Mac, most of which connect to the computer via USB port. On the one hand, this is convenient because, firstly, if necessary, you can do without an outlet, and secondly, all that is required for scanning is a USB cable, a scanner and a computer. On the other hand, if you use a MacBook and such a system has to be built, so to speak, in the field, then you will need to think about the laptop’s battery level, since it will be consumed at twice the rate - the portable scanner also requires power.

6. scanner for mac — Operation of the scanner to the local network
Modern Mac scanners have a file sharing feature that allows you to automatically share general access to the scanned ones, even if another computer was used during the scanning process. The only condition is that all users must be connected to the same local network. Simply put, if your office (or home) has the local network and there are several working Macs in it, then you can give their users automatic access to the documents you scanned. All you need to do is create a folder in which the scanned copies will be saved and make it accessible from other Macs.

5. scanner for mac — Pre-installed applications
Another feature of scanners for Mac is that they usually come with a whole set of pre-installed applications. Here are programs for quick image capture, which allow you to take a so-called quick snapshot of a document before scanning, and applications for previewing finished scanned copies and their further processing, as well as various programs for printing documents (including delayed ones), sending them by fax and other useful tools.

4. scanner for mac — Scanner setup
Before purchasing a particular scanner model, it is recommended to decide in advance how you are going to connect it to your computer. The bottom line is that the initial configuration of the scanner depends on the type of connection - wireless or Ethernet. However, in scanners last generations Regardless of the type of connection to a Mac, the connection and setup procedures are not particularly complicated and in more detail described in the manuals.

3. scanner for mac — How to scan?
If you have never had to deal with scanning before, then it is better to study the manufacturer’s recommendations set out in the user manual that comes with the scanner you purchased. It's also worth noting that you can not only scan, but also, using the various applications that came with the new scanner, process documents and/or images stored in your Mac's memory. The number and size of documents that can be scanned depend on the capabilities of the scanner. However, many models, particularly portable ones, have the ability to scan documents that are larger than the scanner's reading device. In addition, the scanned copy can be further processed on a computer - changing its size, contrast and other parameters, as well as translating graphic information into the text and vice versa.

2. scanner for mac — Document feeder
Automatic document feeding in the scanner is an extremely useful function, as it significantly simplifies the scanning process large quantity documents.

1. scanner for mac — Saving scanned copies
The scanner can save scanned documents in separate automatically created folders or in folders that you specify.

That's basically all you need to know when choosing the right scanner for your Apple Mac.

If you have your own business, then you have probably encountered all the difficulties of paperwork more than once. Despite the fact that this is the situation now in many companies, storing documents in paper form is not the most effective and reliable method, and more and more companies are switching to electronic document management, using scanners and special tools. applications that allow you to quickly do this work. Today we will talk about one of such applications - ExactScan. The main feature of ExactScan is convenience, high data processing speed, support for more than 400 different scanners.

Using the ExactScan Pro app, you can quickly create document images in high quality, in the form of universal PDF files that are easy to work with later. You get the ability to securely scan and store all important legal and business documents that require long-term or short-term archiving.

A big benefit of ExactScan Pro is the robust Optical Character Reader (OCR) engine built into the scanning software.

Once a document is scanned using ExactScan Pro and stored on your Mac or server, you can always find the document you need by simply typing keywords in the Spotlight search utility, locate a document in the index database, and print it at any time, even decades later.

Business benefits of working with ExactScan Pro:

Cost reduction: less paper, fewer folders, less storage space, reduced administrative costs. Once a document is scanned using ExactScan Pro and stored on your server, you can always find the document you need by simply typing keywords into the Spotlight search utility, locating the document, and printing it.

Efficiency: You can find a document from 5, 10 or even 20 years ago in a few seconds - at the same time, imagine how long it often takes to search for paper documents with a similar statute of limitations.
The ExactScan Pro application can be used in all areas of work: accounting, human resources management, banking, insurance, medicine, law; in hospitals, libraries and archives.

ExactScan Pro: Reliable Software, requiring no maintenance costs; it comes with frequent updates and free support 365 days a year.

Thanks to the high stability and reliability of ExactScan Pro, it software solution used in many government organizations, universities and multinational companies.

Interface

The application's interface is simple and clear: no unnecessary details, only the necessary options. More details about the interface can be found in the screenshots below.

For people with visual impairments

Thanks to its built-in OCR engine, ExactScan Pro can be very useful for people with visual impairment or loss. Many blind clients already use ExactScan Pro with optical character recognition and thus have the ability to read text in Braille or convert regular paper documents, and even books and newspapers, into speech.

Result: An excellent application for companies, business owners, government. institutions, in a word, for all enterprises where there are documents. Intuitively clear interface, compatibility with 400 types of scanners and fast work make it a leader in its class of applications. However, fast scanning and recognition of documents is necessary not only for organizations, but also for individuals. Check how many important documents you already have. If you are an individual, then we offer you another application from the same developers - OCRKit. We're already on Macradar, so if you want to take a closer look at it, you're welcome. OCRKit is suitable for iPhone, iPad and Mac and is cheaper than its larger business brother.

In our digital age when almost everything graphic images are initially born in digital form (created on a computer, shot with digital cameras, etc.), sometimes there are situations when it is necessary to scan and convert certain materials into digital form, illustrations from printed publications, texts for the optical recognition system, photographs and slides from the family archive, etc. For these purposes, in addition to the scanning device itself, the user will need an application that allows the computer to interact with the scanner. Such an application can be a utility built into Mac OS X Image Capture, which, alas, does not work with all scanner models and offers only the simplest scanning functions. Alternatively, you can use the software that comes with the scanner, but it is also far from ideal in terms of ease of use. In today's review, we want to introduce you to an application that is an alternative to many other similar programs.

The VueScan application is distinguished, first of all, by support for a huge number of scanning devices (more than 1750 models). The second advantage of the program, undoubted for Russian users, is its multilingualism - the application interface has been translated into 40 languages, including Russian. The application language is selected automatically, depending on the main language in the system on the user's Mac.

The VueScan work window is divided into two parts. On the right side there is a viewing/scanning panel, and on the left there is a panel with settings and scanning control functions. At the very bottom there is a small toolbar.

The application has several operating modes that differ from each other in the number of available settings and functions. In normal mode, only basic configuration and scanning functions are available to the user. As a rule, they are quite enough for everyday work with the scanner. Those users who clearly do not have enough functions available in normal mode can use the button More on the toolbar to switch to the advanced mode of the application. The Advanced mode allows you to achieve maximum results when scanning images and is especially good when working with problematic source material, which scanning in normal mode did not bring positive results. Finally, for the laziest or those who for some reason do not want to delve into all the intricacies of scanning, there is the opportunity to work with the program using a special wizard, which is designed to save you from any work with the settings.

MASTER

By default, VueScan starts in normal operating mode, and to start scanning using the Wizard, you need to use the button of the same name on the toolbar. We would like to immediately note the Master’s friendly attitude towards the user - at each stage of the work, the Master gives detailed explanations on the current task or operation. Considering this, as well as the fact that the application has 100% Russian localization, even a completely inexperienced user in scanning matters will be able to cope with the task. Working with the Master consists of several stages.

I. Problem

At the first stage, the user is asked to select the task to be performed.

  • Scan to file— scanning the source material and then creating graphic file with scan results.
  • Copy to printer— scanning and then sending the resulting image for printing, bypassing saving to a file. Allows you to use a scanner + printer combination as an analogue of a copy machine.
  • Scanner Profile— creating a scanner color profile, the use of which allows you to avoid possible color distortions during scanning. Available only in professional version.
  • Printer Profile— creating a printer color profile. Available only in professional version.
  • Film profile— creating a color profile of photographic film. Available only in professional version.
  • Create IT8 target— creation of a reference image for scanner calibration. Calibration is the measurement of distortions introduced by a color input or output device. Scanner calibration is the topic of a separate article, for now we’ll just say that when working with a scanner on a daily basis, the user is unlikely to need an IT8 target. Available only in professional version.

It must be said that all the above tasks are equally available not only in the Wizard mode, but also in the simple and advanced modes of the program. Again, at any stage of the Wizard’s work, you can sequentially switch to normal and then to advanced operating modes.

Subsequent steps depend on which task has been selected. We will talk about the main task - scanning to file.

II. Carrier

Select the type of media to work with ( Color photo, Black and white photo, Black and white graphics, Text, Magazine, Newspaper). We recommend that you accurately set the media type, if only because the correctly selected type will reduce the shortcomings of images obtained from certain sources, for example, rasterization when scanning newspapers and magazines.

III. Multiple cropping

The function has several values ​​( Disable, Auto and User Setup). Used when scanning multiple photos at once. If you set the value Auto, then the program itself will determine the boundaries of each photo, but if you select User Installation, then you have to independently select each image in the viewing window. If only one photo is placed in the scanner, you do not need to change anything (the default value is always Disable), so let's move on to the next step.

IV. Quality

From the choice of image quality ( For Email, For the Internet, For printing, For editing, For archive) depends not only on the size of the resulting image file, but also on the quality of the image itself. The default value is For print, which is quite enough for everyday use.

At the next stage, a preliminary, so-called “quick” scan is performed and in the window View displays one or more photos that the user has placed in the scanner.

V. Crop size

The default value is Auto and the entire photo will be framed. The frame will avoid white margins in the final image file and will reduce scanning time, because the device will scan only the area limited by the frame, ignoring the rest of the area. Sometimes it happens that you need to scan not the entire source, but only a certain fragment of it. In this case, choosing one of the preset frame size options or selecting the desired area of ​​the image yourself will help. To make your own selection, just click on the in the right place pictures and, by dragging the cursor, create a frame of the required size.

After all this, the scanning itself is finally performed, and then the user is asked to specify the file name and folder in which it will be saved.

NORMAL MODE

In normal operation mode, the user will have to independently go through all stages of the scanning process and obtain the finished result, using the tabs with settings on the settings and functions panel. Six tabs on this panel, both repeat the same stages of work in the Wizard, and provide access to additional features processing and scanning, allowing for more fine tuning functions.

  • At the entrance

The tab includes several people already familiar with working with Master points ( Task, Source, Medium, Quality), and several new ones ( Media Size, Viewing Resolution, Scanning Resolution), allowing you to flexibly control the quality of the resulting image. So, for example, point Scan Resolution allows you to set the resolution of the resulting image in the range from 75 to 1200 DPI, using a set of preset fixed values ​​( 75, 100, 150, 200, 300, 600, 1200 ), or any other value from the specified range, independently set by the user.

  • Cropping

The tab has items already familiar to you Crop size And Multiple cropping, and also allows you to use the function automatic taskoffsets scanner lamps.

  • Filter

The filters on this tab allow you to restore colors in the resulting image, restore aged film if you are working with slides, and, as far as possible, increase the sharpness of the resulting image. Any additional settings These filters are not provided.

  • Color

Adjust image brightness and adjust color balance (white balance) using one of several presets, or user-defined settings. You can set the white balance yourself by clicking on the neutral color of the picture while holding down the CTRL key.

  • At the exit

A tab for specifying output file settings, which include the file size when printing, the folder in which finished files will be saved by default, and the output file type ( TIFF, JPG, PDF, RTF, RAW). When selecting any of the extensions, the user will be prompted to specify a file name and give it short description. If you select TIFF and PDF formats, it is possible to create multi-page files.

  • Settings

A tab with other application settings, where you can set the interface language, if the default one does not suit you, units of measurement for cropping and printing ( pixel, mm, cm, inch, pica, point), specify external programs for viewing or editing received images or recognized text (we will talk about text recognition below).

ADVANCED MODE

The structure of the tabs in this mode remains the same, but the number of available settings, functions and filters has increased significantly, which is clearly visible in the following screenshots. Added the ability to set the number of bits per pixel, the number of scanning passes, remove graininess, save RAW files in DNG format and many other functions.

Please note that the image from the viewing panel in the second screenshot is not the result of an unsuccessful scan, this is what the picture looks like when the pixel color adjustment function is turned on with the parameters set by default.

It was no coincidence that text recognition was mentioned in the review. Indeed, VueScan has a built-in text recognition (OCR) module and, by default, can recognize texts on English language. To support recognition in other languages ​​(33 options), including Russian, just download the file from the application website ocr_xx.bin , corresponding to the desired language. After downloading, the file should be placed in the folder /Users/Shared, and restart the application.

The program menu contains some functions that are not reflected in the VueScan working window. For example, in the section Image, in addition to image manipulation ( rotation, reflection, etc.), you can display an image graph based on several parameters or free up computer memory by deleting already scanned images from the cache.

Functions from the section Profile allow you to create a scanner, printer or film profile, using which you can minimize color distortion that occurs when scanning and subsequent printing ready-made images. True, in order to be able to take advantage of these functions, the user will have to purchase a license for the professional version of VueScan, which costs about 80$ .

However, you shouldn’t be surprised at such a high price for the professional version of VueScan - applications that can create color profiles of I/O devices have never been cheap. Another thing is that the standard version of the program, the price of which determines the final cost of the professional version, also costs quite a lot - 41$ .