Re: Which do YOU like better, Quickie or Lightning scan?

[df@adelaide.dialix.com.au (David Francis)]

Mitchell Spector (spec@vax2.concordia.ca) wrote:
: 
:     I cannot state it enough times, *stay away* from version 3.x of the
: Quickie software. There is a day/night difference between it and older
: versions, which did in fact do decent greyscale photo scans unlike any
: of the newer releases.
: 
:     My Quickie came with version 2.03 of the software. The only glitch
: is the stand-alone application will not load under System 6.0.1, but
: the NDA version works just fine. I really don't understand how on
: earth 3.x was released, it is a downgrade, period.

Thanks for your response Mitchell, and the advice. Any idea where I could 
get a copy of the version 2.03 NDA?: 

There is just one good thing I have to say about v3.0.2; it has a 
facility for adjusting the palette of the image after scanning, to look 
like sepia, or a kind of moon-glow, or a red, blue, or green tint. You 
can get some really attractive effects from it. 

:     The Quickie-C option never worked well (or at all it sounds like).
: In short, I've never heard anyone report being successful with it or
: the software that was bundled with the tray and filters. Pretty much
: a flop, and yet another surprise that that was released.

That's really disappointing - I was SO looking forward to scanning all my 
color photos!
  
:     The Quickie scanner was discontinued several months ago, all that
: is left of it is the software (version 3.2) which Shareware Solutions
: II now sells for US$5. 

I guess that answers my above question.

: As for Vitesse, they're no longer in the Apple
: II business at all.

I'm not at all surprised. Maybe I should try getting some LightningScan 
(is that the name?) software. You did say it used the same scanner didn't 
you? Did they ever do a color scanning program?

:     Before you give up on the Quickie, I suggest you find the an older
: version of the software 

I sure will :)

: and set it up correctly for photo scans (e.g.
: select 'True Grey' under the Smoothing option, with the choice 'Generic'
: or one of the photo settings. Checking off 'Dithered Greys' often helps
: in many cases too).

Yeh that's how I had it set up - the manual was pretty clear on this. 
The Quickie-C manual is the useless one (for one thing it keeps talking 
about the choice of using Quickie-C program or Quickie-C NDA - but 
there's no program!).
 
:     On the hardware side, switch the DPI setting to '4' (400 DPI) and
: the photo/letter switch to one of the three photo settings. Then make
: sure to adjust the thumb wheel, which varies from photo to photo.
: Some photos come out better than others, it depends on the size and
: detail of the image, not too mention the type of media your scanning.

Agreed and understood. But I find the Light/Dark wheel has to be turned 
way way up even to scan a really bright photo.

: I've gotten some pretty good scans done with my Quickie. If I want any
: color, I just export it into Photoshop on my PC and colorize it there
: (that requires a lot of patience, but it's doable).

What, you mean pixel by pixel !! Sheeesh.. I guess I could do it too, but 
it would probably take a few weeks to do each photo!

:     If Vitesse would allow it, Shareware Solutions II should offer 
: version 2.03 (were there any versions between that and 3.0?) or at
: least bundle the older NDA with the newer version.
: 
: Mitchell Spector
: spec@vax2.concordia.ca

Yeh good idea. I've been meaning to subscribe to SSII but my pension only 
stretches so far (decided to invest in the scanner instead!). Ah well, guess 
it's time I took that extra step.

Again, thanks for your very constructive advice.

Dave Francis
Adelaide, South Australia

df@adelaide.dialix.oz.au