Hamrick Software VueScan Professional 8.4 Oak Park IL

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Hamrick Software's VueScan Professional scanner interface for Windows, Mac OS and Linux supports over 750 USB, SCSI and FireWire scanners, from budget flatbeds to professional 35mm negative scanners.

The Windows version has a generic driver that allows you to use almost all the supported devices, although a handful of scanners require their original drivers. The generic driver works with Vista, too, making VueScan perfect if your scanner is no longer supported.

Both Standard and Professional versions are available. VueScan Standard is cheaper, but it can't save unprocessed raw scans and doesn't support IT8 colour calibration or ICC colour profiles, which ensure that your scans match your monitor and printing hardware. These features are useful if you intend to do high-quality image editing and archival, so we recommend VueScan Professional.

We found it easier to use and configure than most manufacturers' scanner interfaces. For quick and easy scanning, a step-by-step mode guides you through the process with a series of simple pull-down options.

The Advanced scan mode is flexible and powerful, with various colour restoration and sharpening filters, white balancing and colour profile selection. Transparency and negative scanning modes add menus to the colour configuration tab that allow you to select the exact brand and type of film you're using. This produced some of the most accurate colour-negative scans we've ever seen. We've only seen this feature in more expensive programs such as LaserSoft's SilverFast.

VueScan Professional is a high-quality imaging tool that can produce stunning photo and negative scans. For just £40 including a lifetime of free updates, it's an essential program for any photo enthusiast.Requires Windows 95/2000/XP/Vista, Linux, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X 10.2+

Author: Kat Orphanides

Hamrick Software VueScan Professional 8.4