14 DAY TRIAL // Hamrick Software has released a new version of VueScan, its powerful scanning utility for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. The new version fixes bugs, and adds support for five more Canon Laser medium format printers (MFP).
Hamrick Software was founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 1991 by Ed Hamrick. Having always been interested in photography, Hamrick decided to see if he could produce better quality scans than the software that came with the scanner, after buying his first film scanner (an HP PhotoSmart) in 1997. The result was VueSmart, which later became VueScan, a powerful scanning solution. Now at version 8.6.31, the software fixes a problem with HP Deskjet F300, F2400 and F4400, improves appearance of user interface, and has added support for more Canon Laser MFPs. Those are: MF4270; MF4010; MF4360; MF4600; MF5800; MF6600.
As noted by Ed Hamrick, VueScan supports flatbed and film scanners, as well as several digital camera RAW file types. The program automatically adjusts images to an optimum color balance, which reduces the need to work in Photoshop, Hamrick claims. VueScan is designed to produce colors that look true to life, and includes a built-in color calibration of scanners, offering options for scanning faded slides and prints, batch scanning, IT8 color calibration and other advanced scanning features, and supports more than 100 brands of negative films. According to Ed Hamrick, the main features of his application include:
- scans documents, photos and film; - creates PDF, JPEG, TIFF and TXT files; - supports over 1,200 scanners; - has been downloaded over seven million times; - costs $39.95 and a free trial is available.
How to download and use VueScan
In order to upgrade an existing copy of VueScan, customers simply need to download the latest version either from the developer’s website, or from Softpedia, and double-click the resulted DMG file. After dragging the new version to their Applications folder, VueScan will automatically recognize an existing license. Hamrick Software’s policies say that upgrades to new versions are free in the first year after one purchases the Standard Edition, while those who purchase the Professional Edition always get these upgrades for free. When you first download and install the program, VueScan runs in trial mode.
Also for newcomers, the VueScan User's Guide (also available in PDF) assists you in learning more information about how to put the software to good use. There is also a list of supported scanners located here. VueScan is available for the following operating systems: Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), 10.5, 10.4, 10.3; Windows 7, Vista, x64, XP, 2000, NT; Windows 95, 98, ME; Linux (built with Ubuntu 8.10); Linux (built with Red Hat 9).