The quality of a scanned image with Epson Scan is poor. What should I do?
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See the solutions below for your problem type.
Image Consists of a Few Dots Only
If your scanned image consists only of a few dots, try these solutions:
- Make sure you placed your original for scanning facing the correct way.
- If you are scanning using the Epson Scan Black & White setting, adjust the Threshold setting and scan again.
Line of Dots Appears in All Scanned Images
If a line of dots appears in all your scanned images, clean the scanner glass with a soft, dry, lint-free cloth or use a small amount of glass cleaner on the cloth, if necessary. Paper towels are not recommended.
Caution:
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Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the scanner glass.
Cleaning Your Scanner
Straight Lines in an Image Appear Crooked
If straight lines in an original appear crooked in a scanned image, make sure to place your original straight when you scan it.
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Placing Originals on the Scanner Glass
Image is Distorted or Blurry
If a scanned image appears distorted or blurry, try these solutions:
- Make sure your original is not wrinkled or warped. This may prevent the original from laying flat on the scanner glass.
- Do not move your original or your product during scanning.
- Your product will not operate properly while tilted at an angle. Place it on a flat, stable surface that extends beyond the base of the product in all directions.
- Adjust these Epson Scan settings (if available) and try scanning again:
- Select the Unsharp Mask setting.
- Adjust the Auto Exposure setting.
- Increase the Resolution setting.
Image Colors are Patchy at the Edges
If you are scanning a thick or warped original, cover its edges with paper to block external light as you scan it.
Image is Too Dark
If your scanned image is too dark, try these solutions:
- Adjust these Epson Scan settings (if available) and try scanning again:
- Auto Exposure
- Brightness
- Histogram Adjustment
- Check the brightness and contrast settings of your computer monitor.
- Try using the Backlight Correction feature in Home or Professional mode.
Back of Original Image Appears in Scanned Image
If an image from the back of a thin original appears in your scanned image, make sure you selected the correct Image Type setting for your original and select the Text Enhancement setting in Epson Scan.
Ripple Patterns Appear in an Image
You may see a ripple pattern (called a moiré) in scanned images of printed documents. This is caused by interference from differing pitches in the scanner's screen and your original's halftone screen. To reduce this effect, adjust these Epson Scan settings (if available) and try scanning again:
- Select the Descreening setting.
- Select a lower Resolution setting.
Image is Scanned Upside-Down
Your product scans using the Auto Photo Orientation setting. This setting checks the preview image for faces, the sky, and other features, and then correctly rotates the photo when it is scanned, if necessary. If your photo is not oriented correctly using this option, deselect the Auto Photo Orientation setting and scan again.
Scanned Image Colors Do Not Match Original Colors
Printed colors can never exactly match the colors on your computer monitor because printers and monitors use different color systems: monitors use RGB (red, green, and blue) and printers typically use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black).
Check the color matching and color management capabilities of your computer, display adapter, and the software you are using to see if they are affecting the palette of colors you see on your screen.
To adjust the colors in your scanned image, adjust these Epson Scan settings (if available) and try scanning again:
- Change the Image Type setting and experiment with different combinations of the next settings.
- Adjust the Tone Correction setting.
- Adjust the Auto Exposure setting.
Scan Area is Not Adjustable in Thumbnail Preview
If you cannot adjust the scan area while viewing a Thumbnail preview in Epson Scan, try these solutions:
- Create a scan area by drawing a marquee on your preview image and adjusting it as necessary.
- Adjust the thumbnail cropping area using the Thumbnail Cropping Area slider in preview mode.
- Switch to Normal preview mode, if available, and preview your image again.
Scanned Image Edges are Cropped
If the edges of a scanned image are cropped, make sure your original is placed correctly for scanning. If necessary, move your original away from the edges of the scanner glass slightly.
Film or Slide Scanning Does Not Work
If you have trouble scanning film or slides, try these solutions:
- Remove the document mat from inside the scanner cover whenever you scan film or slides.
- Make sure your film or slides are placed correctly in the correct film holder, and the holder is positioned correctly on the scanner glass.
- Make sure the Epson Scan Document Type setting (Home Mode) or Film Type setting (Professional Mode) is set correctly.
- Make sure the scanner cover is securely connected to the scanner's OPTION port.
- Make sure the transportation lock is unlocked.
Placing Film or Slides on the Scanner
Negative Film Preview Image Looks Incorrect
If a preview image from a negative film original looks incorrect, try these solutions:
- Make sure the Epson Scan Document Type setting (Home Mode) or Film Type setting (Professional Mode) is set correctly.
- In Normal preview mode, the film holder or film edge may cause colors to appear incorrectly. Create marquees on the image area of each image and click Zoom to preview each image area.
- Try using Thumbnail preview mode instead of Normal preview mode.
Placing Film or Slides on the Scanner
Ring Pattern Appears in Scanned Film or Slides
If you see a pattern of rings in scanned film or slide images, the original film or slide is curled. Flip the film or slide over in its holder, preview it again in Epson Scan, click the
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icon, and scan it again to flip the scanned image back to its original orientation.
Placing Film or Slides on the Scanner