TWAIN Photo Scanning - Epson

Sandra Dorosz posted on 9/18/2019 8:20:00 AM

To scan photos, you have two scanning options: WIA and TWAIN. Scanning photos is easiest using WIA. With this simple scan method, your Epson scanner works seemlessly with ScanSpeeder's photo scanning software.

WIA provides you with ScanSpeeder's: best in the industry auto-detection, auto-splitting, batch scanning, auto-straightening, digitally tagging, and automatically saving photos as both JPEG and TIFF.

If you would like to enhance your photos while scanning, then use the TWAIN scanning method. TWAIN allows ScanSpeeder to work with Epson's Easy Photo Fix to give a powerful assortment of tools to touch up those old photos while you are digitizing them. Unlike WIA, the TWAIN scanning method takes a little setting up, but is still quite simple to use. Let me show you...

Scan Photos with TWAIN - on your Epson Scanner

Step 1

Open ScanSpeeder:

Click the Scanner button in Step 1.
Select a scanner driver with (TWAIN) in the name.
Check Advanced Mode.

scan-photos-epson-twain

Step 2

Click Scan.
Epson Scan will open. Very important - Change the mode to PROFESSIONAL MODE.

This mode must be used to allow auto-detection of photos!

epson-professional-mode

Step 3

In the Epson Scan screen in PROFESSIONAL MODE select:

Photo, 24-bit Color, 600 dpi
- Use color even for old black and white photos --> 24-bit color gives superior results for both black and white and color photos
- 600 dpi is optimal --> archival quality at a speed quick enough for batch scanning; higher dpi makes scanning multiple photos tediously slow

epson-scan

Step 4

Preview will now open.

Very Important!

Before you begin scanning, look at the upper left-hand corner. You need to ensure that thumbnails is turned OFF.

1. Select 'Normal' view photo-scan

Do NOT use Thumbnail view. Auto-detection of photos will NOT occur if you use Thumbnails. scan-photos

Step 5

1. You get the opportunity now to enhance your photos! I recommend you play around a bit with all the settings as shown below. Each icon button allows different enhancement tools. The other settings you select will depend on the photos you are scanning. Once you play around with the settings you will get a feel for what each batch of photos needs. Your Epson scanner has some powerful enhancement tools.

Click PREVIEW to see how each adjustment looks. You can make lots of changes and keep previewing until you like the results.

2. When you are happy with the look of your photos, click SCAN.

photo-scan-adjustments

Step 6

ScanSpeeder now takes over. Your photos will be auto-detected, separated, and batch scanned. You will continue using ScanSpeeder as you normally would. For the basics of scanning, please refer to this article. Continue with ScanSpeeder by click the 'Extract Photos' button in Step 2.

photo-scanning-software

In Summary - If you do not need to enhance photos, save yourself effort and time by using the WIA (simple) scan method. If you want to enhance photos, then use TWAIN following the instructions above. If you take anything away from this article, please note that THUMBNAILS must be TURNED OFF to allow ScanSpeeder to auto-detect your photos for you.

Interested in learning more about photo scanning? See Top 10 Photo Scanning Tips. Also see Photo Enhancement with Epson Scanners.

| Categories: How To | Tags: epson twain, twain, advanced scan method | View Count: (15557) | Return

About the Author

Welcome to my blog. I write about scanning photos. Why? Well, it started a few years ago when I found out the majority of my childhood photos were destroyed in a basement flood. Terrible moment. The precious few I had left , I was going to digitally preserve ASAP. But how? I was not going to send my last remaining memories off to a stranger. So, I decided to do it myself. All my remaining photos are now forever safe. This blog is dedicated to sharing everything I have learned scanning photos so you can do it yourself too.

Comments

Larry Morton

I purchased an Epson FF-680W but using ScanSpeeder, I don't see any images when it scans and I have selected the scannerand TWAIN. It doesn't use the typical Epson Scan software which I have fro another scanner so I cannot change to Professional mode

8/9/2021 11:02:52 PM
- Brent Neufeld
  
  @Larry Morton: Hello Larry. Make sure you have the latest version of ScanSpeeder Pro edition installed. You can see this under the Help menu > About, and it should be version 3.16 or higher. Then select the Photo Feeder task (top center). Click "Scan Photos from Feeder" and you should see the scanner selector come up, where you select your scanner, make sure "Document/Photo Feeder" is checked and Advanced Mode is UNchecked (click the Scanner button near top center if this did not come up). There are also instructions that come up in the Notification Center (top right). Please contact us at https://scanspeeder.com/contact if you have further questions.
  
  8/11/2021 2:00:26 PM
Peter Muller

Hi, We have an Epson WF2650, which will probably be replaced with a Brother MFC2710, will ScanSpeeder work with both these scanners? Thanks Regards Peter

7/8/2021 1:22:49 AM
- Brent Neufeld
  
  @Peter Muller: Hello Peter. As long as there is a TWAIN or WIA scanner driver for your Windows version available for your scanner model on the scanner manufacturer website, it should work with ScanSpeeder.
  
  7/9/2021 11:56:52 AM
Martin Houlihan

I bought an Epson Perfection V800 Photo scanner. No worries setting it up, BUT, I do need advice re ensuring that I get the best possible TIFF images from my neg's, slides, photos, etc., for archiving purposes. I do know that I can then make copies later in perhaps jpeg format for sending to relatives. The point is I don't understand the various settings I need to use when using the Epson scanning program which came with the scanner. Can anybody direct me to a reliable and simply understood source of instruction with this issue? Cheers

5/18/2020 11:34:49 PM
- SuperUser Account
  
  @Martin Houlihan: I recommend you download ScanSpeeder Pro from our site to do this. Once you have ScanSpeeder photo scanning software installed, there are instructions on how to scan photos, negatives and slides under the Help menu > Advanced Mode Instructions. There are also instructions that come up after you start to scan film or photos in advanced mode. After you click the Scanner button in the Step 1 section, remember to select "Negatives/Slides/Film" is scanning film, for example, or one of the other intentions in the blue bar as needed.
  
  5/21/2020 10:24:35 AM
Fay Willett

Will scan speeder work with Epson xp-340 thanks

10/1/2018 8:08:48 PM
- SuperUser Account
  
  @Fay Willett : Hello Fay. Yes, your Epson XP-340 should work fine to scan photos with ScanSpeeder. Just make sure you download and install the drivers from the Epson website for your scanner.
  
  10/2/2018 7:56:02 AM
Stacey Olson

I need adf and flatbed option so I have the Epson DS-1630 on the way from amazon. DO you have any experience with this scanner? Will the flatbed be good for my photo archiving with and with your software? Thanks for your help! Stacey

4/2/2018 1:01:24 PM
- Sandra Dorosz
  
  @Stacey Olson: Hi Stacey. ScanSpeeder will work with the flatbed on your new Epson DS-1630. With the flatbed, you will be able to place multiple photos directly on the flatbed and ScanSpeeder will auto-detect and split them into separate files. Best part is that ScanSpeeder will save the scanned photos as both JPEG and TIFF. Also, as you go through your scanning project, you can tag your photos. I recommend you try the free trial and take it for a test drive :) https://scanspeeder.com
  
  4/3/2018 10:42:02 AM
tONY nUNES

Just starting out and boy how much I do not know. Hoping your program will help but for now this all so confusing with scanners programs, computer programs, etc, etc. I have an Epsom V370 hoping this scanner will work for me but I guess I just have to try and figure things out, scanner and software.

12/30/2017 1:48:59 PM
- Sandra Dorosz
  
  @tONY nUNES: Hi Tony! Have no fear... ScanSpeeder is going to simplify this for you. The Epson V370 is a great scanner and works beautifully with ScanSpeeder. So, to keep things simple I recommend you just download ScanSpeeder start with the SIMPLE Scan Method. This TWAIN method as I wrote about above is only necessary if you want to enhance photos as you go. That said, it too is quite simple. All you do is place photos on your flatbed (relatively straight with about 1/4 inch of space between) and click SCAN. ScanSpeeder will walk you through. If you are wondering about what dpi to select, I recommend 600. It is a great balance between scan speed and quality. Another tip - save as both TIFF and JPEG. ScanSpeeder will do this simultaneously for you. TIFF is archival quality (for later enhancements, printing, etc) and JPEG is compressed (good for sharing on social media, email, and slideshows). A third tip - tag photos as you go. ScanSpeeder will let you do this as you scan. It's called the CAPTION in ScanSpeeder. TAgging just means you add information that you think is important to finding the photo later and future generations: date, location, who is in the photo, etc. We are always here to help so email me anytime as you go through your project.
  
  12/30/2017 2:08:17 PM