Changing the jpeg compression level in a scanner

[yeltommo]

I've been reading about different levels of jpeg compression and how to adjust this level on scanners. However, I'm unable to find any such adjustment in the software for my scanner, or anywhere else. Need some help. Thanks.

[banhien]

Hi,

No, it does not support compression level BUT you can reduce dpi to make output smaller (in MB).

Regards.

[yeltommo]

Well, since I wrote that, I found a way that *appears* to change jpeg compression. If I click "Scan picture" in HP Solution Center and then...."Change Settings" and then.... (so slow!)... "Save to file save options" and then "JPEG Settings," there's a slider for Image Quality ranging from low to high. Only problem is that the file size is exactly the same no matter what I choose, about 5 MB in the specific case I'm dealing with. How could that be? 

It's been so slow and frustrating using the HP software (I'd always used Windows Fax and Scan with the basic printer driver) that I figured it wasn't worth it, but when I tried the exact same scan using Windows Fax and Scan, the resulting file was about 2 MB. So clearly the (apparently unchangeable) default jpeg compression in Windows Scan is much more aggressive than the (apparently changeable but actually unchangeable) compression provided by the HP software, which I assume is the minimal jpeg compression. I'd like a file size/quality somewhere between 2 MB and 5 MB....  

I've googled my butt off trying to find a way to adjust the jpeg compression level in Windows 7 without any luck. And even if someone could explain how to *actually* change the compression level in the HP software, the software is so annoying and slow that I'd prefer a third-party option. Is there such a thing? I have to use the basic HP printer driver, but I don't have to use the entire HP software suite. If Windows can piggy-back on it (albeit with limited features), couldn't a third-party option do it?