scanning - files too large!

[Sybaris]

This thread is slightly ol

[Sybaris]

My forum message was not saved properly so I will try again, here we go:

I just bought a F2280 printer and installed it the other day. When I tried to scan I couldn't select .pdf as "File Type". I have the Acrobat distiller on my computer, i.e. in my list of printers I can choose to print to a .pdf file so I selected "Scan To" Adobe Acrobat. This worked fine an an A4 page file ended up as 63K.

I wasn't happy with the fact that I couldn't select .pdf as a file type so I checked on this forum and found out that I must install "extra" software from the HP CD and select OCR. I did, and yes now I can select .pdf as a file type. Why didn't they mention this anywhere? (redme file or help screens comes to mind). Anyway, I tested it and it worked fine, only the file size is now around 950K for the same page.

When I compare the two files the quality is identical, in fact the smaller one almost looks better when printed. The difference is that I cannot select any text in the smaller file which is fine in most cases.

I agree with others that the HP software leaves much to be desired and this really puzzles me because the printers are the best you can get. The support also seems to leave much to be desired with the only answer being to re-install the software.

I will use my Acrobal distiller option, but I don't think most people actually have the distiller as it is quite expensive.

I also have a problem with page size. If I make a photocopy on the printer only by placing an A4 page in the scanner and pressing copy I get an exact copy printed. If I scan I always get an A4 page reduced to fit on a Letter size page (i.e. a left and bottom margin), and then enlarged to A4 again. This works, but the text is slightly out of proportion, and the margins are too big. I cannot find a way to set the standard size for the scanner to A4 and I am sure this is another software error. Nothing in mentioned in any help file, and I can't find any comments about it on this forum.

Cheers,

[Joeley]

Welcome to the unwelcome club!

I tried installing the "downgrade" described in my previous post but found either the instructions/process to be too confusing and/or it just wasn't appropriate or possibly even different for the application I sought.

I would not recommend - if someone figures it out please let me know.

Sybaris, I'm not sure I can help with the form size. Guess I'd look for the next best option. Your solution about using Adobe Acroba, while appreciated, does not really solve the problem as you well know.

If you use the "webscan" single-page scanning option (assuming your scanner is attached to your network equipment) there seems to be a choice for A4 paper. Hope that helps.

Message Edited by Joeley on 02-04-2009 12:05 PM

[jsafdeye]

As I wait for a reasonable solution after I scan the document into a PDF I print it to a new PDF. It reduces the size to about a third.

[Joeley]

That's a good idea, but only if you have Adobe Standard (or some kind of PDF distiller driver).

I had a very long online chat with HP support, the end of which I was promised I'd be referred to upper level of technical support. It never happened, no one ever contacted me despite a promise I would be contacted.

They wrote more than a week ago:  "We will escelate the issue to the next level suppor team." I'm still waiting, as I am waiting for any sign of HP response to this issue on the support forum.

[seanam]

I have nothing new to add; I just wanted to add my voice to this chorus of dissatisfaction and I'm anxiously awaiting a solution.

[Joeley]

Thanks for posting, but I'm afraid we're all in for a long wait. I for one have stopped using mine, for printing, scanning, or anything else. I may have been fooled once into thinking HP sold a reliable, useable product, but I'm not going to reward their lack of good faith effort by buying any more supplies for it.

[ferastu]

I have the C7280 as well. I bought it to replace a HP Scanjet 4370 and HP Photosmart 7550 printer.

On the OLD Scanjet 4370 I used the OLD HP Solution Center to scan documents as black and white. I had my default set for 200 dpi and save to .pdf. A typical one page bank statement would be 40KB in size and I would not have to adjust the black/white sensitivity. 

On the NEW C7280 scanjet I am running into the same problem that everyone else is. It always scans at 300 dpi searchable text for pdf's. Regardless of what I put the setting to or if I change the defaults, change at time of scanning, etc. The scans are now 700+KB instead of 40KB.

I also always have to adjust the black/white sensitivity. It defaults around 200 and the image is barely visible. I have to raise it to 450 or so to get the same scan as I was getting one month ago with my 4370.

[ferastu]

One other thing I noticed. Even though I've changed the default for my document class to Black & White (or change it at the time of scanning - I tried both), it always scans in Grayscale. I have to change it to Black and White after the scan is completed.

[Joeley]

I've noticed this, too. The settings just don't seem to apply.

How hard can this be to fix, HP? The PDF scanning worked fine in previous software, but not this AIO printer, not this software.