Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Computers & Peripherals => Topic started by: PeterAit on December 28, 2013, 03:31:22 pm

Title: Controlling a scanner directly - possible?
Post by: PeterAit on December 28, 2013, 03:31:22 pm

Someone who has the mistaken idea that I am an expert on these matters has asked me how to control a scanner without using the software - turn the lamp on and off, move the scanning head, and so on. In other words, a "scanner API." Any pointers will be appreciated.

Title: Re: Controlling a scanner directly - possible?
Post by: degrub on December 28, 2013, 04:22:46 pm

The simplest would be that the manufacturer has a software development kit available for signing a NDA. Nikon had one for their coolscan series, for example. Ed Hamrick of Vuescan fame has done a lot in this area with his scanning product. Ed might be able to point them to a library to use for USB or SCSI calls that would make the reverse engineering a small bit easier. Another idea would be to start with the LINUX open source code for scanner function calls over USB and SCSI - the SANE Project.

Frank.