Hello, I'm looking to buy a scanner to use with Debian Testing/Unstable. I see that the Epson 4870 is listed as having 'Complete' support. Does this include the special hardware-based dust removal feature called Digital ICE?
I've searched the archives here and the SANE Epson Backend FAQ, and read up lots elsewhere on the web about this, but am still unclear: does the scanning software need to do anything to make this facility work? It is different from the usual Dust Removal option in software, in that the scanner uses infra-red and dual light sources to create a separate 'defects' channel (as well as R, G & B) to detect imperfections on the image. This technology (developed by a company called Applied Science Fiction) is used in high-end film scanners - see the results: http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%204870/page_10.htm http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/other/display/epson-4870photo_6.html If not the 4870, then do any other such film scanners support it using SANE? Is anyone here using it? I see that the PIE PrimeFilm1800 is unsupported by SANE; how about their new PrimeFilm 3650u, which also has Digital ICE? This would be of great help to me, saving hours of dotting in The GIMP. If ICE is not supported, I'll probably just buy a cheaper scanner for now, perhaps an Epson 2400, or maybe wait until the 2480, 2580 or 4180 are fully supported. Many thanks, -- Malcolm Smith http://www.canopus22.demon.co.uk/
