Linux-friendly portable document scanner?

dogberry007 · 08-22-2018, 08:57 AM

Hello,

I am looking for a Linux-friendly portable document scanner to quickly create PDFs of documents. Are there any devices out there with good/official Linux support? I have had very bad luck with an Epson DS-30; although there are drivers you can download from Epson's website, I could not get them to work on Ubuntu 18.04. I am hoping for something portable and relatively inexpensive (<$100), but mainly, it needs to have solid Linux support.

Thanks!

business_kid · 08-22-2018, 01:29 PM

What sort of resolution do you want? Photos with mobiles or tablets have killed the scanner market in my case anyhow.

dogberry007 · 05-17-2019, 06:29 AM

I know, it seems scanners are kind of an anachronism. But I still want the ability to create PDFs from documents quickly and easily, without resorting to snaps with my phone. I believe 300-600 DPI is pretty standard for that type of thing. I don't need color.

I guess with only one reply to this, my hopes are pretty slim...

syg00 · 05-17-2019, 08:11 AM

Proprietary formats are always a problem - usually to me that signals fergettit. I think I had one of those scanners somewhere - lemme go look after the footy.

Johnny78 · 05-21-2019, 04:52 AM

Hello,

I use the HP Photosmart C4180 All-in-One.
It is a scanner and printer.

Generally HP is a brand that cooperates very
well with Linux. It even provides Linux software
for their products. I have an HP-systray application
to control my printer.

Together with XSane you can easily produce even
multi-page scans in PDF format. I do that all
the time without problems.

I hope that helps.

teckk · 05-22-2019, 07:44 AM

If this helps you.
Look at: man sane (BACKENDS FOR SCANNERS)

In case you don't have sane installed

Code:

BACKENDS FOR SCANNERS
       abaton
         The SANE backend for Abaton flatbed scanners  supports  the  Scan  300/GS
         (8bit,  256  levels  of  gray)  and  the  Scan  300/S  (black  and white,
         untested). See sane-abaton(5) for details.

       agfafocus
         This  backend  supports  AGFA  Focus  scanners  and  the  Siemens   S9036
         (untested).  See sane-agfafocus(5) for details.

       apple
         The  SANE backend for Apple flatbed scanners supports the following scan‐
         ners: AppleScanner, OneScanner and ColorOneScanner. See sane-apple(5) for
         details.

       artec
         The  SANE  Artec backend supports several Artec/Ultima SCSI flatbed scan‐
         ners as well as the BlackWidow  BW4800SP  and  the  Plustek  19200S.  See
         sane-artec(5) for details.

       artec_eplus48u
         The SANE artec_eplus48u backend supports the scanner Artec E+ 48U and re-
         badged models like Tevion MD 9693, Medion MD 9693,  Medion  MD  9705  and
         Trust Easy Webscan 19200. See sane-artec_eplus48u(5) for details.

       as6e
         This  is  a SANE backend for using the Artec AS6E parallel port interface
         scanner. See sane-as6e(5) for details.

       avision
         This backend supports several Avision based scanners. This  includes  the
         original  Avision  scanners  (like AV 630, AV 620, ...) as well as the HP
         ScanJet 53xx and 74xx series, Fujitsu ScanPartner,  some  Mitsubishi  and
         Minolta film-scanners.  See sane-avision(5) for details.

       bh
         The bh backend provides access to Bell+Howell Copiscan II series document
         scanners. See sane-bh(5) for details.

       canon
         The canon backend supports the CanoScan 300, CanoScan 600,  and  CanoScan
         2700F SCSI flatbed scanners. See sane-canon(5) for details.

       canon630u
         The  canon630u  backend supports the CanoScan 630u and 636u USB scanners.
         See sane-canon630u(5) for details.

       canon_dr
         The canon_dr backend supports the Canon DR-Series ADF SCSI and USB  scan‐
         ners. See sane-canon_dr(5) for details.

       canon_pp
         The  canon_pp  backend  supports  the  CanoScan FB330P, FB630P, N340P and
         N640P parallel port scanners.  See sane-canon_pp(5) for details.

       cardscan
         This backend provides  support  for  Corex  Cardscan  USB  scanners.  See
         sane-cardscan(5) for details.

       coolscan
         This   is   a   SANE   backend  for  Nikon  Coolscan  film-scanners.  See
         sane-coolscan(5) for details.

       coolscan2
         This  is  a  SANE  backend  for  Nikon   Coolscan   film-scanners.    See
         sane-coolscan2(5) or http://coolscan2.sourceforge.net for details.

       epjitsu
         The  epjitsu  backend  provides support for Epson-based Fujitsu USB scan‐
         ners. See sane-epjitsu(5) for details.

       epson
         The SANE epson backend provides support for Epson SCSI, parallel port and
         USB flatbed scanners. See sane-epson(5) for details.

       fujitsu
         The  fujitsu  backend  provides  support  for  most Fujitsu SCSI and USB,
         flatbed and adf scanners. See sane-fujitsu(5) for details.

       genesys
         The genesys backend provides support for several scanners  based  on  the
         Genesys  Logic GL646, GL841, GL843, GL847 and GL124 chips like the Medion
         6471 and Hewlett-Packard 2300c.
          See sane-genesys(5) for details.

       gt68xx
         The gt68xx backend provides support for scanners based on  the  Grandtech
         GT-6801  and  GT-6816 chips like the Artec Ultima 2000 and several Mustek
         BearPaw CU and TA models. Some Genius,  Lexmark,  Medion,  Packard  Bell,
         Plustek,  and  Trust  scanners are also supported. See sane-gt68xx(5) for
         details.

       hp
         The SANE hp backend provides access to Hewlett-Packard  ScanJet  scanners
         which  support  SCL  (Scanner Control Language by HP). See sane-hp(5) for
         details.

       hpsj5s
         The  SANE  backend  for  the  Hewlett-Packard  ScanJet  5S  scanner.  See
         sane-hpsj5s(5) for details.

       hp3500
         The  SANE  backend  for  the  Hewlett-Packard  ScanJet  3500  series. See
         sane-hp3500(5) for details.

       hp3900
         The SANE  backend  for  the  Hewlett-Packard  ScanJet  3900  series.  See
         sane-hp3900(5) for details.

       hp4200
         The  SANE  backend  for  the  Hewlett-Packard  ScanJet  4200  series. See
         sane-hp4200(5) for details.

       hp5400
         The SANE backend  for  the  Hewlett-Packard  ScanJet  54XXC  series.  See
         sane-hp5400(5) for details.

       hpljm1005
         The  SANE  backend  for  the  Hewlett-Packard LaserJet M1005 scanner. See
         sane-hpljm1005(5) for details.

       hs2p
         The SANE backend for  the  Ricoh  IS450  family  of  SCSI  scanners.  See
         sane-hs2p(5) for details.

       ibm
         The  SANE  backend  for some IBM and Ricoh SCSI scanners. See sane-ibm(5)
         for details.

       kodak
         The SANE backend for some large Kodak scanners. See sane-kodak(5) for de‐
         tails.

       kodakaio
         The SANE backend for Kodak AiO printer/scanners. See sane-kodakaio(5) for
         details.

       kvs1025
         The SANE backend for Panasonic KV-S102xC  scanners.  See  sane-kvs1025(5)
         for details.

       leo
         This  backend  supports the Leo S3 and the Across FS-1130, which is a re-
         badged LEO FS-1130 scanner. See sane-leo(5) for details.

       lexmark
         This backend supports the Lexmark  X1100  series  of  USB  scanners.  See
         sane-lexmark(5) for details.

       ma1509
         The ma1509 backend supports the Mustek BearPaw 1200F USB flatbed scanner.
         See sane-ma1509(5) for details.

       magicolor
         The magicolor backend supports the KONICA MINOLTA magicolor 1690MF multi-
         function printer/scanner/fax. See sane-magicolor(5) for details.

       matsushita
         This  backend  supports  some  Panasonic  KVSS  high  speed scanners. See
         sane-matsushita(5) for details.

       microtek
         The microtek backend provides access to the "second generation"  Microtek
         scanners with SCSI-1 command set. See sane-microtek(5) for details.

       microtek2
         The  microtek2  backend  provides access to some Microtek scanners with a
         SCSI-2 command set. See sane-microtek2(5) for details.

       mustek
         The SANE mustek backend supports most Mustek SCSI  flatbed  scanners  in‐
         cluding the Paragon and ScanExpress series and the 600 II N and 600 II EP
         (non-SCSI). Some Trust scanners are also  supported.  See  sane-mustek(5)
         for details.

       mustek_pp
         The  mustek_pp  backend  provides  access to Mustek parallel port flatbed
         scanners. See sane-mustek_pp(5) for details.

       mustek_usb
         The mustek_usb backend provides access to  some  Mustek  ScanExpress  USB
         flatbed scanners. See sane-mustek_usb(5) for details.

       mustek_usb2
         The  mustek_usb2  backend  provides  access  to  scanners using the SQ113
         chipset like the Mustek BearPaw 2448 TA  Pro  USB  flatbed  scanner.  See
         sane-mustek_usb2(5) for details.

       nec
         The  SANE  nec  backend  supports  the  NEC PC-IN500/4C SCSI scanner. See
         sane-nec(5) for details.

       niash
         The niash backend supports the Agfa Snapscan Touch  and  the  HP  ScanJet
         3300c,  3400c,  and 4300c USB flatbed scanners. See sane-niash(5) for de‐
         tails.

       p5
         The SANE backend for Primax PagePartner. See sane-p5(5) for details.

       pie
         The pie backend provides access to Pacific Image  Electronics  (PIE)  and
         Devcom SCSI flatbed scanners. See sane-pie(5) for details.

       pixma
         The  pixma  backend  supports  Canon  PIXMA MP series (multi-function de‐
         vices). See sane-pixma(5) or http://home.arcor.de/wittawat/pixma/ for de‐
         tails.

       plustek
         The  SANE  plustek backend supports USB flatbed scanners that use the Na‐
         tional Semiconductor LM983[1/2/3] chipset aka Merlin. Scanners using this
         LM983x  chips  include  some  models  from  Plustek, KYE/Genius, Hewlett-
         Packard, Mustek, Umax, Epson, and Canon. See sane-plustek(5) for details.

       plustek_pp
         The SANE plustek_pp backend supports Plustek parallel port flatbed  scan‐
         ners.   Scanners using the Plustek ASIC P96001, P96003, P98001 and P98003
         include some models from  Plustek,  KYE/Genius,  Primax.  See  sane-plus‐
         tek_pp(5) for details.

       ricoh
         The  ricoh  backend  provides access to the following Ricoh flatbed scan‐
         ners: IS50 and IS60. See sane-ricoh(5) for details.

       s9036
         The s9036 backend provides access to Siemens 9036 flatbed  scanners.  See
         sane-s9036(5) for details.

       sceptre
         The sceptre backend provides access to the Sceptre S1200 flatbed scanner.
         See sane-sceptre(5) for details.

       sharp
         The SANE sharp backend supports Sharp SCSI  scanners.  See  sane-sharp(5)
         for details.

       sm3600
         The SANE sm3600 backend supports the Microtek ScanMaker 3600 USB scanner.
         See sane-sm3600(5) for details.

       sm3840
         The SANE sm3840 backend supports the Microtek ScanMaker 3840 USB scanner.
         See sane-sm3840(5) for details.

       snapscan
         The  snapscan  backend  supports  AGFA  SnapScan  flatbed  scanners.  See
         sane-snapscan(5) for details.

       sp15c
         This backend supports the Fujitsu FCPA ScanPartner 15C  flatbed  scanner.
         See sane-sp15c(5) for details.

       st400
         The  sane-st400  backend  provides access to Siemens ST400 and ST800. See
         sane-st400(5) for details.

       tamarack
         The SANE tamarack backend supports Tamarack  Artiscan  flatbed  scanners.
         See sane-tamarack(5) for details.

       teco1 teco2 teco3
         The SANE teco1, teco2 and teco3 backends support some TECO scanners, usu‐
         ally sold under the Relisys, Trust, Primax, Piotech,  Dextra  names.  See
         sane-teco1(5), sane-teco2(5) and sane-teco3(5) for details.

       u12
         The  sane-u12  backend  provides  USB flatbed scanners based on Plustek's
         ASIC 98003 (parallel-port ASIC) and a GeneSys Logics' USB-parport  bridge
         chip like the Plustek OpticPro U(T)12. See sane-u12(5) for details.

       umax
         The  sane-umax  backend provides access to several UMAX-SCSI-scanners and
         some Linotype Hell SCSI-scanners. See sane-umax(5) for details.

       umax_pp
         The sane-umax_pp backend provides access to Umax  parallel  port  flatbed
         scanners and the HP 3200C. See sane-umax_pp(5) for details.

       umax1200u
         The  sane-umax1220u  backend  supports the UMAX Astra 1220U (USB) flatbed
         scanner (and also the UMAX Astra 2000U, sort of).  See  sane-umax1220u(5)
         for details.

       xerox_mfp
         The  sane-xerox_mfp  backend supports multiple Samsung-based Samsung, Xe‐
         rox, and Dell scanners. See sane-xerox_mfp(5) for details.

       Also,   have   a   look   at    the    backend    information    page    at
       http://www.sane-project.org/sane-supported-devices.html  and  the  list  of
       projects in /usr/share/doc/sane-backends/PROJECTS.

BACKENDS FOR DIGITAL CAMERAS
       dc210
         Backend for Kodak DC210 Digital Camera. See sane-dc210(5).

       dc240
         Backend for Kodak DC240 Digital Camera. See sane-dc240(5).

       dc25
         Backend for Kodak DC20/DC25 Digital Cameras. See sane-dc25(5).

       dmc
         Backend for the Polaroid Digital Microscope Camera. See sane-dmc(5).

       gphoto2
         Backend for digital cameras supported by  the  gphoto2  library  package.
         (See  http://www.gphoto.org  for more information and a list of supported
         cameras.)  Gphoto2 supports over 140 different camera  models.   However,
         please  note  that  more  development and testing is needed before all of
         these cameras will be supported by SANE backend.  See sane-gphoto2(5).

       qcam
         Backend for Connectix QuickCam cameras. See sane-qcam(5).

       stv680
         The sane-st680 backend provides access to webcams with a stv680 chip. See
         sane-st680(5) for details.

       Also,    have    a    look    at    the   backend   information   page   at
       http://www.sane-project.org/sane-supported-devices.html  and  the  list  of
       projects in /usr/share/doc/sane-backends/PROJECTS.

MISCELLANEOUS BACKENDS
       dll
         The sane-dll library implements a SANE backend that provides access to an
         arbitrary  number  of  other  SANE  backends  by  dynamic  loading.   See
         sane-dll(5).

       net
         The SANE network daemon saned provides access to scanners located on dif‐
         ferent computers in connection with the net backend. See sane-net(5)  and
         saned(8).

       pnm
         PNM image reader pseudo-backend. The purpose of this backend is primarily
         to aid in debugging of SANE frontends. See sane-pnm(5).

       pint
         Backend for scanners that use the PINT (Pint Is Not Twain) device driver.
         The  PINT driver is being actively developed on the OpenBSD platform, and
         has  been  ported  to  a  few  other  *nix-like  operating  systems.  See
         sane-pint(5).

       test
         The SANE test backend is for testing frontends and the SANE installation.
         It provides test pictures and various test options. See sane-test(5).

       v4l
         The sane-v4l library implements a SANE backend that provides generic  ac‐
         cess  to  video  cameras  and  similar equipment using the V4L (Video for
         Linux) API. See sane-v4l(5).

I usually use scanimage and be done with it.

Code:

scanimage --source Flatbed --mode Color --format=jpeg > scan.jpg
scanimage --source Automatic -b --mode Color --format=jpeg > scan.jpg

See:
man sane
man scanimage

Also xsane is usefull

Code:

pacman -Si xsane
...
Name            : xsane
...
Description     : A GTK-based X11 frontend for SANE and plugin for Gimp.
...
URL             : http://www.xsane.org
...
Depends On      : gtk2  lcms2  sane  zlib  libjpeg
Optional Deps   : xsane-gimp: for gimp plugin support
...
Download Size   : 1577.87 KiB
Installed Size  : 4946.00 KiB
...

sevendogsbsd · 05-22-2019, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny78

Hello,

I use the HP Photosmart C4180 All-in-One.
It is a scanner and printer.

Generally HP is a brand that cooperates very
well with Linux. It even provides Linux software
for their products. I have an HP-systray application
to control my printer.

Together with XSane you can easily produce even
multi-page scans in PDF format. I do that all
the time without problems.

I hope that helps.

I believe the OP wanted portable - this model is a desktop model. I have a brother "stick" scanner but I have not tested it in Linux. It is about 2 inches wide and about 12 inches long.