I'm having dust nightmares with my HP6200C flatbed scanner. Many other messages on HP's own forum express the same concern. Even after complete disassembly and cleaning, photo print scans reveal even minute particles. Suggestions?

I was about to ditch the HP6200C for an HP S20 which would allow my scanning to include 35MM negatives. Imaging Resource's glowing review of this scanner falls flat when Ed Hamrick quotes:

"One scanner that I can't recommend is the HP PhotoSmart, neither the USB nor SCSI version. There are several problems with these scanners, and with dealing with HP:

Dust gets into the light path (which is quite long), causing streaks in the scan direction. This can usually be solved by cleaning out the scanner, but it's problematic."

Insight?

-- Peter Urschel (purschel@sentex.net), July 31, 1999

Answers

I'm currently using the G55xi with its phenominal cartrige #78. I've exited the color darkroom with extensive researh in scanning photos compared to color 35mm negatives. Having a CLEAN glossy photo (4 x 5) and some glass cleaner before the scan minimizes specks of white in the dark areas of the finished print. I recommend that an external cleaning of the glass be performed before any reputable scan. I use Adobe Photoshop 6 scanning photos @1200 DPI and use Epson Photo (glossy) paper for the finished product. ....................eom

-- Alan R. Rosenberg (alanhilo@msn.com), March 11, 2001.