topic Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer. in Office Printers

MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Kast10 — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:31:39 GMT

Hello,

Where specifically can I adjust the scan density in the MF733cdw? I scan from the printer to my PC. Currently, all scans are illegible. I also tried 3rd party scanning software and Scangear software, There is no place to adjust the density.

I have looked everywhere in the MF Scan Utility and the Printer web UI. The closest I can find in the web UI is "Function Settings-> Store/Access Files Settings-> "scan setting" however, once you click in, it is actually "Scan Settings USB Memory Settings" specifically for Scanning to USB Drive which does not help.

Settings/Registration: Function Settings: TX Settings > Scan and Send Settings >File Settings Density has no effect either.

Double sided and single sided scans are affected.

If you can help, please reply with specifics. I will never purchase another Canon Printer again.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Patrice — Wed, 29 May 2019 17:34:58 GMT

Hi Kast10.

You will need to access the Advanced Mode of the ScanGear driver:

To access this screen, please open the MF Scan Utility, and then click ScanGear. Once the Advanced Settings tab is open, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, and other adjustments. Please click the link below to view these settings:

About Image Brightness and Color Adjustment Methods

If you need any further assistance, please call us at 1-800-OK-CANON (652-2666), Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET (excluding holidays).

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Kast10 — Wed, 29 May 2019 19:31:24 GMT

Thank you for your reply however your suggestion isn't applicable to the problem I am having. The settings in the advanced tab of scan gear are specific to scan gear scanning software and using Scan Gear to "manually" scan. Scan Gear isn't a driver, it's a software which is useless in an office setting. It reminds me of HP scanning software in the late 1990s.

I need help adjusting the scan quality when you scan to a computer. Operation includes Filling ADF, pressing scan on the MF printer, selecting your computer destination, then selecting 1 of 4 scan options (Color Scan, B&W Scan, Custom 1, and Custom 2).

If you open the Canon MF Scan Utility Software, and click "Settings", under the 2nd "Down Load tab" there are settings for these 4 scanning options I mentioned above. The problem is the settings are for file formats and preferences. No settings for adjusting scan quality of these modes.

How Do I Adjust the Scan Quality? Currently, the scanner is useless. I need to be able to scan to computer, walk back to my desk and have a legible scan like any other MF printer I have owned in the past decade.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Patrice — Thu, 30 May 2019 17:36:15 GMT

Hi Kast10.

If you are scanning to the computer, the adjustments will need to be made using the ScanGear option in the MF Scan Utility. There are no quality adjustments available on the printer, when scanning to a computer. The steps that I provided above will allow you to adjust the quality of the scan. You can view more information about the ScanGear driver by clicking the link below:

ScanGear MF (Windows)

ScanGear MF (macOS)

If you are scanning text documents, then one suggestion we can make is to adjust the Custom 1 or Custom 2 scan settings (via the MF Scan Utility) to Grayscale, instead of Black & White.

If you have any other questions, please call us at 1-800-OK-CANON (652-2666), Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET (excluding holidays).

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Kast10 — Thu, 30 May 2019 18:40:06 GMT

This means I need to walk to the mf printer, load the papers to be scanned into the adf. Walk back to my desk, pull up scan gear (and make sure scan gear is installed on all PCs) adjust settings, scan and repeat if needed?

These are papers I just printed and need to sign and return. They are basically white outs in a scan. There must be a better way.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

HamRichards — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 16:23:31 GMT

I'm having the same scan density problem, but in macOS the ScanGear Advanced Mode doesn't look anything like the one shown in Patrice's message. As far as I can see, the macOS version of ScanGear offers no adjustments of brightness, contrast, exposure, etc.

Am I overlooking something?

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Patrice — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 18:23:32 GMT

Hi HamRichards.

The ScanGear MF window in the macOS system should have the same settings as the Windows system. Are you able to attach a screen shot of the Advanced Mode screen that you have on your computer?

We look forward to your reply.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Kast10 — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 19:39:53 GMT

I honestly woulnd't bother. It's not Patrice's fault, but the software is terrbile. I've been meaning to find a 3rd party software. Cannon printers have excellent color laser printers, however the software which is shipped with the MFCs cribble them to the point that they are not functional, that is after you finally get the printer configured correctly. How can these be sold as business machines? HP scanning software in the mid 90s was more functional.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

HamRichards — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 22:06:02 GMT

Here's the macOS version of the Advanced Mode control panel:

Not much there, is there?

—Ham

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

HamRichards — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 22:11:41 GMT

For scanning, I'm giving VueScan a try. At this point, it shows my MF733Cdw as a MF731, it doesn't recognize that the device offers duplex scanning, and—worst of all—it doesn't actually scan. I've sent Hamrick (VueScan's developer) a trouble report, and I'll report their reply.

—Ham

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

HamRichards — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 20:55:31 GMT

I'm pleased to report that the latest version of VueScan (9.7.08), from (removed as per forum guidelines), works with the MF733CDw in all three scanning modes: flatbed, feeder, and duplex feeder. It works equally well when connected by WiFi or by USB.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Kast10 — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:23:39 GMT

Great!

Do you know if there is a way to get view scan and the ADF to work automatically with eachother? For example with anyother MFC in the world you can walk over to it. Feed the adf click scan, and the scan appears on your PC correctly either by file or open program. My problem with the 733 is all the scans are too light and are useless.

Do you know if there is a way to set up VuScan so it fixes my problem? Idealy, it woudl be nice not to have to deal with software at all and just have the scans correclty delivered to my PC.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Stephen — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:43:44 GMT

VuScan is not Canon Software. If you need support for their software, you'll need to contact them.

Per the Canon Community Guidelines (that everyone agreed to prior to posting):

We may remove posts that could be considered:

Promotion of third party products, promotions, websites, organizations, goods or services.

If you're having issues using Canon Software, Support is happy to help. If you're in the USA, please call 1-800-OK-CANON (800-652-2666) weekdays from 8am to 8pm (ET) for immediate help, or visit canon.us/account to discover possible alternatite support entitlements.

If you're outside of the USA, you'll need to reach out to Canon in your country/region for support options. Click HERE to find contact information.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

AH1 — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 02:49:40 GMT

Sadly, this unadjustable too-light scanning seems to be endemic to the Canon SOHO multifuncltion line. You have an MF733cdw, I have an MF4750 and a friend has a yet another model. All have one thing in commmon: you have to jump through hoops to make a usable scan.

Not acceptable. I don't understand how they shipped even one of these.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Banquo — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 19:24:58 GMT

I am having the same problem. I am scanning documents with pencil writing and non of the pencil is legible and much of it is invisible. This is about item number 100 of why I hate this machine.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

FlyingBoat — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 07:11:54 GMT

Seriously Cannon, fix your unusable too light scanning to computer problem!!!

I am returning this piece of crap. How can you have a scanner that scans to computers that is completely too light and cannot be read? What a terrible implementation and terrible responses here from support.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

TryingToScanOCR — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 22:27:19 GMT

Is there really no way to set a DEFAULT of darker scan? Going through the ScanGear menu for every single scan is not a good solution.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

Micmann — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 20:20:32 GMT

So has this issue never been resolved? I run a MF743 with the same issue. Can't make permanent enhancements to scanning from the printer itself. Scanning is illegible. Using ScanGear helps, but needs to be used every time. Overall scanning even with ScanGear is pretty bad. Not pleased. Canon, how about a driver or firmware update to resolve this issue?

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

TryingToScanOCR — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 04:57:09 GMT

I have the same issue on a MF733 and it makes scanning significantly slower and more cumbersome. Canon really should create a setting to adjust how light/dark a scan is that persists and becomes the new default.

Re: MF733cdw Scanning Too Light. No Place to Adjust Density for Scan to Computer.

oiawjf — Tue, 02 May 2023 00:31:44 GMT

I found this forum post in a web search because I was experiencing the same problem.

Compared to the blown-out scans I was getting, I was able to get much more satisfactory results from the scanner by changing these settings:

Scan Type: PHOTO (Even if it's text and photo, select photo ONLY)
Sharpness: -3
Density: 0
Data Size: Large
And always scan in color even if the page is black and white

I am scanning to a file server using the front panel of the printer. For my use case at least, it seems like any internal "processing" that the printer does really messes up the image. This combination of settings (always scanning in color, photo original type, -3 sharpness) seems to minimize or eliminate image processing done by/inside the scanner.