An Interview with Edward Hamrick

About VueScan

VueScan from Hamrick Software is one of the best-known programs for film and flatbed scanners. It is often used as an alternative to scanning programs that are included with the scanner when it is purchased.

The Interview

HG

How many people are working on VueScan?

Ed

The development and technical team consists of just two people: I was very fortunate to have my son David Hamrick join me as a partner over twelve years ago. David has a background in computer engineering and engineering management. Before we became a VueScan team, David worked as an Apple iOS developer.

David is responsible for the continuous improvements to the user interface and user experience evaluation. He has worked extensively with AI and machine learning to bring new features to VueScan. He also manages our website.

We both enjoy working together and have a total understanding of each other.

HG

Which working environment do you use? Which processors does VueScan support?

Ed

We develop, create and test VueScan on Apple M2 MacBooks Air. Virtual machines on our computers are equipped with Windows 11 and Linux Ubuntu 20.04 to ensure error-free integration for these operating systems. VueScan is therefore always available for 64-bit Intel and 64-bit ARM processors on all three operating systems at the same time. We also supported 32-bit Intel and 32-bit ARM platforms until 2024. However, we have now discontinued this as there is hardly any demand for these platforms.

HG

How do you manage to support so many scanners with just one program?

Ed

A lot of my development work consists of adding support for new scanners and fixing problems. David gets involved with new technologies. Getting compatibility for most new scanners in the software is relatively easy and quick. However, only as long as the scanners use identical and common command sets for their functions that other scanners already work with.

It becomes more difficult when new command sets are added that VueScan does not yet know. Then it becomes more time-consuming for us. But in the end, we implement every required adaptation. That is our claim.

Most of the development time is taken up by solving problems. This often involves scanners that are not available to me at the time. Then I can only provide support if customers are prepared to run test versions of VueScan with their scanners and send me the resulting log file (vuescan.log) by e-mail.

In other cases (though rare) I simply have to buy a used scanner on eBay, as sometimes I need to see (and hear) how a scanner responds to various commands.

HG

Do the scanner manufacturers support you with hardware? For example, do you receive a device for a new development so that you can test adaptations?

Ed

Unfortunately, most scanner manufacturers do not offer support. Sometimes we get a scanner on loan. Usually we have to buy it. In the past, we received technical support from Pacific Image Electronics (PIE). Twenty years ago, we got some technical documents from Epson. Fortunately, most manufacturers use identical instruction sets for each generation of their new scanners.

HG

Do scanner manufacturers approach you specifically because they want VueScan to be adapted to their scanner? Or do you implement adaptations at your own risk or at the request of the user?

Ed

Scanner manufacturers have indeed contacted us a few times in the last 20 years asking for support for their new scanners. Usually we are contacted more by users. They ask us if we can support a new scanner model or if we can support older scanners that we have overlooked.

After adding support for more than 7000 scanner models, most of the work on our software is solving minor issues. For example, we once overlooked the fact that a scanner can scan both sides of the paper at the same time (duplex scanning). We then implemented this downstream in VueScan.

HG

How do you ensure that a customer’s problem has been satisfactorily resolved? How do you test corresponding software updates?

Ed

One reason VueScan supports so many scanners with relative ease is that our customers are incredibly helpful when it comes to running test versions for me. I sometimes send out a few test versions of VueScan every day to test fixes for issues reported by customers. It only takes five minutes to create a test version, so I do this often. If a concerned customer tries the trial immediately, I can sometimes send 10 or 15 trials in a day until the issue is resolved.

Today is a good opportunity to express my appreciation for that: Many thanks to our loyal community.

HG

That sounds like a very efficient, disciplined way of working.

Ed

I can virtually release VueScan from my briefcase. There have been a few times when I’ve re-released VueScan from an airport lounge – it’s as simple as that.

It also helps that I build everything from a source code base. We use wxWidgets for the VueScan user interface. This is an open-source, platform-independent toolkit for developing graphical user interfaces. With no or very little modification, the source code can be compiled and executed on different computer platforms.

HG

How do you prioritize your work?

Ed

Simple requirements are taken care of first. For example, new scanners that are very similar to existing supported scanners are at the top of the list. Problems or improvements that many customers want are next on the list. If several people report a problem or ask for a new feature, it moves to the top of the priority list.

I enjoy the development process and I enjoy solving problems with VueScan.

HG

You offer two different license models for VueScan on your website: A one-time payment version. However, the VueScan Subscription with monthly payment seems to be new. What are the advantages of the subscription? Are owners of a one-time payment license excluded from free updates in the future?

Ed

About four years ago, we switched to a license model where we offer free upgrades for one year after purchase. People can use these free upgrades for as long as they want. We thought it would be fair to compensate us for the extra work we spend supporting new scanners and new versions of Windows macOS and Linux.

A subscription is useful for those who only need VueScan for a limited time for a project. It also allows people to try it out for a shorter period of time to see if they want to use the software long term.

HG

What future goals are you pursuing in the further development of VueScan?

Ed

We have significantly expanded the AI functions of VueScan in recent years. We can offer new features that our customers want. Something we particularly love is our new colorization feature. VueScan is able to automatically colorize scanned black and white images. This gives us an absolutely unique selling point among scanning programs on the market worldwide: no other scanner software currently offers this function.

David has immersed himself in AI and worked with neural networks. He really brought VueScan a long way forward in 2024. He has even more surprises in store for 2025 that we can’t talk about at the moment.

HG

The AI-controlled colorization of black and white negatives seems to be a really interesting function, as can be seen from the examples on your website. In your eyes, is this a really sophisticated function that professional photographers would use? Or is it more of a gimmick in your eyes that could be tried out occasionally?

Ed

I don’t know exactly. It is mainly intended for people who want to bring old pictures back to life. For example, if the original colors have been lost over time. Also, many people have a lot of black and white photos that could benefit from colorization. People are happy to have their old photos colorized.

HG

Are there any other image processing functions planned for VueScan in addition to the colorization function?

Ed

Yes, we are planning a number of new improvements that use “neural networks”. We want to implement things that were previously difficult to integrate into VueScan. For example, we recently added a feature that automatically rotates images upright, which is useful when batch scanning slides or photos. My son David and I often come up with ideas for new features that are only possible with “neural networks”.

HG

Is it foreseeable whether AI could provide even better support for dust and scratch removal when scanning films? This would be of particular interest for black and white films. As we know, infrared-based dust and scratch removal does not work with black and white negatives. Unless you use a black and white film that allows chromogenic development (C-41 process), such as the XP2 from Ilford.

Ed

David has dealt with the removal of dust and scratches. In particular, for use cases where the scanner does not have an infrared lamp or when scanning black and white film where infrared cleaning does not work.

The first challenge for him when using AI was to scan a large number of sample images with dust and scratches on which dust and scratches could be marked. This has largely been achieved. David is currently working on training a „neural network“ with the collected findings, which can then take over this task.

HG

Ed, thank you very much for your interesting insights into VueScan. SilvergrainClassics wishes you and David continued success with your work.

Epilog

In addition to VueScan, Ed Hamrick is also working on the development of technologies and patents for biotechnology. “Our mission is to enable cost-effective, large-scale production of yeast with balanced protein and omega-3 fatty acids for human, animal and fish consumption (www.cellofuel.com). Interestingly, the main invention (the Waldhof fermenter) is based on technologies invented in 1941 at the Waldhof pulp mill near Mannheim.”