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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: it-goes-to-eleven on November 17, 2011, 02:16:54 PM

Title: Mac scanner/copier automation tips?
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on November 17, 2011, 02:16:54 PM

I need to setup a macbook to make "photo copies".  A family member has an HP all-in-one printer as the scan source, and a brother b&w laser printer as the output.

Ideally, the end result would be as easy to use as possible for an 80+ year old.  Like a copier.

Since the HP won't need to print, I'm hoping I can avoid any need to ever hassle with ink.

The macbook interfaces to the HP via USB.  The Brother is via wireless.

Wondering if anyone has any tips?

Thanks!

Title: Re: Mac scanner/copier automation tips?
Post by: keytohwy on November 26, 2011, 11:32:52 AM

Quote from: it-goes-to-eleven on November 17, 2011, 02:16:54 PM

I need to setup a macbook to make "photo copies".  A family member has an HP all-in-one printer as the scan source, and a brother b&w laser printer as the output.

Ideally, the end result would be as easy to use as possible for an 80+ year old.  Like a copier.

Since the HP won't need to print, I'm hoping I can avoid any need to ever hassle with ink.

The macbook interfaces to the HP via USB.  The Brother is via wireless.

Wondering if anyone has any tips?

Thanks!

Kinda of a tough one, but...you might be able to set the HP up to scan to a particular folder.  You could then set that folder as a "hot" folder, and link it to an Automator action that printed anything added to that folder.

How much copying are they going to be doing?  Frankly, the ink may be worth the hassle.

keytohwy

Title: Re: Mac scanner/copier automation tips?
Post by: it-goes-to-eleven on November 26, 2011, 06:53:42 PM

Thanks for the reply.   The problem is that it's an HP printer. I think the specific model is "Wallet-Vampire"...

So the ink runs dry.  She does very little copying.  I've encouraged her to just go to the store around the corner and use a copier, but she is too stubborn.  I was shocked when she said she'd bought more ink to make some copies.

Some searches revealed that there is a mac utility, Image Capture, that supports the hp in scan mode (that support is new to recent versions of the OS).  It'll dump the scan into a directory.  Ideally I'd like to totally automate it with some scripts.  The descriptions I've seen suggest it requires some gui interaction.  I'm not sure yet if there are command line options that I can script.  I'll need to hack on it when I visit her house.

http://technologynovice.com/scanning-to-a-mac-from-an-hp-all-in-one-printer/