Arch Linux

julienfalque

Member

Registered: 2016-06-17

Posts: 50

Simple Scan crops scanned images

Hello, I'm using Simple Scan to scan documents with a Brother DCP-L2530DW and I noticed that scanned images are cropped by about ~0.5cm on the top and the left side. The documents format is always A4 and at the top left corner of the scanner.

I tried using scanimage with various options without success and I don't know what to try next.

This used to work fine, so maybe a default config changed at some point but I don't know where to look.

ua4000

Member

Registered: 2015-10-14

Posts: 540

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

Hello,
I assume you have some packages from AUR in place for your brother printer software and scanner part, like brscan3/4/5 ?
I would start investigation by building and installing the brscan to latest version - also recheck which brscan version is the correct one for you device.
Keep the original aur build, in case to revert to this stage if all goes wrong.

If you suspect the config might be wrong: rename .sane in your home folder to .sane.backup - or to be sure: retest with another new fresh user.

julienfalque

Member

Registered: 2016-06-17

Posts: 50

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

I do have brscan4 installed. I don't remember why I installed this one rather than another but it is an optional dependency of brother-dcpl2530dw so I assume this is the right one.

It seems that brscan4 package is already up-to-date (0.4.11). I tried with a several years older version (0.4.9) but that didn't fix the issue.

I don't have any .sane file or directory in my home folder.

Nowaker

Member

From: Gdańsk, Poland

Registered: 2011-10-26

Posts: 25

Website

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

@julienfalque Did you ever get this resolved? I am too getting a cropped image. Note - it's not a Simple Scan issue. Executing `scanimage -d 'brother4:net1;dev0' > /tmp/blah` which uses SANE directly also gets you a cropped result, not any different from Simple Scan.

Nowaker

Member

From: Gdańsk, Poland

Registered: 2011-10-26

Posts: 25

Website

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

Well... Looks like it's not a software problem. I just came across this: https://help.brother-usa.com/app/answer … ning#step1 - I'll give it a try when I have a moment and report back.

Nowaker

Member

From: Gdańsk, Poland

Registered: 2011-10-26

Posts: 25

Website

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

Apparently, this is by design: https://support.brother.com/g/s/id/html … 94_28.html. 3 mm border is unscannable on Brother DCPL2550DN. Can't tell what Einstein thought it'd be a great idea to artificially limit a scan area.

julienfalque

Member

Registered: 2016-06-17

Posts: 50

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

That seems silly… But I don't think it's actually the case because I only had the issue with my personal Arch Linux laptop. We have two other Ubuntu laptops for work and they seem to scan the whole surface. Also, I think the issue is gone with my personal laptop because I don't notice shifts in the scanned surface anymore. But I need to confirm that.

Last edited by julienfalque (2024-10-03 15:07:29)

Tobleh

Member

Registered: 2025-08-27

Posts: 1

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

I can confirm that the same thing happens on both a Brother DCP-7060D, along with an Epson Perfection 1200U - two different manufacturers, two different eras, etc. I notice it whenever I'm scanning photographs or things like booklets, it happens both on Simple Scan AND on XSane, and it even happens on my Debian 12 laptop.

EDIT: I've basically come to the conclusion that it's a hardware limitation, reading through various forum posts and manuals for various manufacturers (Brother, Epson, Canon, HP)

Last edited by Tobleh (2025-08-27 17:36:10)

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 73,703

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

Apparently, this is by design: https://support.brother.com/g/s/id/html … 94_28.html. 3 mm border is unscannable on Brother DCPL2550DN. Can't tell what Einstein thought it'd be a great idea to artificially limit a scan area.

Did you check their manuals?

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remline

Member

Registered: 2025-08-27

Posts: 1

Re: Simple Scan crops scanned images

I have a Brother DCP-L2550DW. It, too, is unable to scan to the edge of the paper. I concluded that the scanner has a hardware limitation.

I did a fair amount of experimentation with this (in Windows 7, actually). Using NAPS2 to scan, you can select which driver to use. With the TWAIN driver or the WIA driver, the crop is 3mm. Interestingly, with the eSCL driver, the crop is closer to 2mm.