"BARRY HAVE YOU TRIED USING A DARKER BACKGROUND (A PIECE OF COLORED CONSTUCTION PAPER) I HAVE THE HP 5300C AND I DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT IF I USE A DARKER BACKGROUND GIVE IT A TRY!"

I think you may be right. The scanner I am replacing now is a microtec with a black background and it works great. My other scanner is an HP I forget which model now, but the reds come out pink. It has a white background. I haven't tried the black yet.

My son just put together a new computer for me and said he may not get the Microtec to work with it as it's about 6 years old. Barry