---
name: "sane-coolscan"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "sane"
version: "1.4.0-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sane-coolscan"
---

# sane-coolscan(5)

SANE backend for Nikon film-scanners

## NAME

sane-coolscan - SANE backend for Nikon film-scanners

## ABOUT THIS FILE

This file is a short description of the coolscan backend for **SANE**.

## DESCRIPTION

The **sane-coolscan** library implements a SANE backend that provides the interface to the following Nikon Coolscan Film scanners: Nikon LS20, LS30, LS1000, LS2000.

**Even though the backend has worked for a number of people, there are still some** problems, especially in combination with some SCSI card/drivers (AHA-1505/aha152x.o) and the autofocus command. You should consider this backend 'alpha' and be careful when using it the first time.

## CONFIGURATION

The configuration file for this backend resides in */etc/sane.d/coolscan.conf*.

Its content is a list of device names that correspond to Nikon Coolscan scanners. Empty lines and lines starting with a hash mark (#) are ignored. A sample configuration file is shown below:

```
 #scsi Vendor Model Type
 scsi Nikon * Scanner
 /dev/scanner
```

The special device name must be a generic SCSI device or a symlink to such a device. To find out to which device your scanner is assigned and how you can set the permissions of that device, have a look at [**sane-scsi**(5)](/sane-scsi/5.md).

## SCSI ADAPTER TIPS

Some SCSI-adapters and low-level SCSI drivers do not work correctly with this backend and the Coolscan scanners. These systems hang when the autofocus command is send to the Scanner. To see a list of which card/driver combinations work or don't work have a look at: *http://andreas.rick.free.fr/sane/autofocus.html.*

## FILES

- The backend configuration file:

  */etc/sane.d/coolscan.conf*

- The static library implementing this backend:

  */usr/lib/sane/libsane-coolscan.a*

- The shared library implementing this backend:

  */usr/lib/sane/libsane-coolscan.so* (present on systems that support dynamic loading)

## ENVIRONMENT

- **SANE\_DEBUG\_COOLSCAN**

  If the library was compiled with debug support enabled, this environment variable controls the debug level for this backend. E.g., a value of 128 requests all debug output to be printed. Smaller levels reduce verbosity.

  Examples:

  On bash:\
   export SANE\_DEBUG\_COOLSCAN=8

  On csh:\
   setenv SANE\_DEBUG\_COOLSCAN 8

## BUGS

The autofocus command does not work with some SCSI card/driver combinations.

The gamma table is not implemented for the LS1000 yet.

The dust-removal is not working yet.

## SEE ALSO

[**sane**(7)](/sane/7.md), [**sane-scsi**(5)](/sane-scsi/5.md)

- *http://andreas.rick.free.fr/sane/*

  The homepage of this backend.

- *http://www.sema.be/coolscan/*

  The original version of the coolscan backend by Didier.

## THANKS TO

Didier Carlier - For writing the original Coolscan backend (without it I would not have started this).

Oliver Rauch - For adapting xsane so quickly to the infrared stuff.

All the other people working on SANE.

## AUTHOR

Andreas Rick

## EMAIL-CONTACT

*andreas.rick@free.fr*