I got Epson V19 and I'm experiencing distorted line, is it normal for a cheap scanners?

Maybe I'm foolish on expecting a cheap scanner to function properly but nevertheless I'm experiencing issues with Epson V19, I tried to send it to repairs 3 times already and the problem is still there. Is is normal for a low budget scanner to leave a mark like that? It seems like a pixels are not aligned correctly resulting in a visible seam line. I've tried placing the photo on every possible place on the scanner bed and every time i get the same thing. Any ideas what to do?

There is a horizontal discontinuity right in the middle of the example you posted. It is not that easy to see right away. What does it look like with a high contrast source like a page with text? Anyway, I don't think it is normal. It seems that the software might be changing its contrast/exposure/colo​r parameters suddenly. I suggest you download Vuescan and see if you can get clean scans using it as the software.

https://www.hamrick.co​m/

I never deal with Epson scanners this cheap. But I started with one which was 150 CAD years ago. It never gave me trouble.
I'm using Epson software and it is really good, just don't automate it too much.

I did try it at some point (before I sent it to be "fixed" for the first time) and it gave me the same resaults. I'll try scanning a page full of text and see what happends. Perhaps some kind of solution would be to scan the photo twice place on a different part of the scanner and then combine the picture and erase the damaged part if this is even possible.

Trying to look at your problem a different way, from the possibility it’s not a scanner hardware problem.

What kind of PC is the scanner connected to? Maybe watch the resource monitor during a scan to see if your computer is struggling.

I tried using it on different pc's and while i sent it to rma the person who have done the testing found the same problem, the thing is that the line is sometimes barely visible. I think I discovered something though. The line appears in the fixed locations, the lenght between those lines is alse fixed so I figured out I'll scan the photos twice moving it a little to the right on the secong scan, I'll make myself a template to know where the line is located, delete the portion of the broken photo and merge two scans using photomerge function in photoshop. I tried it with two photos and it worked so this may be some solution for me, perhaps not perfect but at least i can digitize my photos.

WooshaQ wrote in post #19367612
I tried using it on different pc's and while i sent it to rma the person who have done the testing found the same problem, the thing is that the line is sometimes barely visible. I think I discovered something though. The line appears in the fixed locations, the lenght between those lines is alse fixed so I figured out I'll scan the photos twice moving it a little to the right on the secong scan, I'll make myself a template to know where the line is located, delete the portion of the broken photo and merge two scans using photomerge function in photoshop. I tried it with two photos and it worked so this may be some solution for me, perhaps not perfect but at least i can digitize my photos.

That sounds like a lot of trouble to go to. Is the scanner still under warranty? If so, why not send it back for repair or replacement?

What scanner application software do you use?

There is a native scan capability in Windows (Windows Scan) and one in Apple O/S, and use of that software to replicate what is happening with your current scan software PROVES that the problem is not software related, due to the commonality of hardware used with different application programs. You can clearly point the finger of blame on the hardware with the issue appearing with two different scan software capabilities, and seek relief from the scanner manufacturer or retailer (for recent purchase).

I'm curious, you said I tried to send it to repairs 3 times already and the problem is still there.
What did they tell you? Did you send it to Epson?

Follow Wilt's advice and if it's a hardware problem try to get it replaced or a refund. Maybe put the money towards the V600?

Perfectly Frank wrote in post #19367711
I'm curious, you said I tried to send it to repairs 3 times already and the problem is still there.
What did they tell you? Did you send it to Epson?

Follow Wilt's advice and if it's a hardware problem try to get it replaced or a refund. Maybe put the money towards the V600?

OP already tried different software and got the same result. See post #4. Wilt is late to the game.

Archibald wrote in post #19367714
See post #4. Wilt is late to the game.

If 'late to the game' is reading OP posted 21 hours ago, but not yet seeing post 4 posted 7 hours later, yes, I am 'late'!

He did only state "I did try it" without specific statement what 'it' was (English teacher always taught that a pronoun needed an antecedent), and one needed to see it was a reply to your post to try Vuescan.

In any event, he seems to already have two software programs showing proof "it must be the hardware" and be able to exchange for a good unit or get the one he has repaired under warranty.

rrblint wrote in post #19367653
That sounds like a lot of trouble to go to. Is the scanner still under warranty? If so, why not send it back for repair or replacement?

Perfectly Frank wrote in post #19367711
I'm curious, you said I tried to send it to repairs 3 times already and the problem is still there.
What did they tell you? Did you send it to Epson?

Follow Wilt's advice and if it's a hardware problem try to get it replaced or a refund. Maybe put the money towards the V600?

I also recommend returning the scanner and looking for a replacement. It's also surprising to me that Epson wouldn't offer a replacement or a discount on a better model given that their tech (I'm assuming it was an Epson tech) confirmed that they could reproduce the issue.

Wilt wrote in post #19367722
If 'late to the game' is reading OP posted 21 hours ago, but not yet seeing post 4 posted 7 hours later, yes, I am 'late'!

He did only state "I did try it" without specific statement what 'it' was (English teacher always taught that a pronoun needed an antecedent), and one needed to see it was a reply to your post to try Vuescan.

In any event, he seems to already have two software programs showing proof "it must be the hardware" and be able to exchange for a good unit or get the one he has repaired under warranty.

I guess I hit reply instead of quote. But I was refering to that fact.

As for other advice... I bought the scanner in January and send it to repair three times already, they replace some components and it's still like that. The scanner price situation is at the moment rather silly, I managed to get this model at retail price but most of the shops offer scanners at double the amount of retailed asked price so I have to stick with this one. Assuming I paid about $110 for v19, v600 is about $400 which I'm not going to spend. I'll rather do the double scan and merge. Maybe it will be more time consuming but I'll work. I have also found other person with the same problem with the exact scanner. Perhaps the seam line is so barely visible that most of the people will notice it, with the template I know where to look for those defects and most of the time the pixel shift if so minor I wouldn't notice myself but with the trees like I show in the example this is where it is easy to spot. I do understand I want to digitize my archive on the cheap and perhaps this is the price i'm going to pay. I ordered canon lide 400 for testing though, I'll see how this will be perfoming.

WooshaQ wrote in post #19368119
I guess I hit reply instead of quote. But I was refering to that fact.

I have also found other person with the same problem with the exact scanner.

Too bad you are stuck (due to higher price of any alternative) with an apparent DESIGN SHORTCOMING that manifests in all units, and is not inherently 'repairable'.
It brings to mind an apparent failure by the manufacturer to meet 'suitability for its intended use' (any first year law student knows this principle), if it is marketed as a photo scanner rather than as a document scanner. But as written up in PC Magazine, "Small enough to literally get lost under a stack of papers, it's the company's least expensive flatbed scanner and one of only two current Epson photo scanners that can't scan film. If you want to scan only photographic prints plus an occasional document page or two, that means not having to pay extra for a feature you don't need, which makes the V19 ($203.23 at Amazon) a bargain" ...they seem to be marketing a product not suitable for its intended purpose!

WooshaQ wrote in post #19368119
I guess I hit reply instead of quote. But I was refering to that fact.

As for other advice... I bought the scanner in January and send it to repair three times already, they replace some components and it's still like that. The scanner price situation is at the moment rather silly, I managed to get this model at retail price but most of the shops offer scanners at double the amount of retailed asked price so I have to stick with this one. Assuming I paid about $110 for v19, v600 is about $400 which I'm not going to spend. I'll rather do the double scan and merge. Maybe it will be more time consuming but I'll work. I have also found other person with the same problem with the exact scanner. Perhaps the seam line is so barely visible that most of the people will notice it, with the template I know where to look for those defects and most of the time the pixel shift if so minor I wouldn't notice myself but with the trees like I show in the example this is where it is easy to spot. I do understand I want to digitize my archive on the cheap and perhaps this is the price i'm going to pay. I ordered canon lide 400 for testing though, I'll see how this will be perfoming.

I have been using Canon Lide 400 for quite some time and the scans come out very well - documents and photographs, both. I use the IJ Scan Utility software that comes with the scanner.