When you launch Image Capture the first time, it discovers applicable devices. When your Mac identifies your all-in-one printer over Bonjour (Apple’s implementation of zero-configuration networking), it recognizes that the device not only prints, but has other functions like scanning and fax send/receive. It also didn’t load up my Mac with bloated software. That driver works each and every time with no issues.įor scanning, I started using the macOS Image Capture app and quickly found it was more functional than the Epson software. Instead, I let macOS find my printer and supply its own internal driver. Frustrated, I deleted all of the Epson apps. The drivers included often kept me from printing unless I reloaded them each and every time! The scanner software was usable, but required hand-cropping of images smaller than a full page in size. I decided to try the Epson software with the new device, and that was a mistake. For example, last year I purchased an Epson ET-4760 EcoTank printer because I was constantly changing print cartridges in an HP laser printer I owned. With my past two all-in-one printers, I’ve found that the software and drivers that come with them are problematic. Why use Image Capture instead of my printer/scanner apps?

Fortunately, Apple provides a macOS app that works with most all-in-one printers: Image Capture. However, most of these printers come with software and drivers that can be infuriatingly bad. I like that I can print documents when I need to, and I’ve found that document scanners save a lot of time.

I have a love-hate relationship with all-in-one printers.

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