Back in 2017, we reviewed the Brother ADS-1500W scanner(read our full review here). This has been our go-to scanner for several years and the standard bywhich we judged all other scanners.

One of the things we liked most about the ADS-1500W was theBrother ControlCenter 2 application that came with the scanner. While not the most attractive application weever used, it got the job done.

Brother ControlCenter is the free software that comes with your Brother scanner. So why would you be looking for an alternative? There are two main reasons people look for an alternative: ControlCenter no longer works on their operating system (like on macOS Big Sur). Anyone know what the latest version of the Brother Control Center for Mac is? I have tried to find this out at the Brother site and failed. I have also tried to update my Control Center, as, at the Brother site, it looks like there is a newer version than mine.

The ControlCenter 2 application supported duplex scanningin color and black & white, included OCR scanning, supported long-pagedocuments and, with the dedicated card slot on the ADS-1500W, scanned businesscards and credit cards.

The only problem with the Control Center 2 software wasthat it was a 32-bit application.

Starting with macOS Mojave, we would occasionally get thewarning notice that the application would not be compatible with futureversions of macOS.

Shortly before the public release of macOS Catalina, wereached out to Brother to inquire about their plans to update or replaceControlCenter 2 with a 64-bit application. The only response we got was that no information was currently availableand to check back on the Brother Support site in the future.

With the release of macOS 10.15 Catalina, we again checked with Brother only to find that they announced that the ControlCenter2 application was not supported and would not be updated.

Here is what is posted on the Brother web site. Free download mac os x 10.7 on flash drive.

“For macOS 10.15 Users:ControlCenter2 is not supported. You may use one of the following as an alternative scanning method:

– Scan using iPrint&Scan, if available. Click here for a list of models that are currently compatible with iPrint&Scan. Please check back for additional models as they are added.

– Scan using Apple Image Capture.”

Unfortunately, the iPrint&Scan app suggested by Brotheris not currently compatible with the ADS-1500W so your only option is to use anative Mac application for your scanning.

Image Capture

Image Capture is included in macOS Catalina. You will find it in the Applications folderand the icon looks like this.

The Image Capture application gives you basic control ofthe scanning function and the application window looks like this.

You can set the scan type as Text, B&W or Color andadjust the resolution from 100 to 600 dpi. Other adjustments control scanning destination, page orientation, theability to name the document and if needed, apply manual image correction toadjust brightness, tint temperature and saturation.

Perhaps most important are two check boxes that support theduplex scanning feature of the ADS-1500W and the ability to combine multiple scannedpages into a single document.

Control Center Brother Printer Mac

In late September 2019, Brother released an updated ICA(Image Capture Application) driver for the ADS-1500W (Version 1.5.0) which youcan download here. We suggest you download and install thislatest version to ensure you get all of the functionality available.

Using Preview

In cases where you may want to mark the document after youscan it, we suggest you use the Preview application, also included in macOSwith this icon.

Preview incorporates the Image Capture scanning functioninto its functionality providing almost all the same document controls as youfind in the Image Capture app. What’s missing is the ability to name thedocument before you scan it. To scan a document in Preview, click on File onthe Menu bar and you will see an option for Import from Brother ADS-1500W.

Selecting that option opens a similar scanning window.

The Bottom Line

The Image Capture application is a workable alternative to the Control Center2application and will probably meet your needs so you can continue to use theBrother ADS-1500W scanner. That said,we’re disappointed that Brother would abandon its loyal users and not investthe time to continue support for what is otherwise, a great piece of hardware.

Perhaps if the ADS-1500W was a discontinued model we could understandBrother’s position but we are hard pressed to recommend the ADS-1500W scannerfor anyone looking to make a current purchase.

Do you own a Brother ADS-1500W scanner? What are your plans for continued use? Are you going to use Image Capture and Preview, or are you going totrade up to a different scanner with a supported scanning application? Why not join the conversation and leave acomment below?

Control Center Brother Mac

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