I thank everyone who took the time to either post an idea or suggestion with this discussion - it has been a long, brain-straining, trial and error event, for sure. SSL does work physically, at...

Dan ... you are definitely a "doc" as your name suggests. I followed each step as you suggested and NOW! finally! SmartScan Lite accepts the adjusted tif file. Thank you. BUT... how very...

Sorry, but I wouldn't consider having another scanner - Musitek lists HP scanners as compatible.

Since I can't make any further adjust to my scanner's abilities in B&W tiff files, I took the "trialB&W.tif" (attached) scanned picture through PhotoshopElements "adjust contrast" menu. It reduced...

If all is as you say, then I am left with no solution (so far) to my original post. I have scanned TIF files with the best black and white image capture option that my one year old HP scanner...