The ET Max includes a CD-ROM disc with the necessary software and drivers. If you’re like most people in 2026 and your computer doesn’t have a CD-ROM drive, you can download the software installer using the link listed in the printed setup guide. The software installer is compatible with Windows XP, 7, 8, 10, and 11; Macs (both Apple M-series and Intel Silicon-based); and Linux. Your CPU must be an Intel Core i7 (8th generation or later) or an AMD Ryzen (7th generation or later). You also need at least 8GB of RAM, although 16GB is recommended.
(Credit: David English)
After downloading and initially running the software, you will be asked to input the serial number attached to the bottom of the unit. Once that is done, you can continue with the software installation. On my Windows PC testbed, I ended up with just two apps: a CZUR Scanner app, and an Uninstall CZUR Scanner app. That’s less than many competing scanners offer, but the CZUR Scanner app is comprehensive, as I’ll discuss below.
On the hardware side, you need to attach the supplied USB cable to both the scanner and your computer. Plug either the hand control or foot pedal into the scanner’s available USB port on the back of the base, and spread the black work mat, using the cut gap in the mat to align the scanner so it overhangs the mat.
(Credit: David English)
You can then turn off the ET Max using the power switch on the back of the base. The main advantages laser lights should come on automatically. If they don’t, you can press the button on the stand with the light bulb icon. When scanning magazines, glossy books, coated paper, or other reflective materials, you should also attach and turn off the side-light module. It has a touch-sensitive switch, so it’s easy to turn on and off.
A particularly welcome feature on the ET Max is the 2.5-inch color LCD at the bottom of the scanner head. You want to use it to see if the mat covers the entire screen. If not, you will need to reposition the mat to view external content on one of the four sides. The screen can also serve as a visual aid to center your book or document on the mat. And just below the screen you will see three small lights: a video recording light, a scan light and a power indicator light.
CZUR suggests that you avoid scanning near a window or under overhead lighting. Excessively bright ambient lighting can overwhelm the built-in laser lamps and adversely affect scan results. The company also suggests that when scanning larger projects such as books or multiple documents, you use the foot pedal in conjunction with the computer screen to make the process more efficient.
(Credit: CZUR)
The CZUR Scanner app lets you choose between Flat Single Page and Facing Pages modes. The Flat Single Page mode is, predictably, for single pages or single sheets of paper where no curvature correction is required. The Facing Pages mode is for bound books or bound sheets of paper. This is where the curvature correction routines of the software are activated. The software does a decent job of automatically recognizing the edges of the paper, cutting or tilting pages when necessary, and flattening the curves characteristic of pages in bound books.
That said, it does help if the curves are not too extreme. To help you solve this, the ET Max includes two yellow finger beds. You use them to press on the blank spaces of the pages as you scan the pages with the foot pedal. The fingerprints can then be automatically removed from the scan by the software. You don’t need to use chain unless a significant amount of bending is involved.
Correctly positioning your book for Facing Pages mode is also relatively easy. The software will show you an orange vertical line that runs parallel to the border between the two pages. You can use the orange line to help you align the center of the book in relation to the scanner’s camera.
The software can also automatically detect when you have switched to a new page and adjust for any slight deviation. With so much being handled automatically by the software, all you really have to do is repeatedly press the foot pedal and turn the pages carefully enough that you don’t accidentally reposition the book. It’s easy to get into a rhythm when trying to scan an entire book or long article.
(Credit: CZUR)
After scanning all the pages, you can use the app to rotate or crop the results, remove any handwritten notes, or embed a watermark or logo. Many of the editing tools can also be applied to multiple pages at once, including edge cropping, hole filling, handwriting deletion, and standardization (such as for scaling or background color processing). These are the types of tools you might not find with a sheetfed or flatbed scanner. They are a welcome addition to anyone who has to spend hours on a track scanning books or fragile documents.
Once you have all the pages just the way you want them, you can save the results in different file formats. The software uses optical character recognition (OCR) technology to convert your scanned text into a Word, Excel or viewable PDF file. If OCR processing is not required, you can save your scanned results to a non-viewable PDF, TXT, TIFF, PNG or BMP file. You can also print your scans directly from the CZUR Scanner app.
Like the ET24 Pro, the ET Max has a built-in HDMI port, allowing it to be used as a presentation device. How does that work? First, make sure the unit is connected to an AC power supply and not connected to a computer via a USB cable. Next, you attach an HDMI cable (not included) to both the ET Max and an HDMI-compatible projector, TV, or electronic whiteboard. Now, when you turn off the ET Max, it automatically goes into Visual Presenter mode. The head of the scanner has a built-in microphone into which you can speak during the presentation. And the base unit has buttons that you can use to zoom in or out of the display image, which can be anything you want to fit on the black mat.