Large Format Scanner News and Views - April / May 2008
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HOT NEWS: Nine "new" Graphtec HD Plus wide format scanners from Paradigm
Paradigm, the US distributor of Graphtec wide format scanners, has announced nine new HD+ scanners. Is this the start of Graphtec overtaking Contex in the US market? What's new in these new Graphtec scanners? We take a look! PR SHORTS: Who's Who and What's Where. And Why.
UK: 14th April.
USA: 10th April.
USA: 10th April.
Denmark: 10th April.
USA: 7th April.
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HOT NEWS: Contex scanners: Now available in black
Contex has updated its G600 large format scanners which will be called the HD (High Definition) Series in future. Now sporting a coat of black and silver paint, the new look, new name Contex HD Series of wide format scanners offer an advance in data transmission speed and, after years of claiming it, finally offer "true" 600 dpi optical resolution. RUMOUR: Contex CIS large format scanner to be announced
When Contex announced the replacement of their G600 Series large format scanners with the updated HD Series, they failed to announce updates for their under-powered Contex Hawk-Eye G36 and black-and-white-only Premier models. Scanners4CAD believes that these models are to be discontinued and replaced by Contex's first generation of CIS (contact image sensor) large format scanners. GREEN SCANNING: First steps towards green large format scanners
What does "green scanning" mean, exactly? What are ISO 14001, Energy Star, Energy Saver, RoSH and WEEE? What about the distribution carbon trail? What can be done to lessen scanning's impact on the environment? Most importantly, are the large format scanner manufacturers doing enough to ensure users get a clean, green product? |
Large Format Scanner News and Views - February / March 2008
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EXPLANATION: Large format scanner accuracy and calibration
All large format scanners scanners can produce inaccurate scans if they are not properly maintained and calibrated. This article describes four areas where problems can occur: Colour uniformity, colour accuracy, stitching errors and dimensional accuracy. It describes what causes these problems, how different large format scanner manufacturers go about trying to avoid them and what you need to do to keep your scanner accurate. PR SHORTS: Who's Who and What's Where. And Why.
UK: 28th March.
GERMANY: 14th March.
DENMARK: 13th March.
GERMANY: 12th March.
UK: 10th March.
GERMANY: 20th February.
USA: 16th February.
DENMARK: 12th February.
USA: 11th February.
UK: 6th February.
USA: 5th February.
GERMANY: 30th January.
USA: 28th January.
GERMANY: 25th January.
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HOT NEWS: Image Access release WideTEK 42" and 48" models!
One year ago Image Access were hot news when they premiered their true networking, OS-independent, 36" WideTEK large format scanner at CeBIT. One year later they are back, clutching a Four Star BERTL Award for the WideTEK 36 and announcing two new 42" and 48" WideTEK wide format scanner models. Rated the world's fastest scanner, the innovative WideTEK range includes walk-up technology and the ability to scan direct to a USB stick with no need for a client PC. AWARDS: BERTL Four Stars - the New Scanner Average!
Anyone interested in large format scanning cannot fail to have noticed a spate of BERTL® Four Star Ratings recently announced in the press by grateful recipients. This rating is "strictly reserved for devices that deliver a range of business-critical features / functions that are above average". Scanners4CAD would like to point out with some degree of mischief that with all products to date having received a Four Star Rating, none of these products can be described as "above average". Right now, Four Stars IS the average! RESOLUTION: Do the large format scanners with the highest advertised resolutions have the best resolving power?
In this article we compare scans of a standard T-10 resolution test chart made on eight popular large format scanners. Do the scanners with the highest advertised resolutions have the best resolving power? And for practical purposes, does it really matter? |
Large Format Scanner News and Views - December / January 2008
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CONFIRMATION: Image Access WideTEK 36 rated the "fastest wide format scanner"
BERTL, the independent American business equipment research and testing laboratory, has evaluated the Image Access WideTEK 36 and awarded it a highly recommended 4 Star Rating. "The bottom line" say BERTL, "is that the WideTEK 36 is the fastest wide-format color scanner on the market today". QUALITY SCANNING: Creating high quality scans for raster to vector conversion
We see hundreds of poor quality scans. Most are created on expensive large format scanners whose product literature glows with the promise of quick and easy high quality scans. However, there is no guarantee of useful results when the scanner is used inappropriately for the drawing in hand. So, how do you create a high quality scan for raster to vector conversion? This article provides useful hints and tips to point you in the right direction. |
FREE TICKETS: See The WideTEK 36 FREE at CeBIT 2008
Image Access has given Scanners4CAD a limited number of complimentary tickets to CeBIT 2008 - the world's largest trade fair showcasing IT and telecoms solutions for home and work environments. Contact us for your free Kombi-Ticket. QUALITY ASSURANCE: Colortrac boosts Quality Assurance
Colortrac Ltd, the British developer and manufacturer of SmartLF wide format scanners and image acquisition software solutions, is updating old and implementing new quality assurance controls to ensure the highest quality of its scanners. |
Large Format Scanner News and Views - October / November 2007
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USER STORY: Rediscovering that corner of a foreign field
Great War Digital have scanned and captured the most complete archive of First World War trench maps available. In 2008, users of their Linesman software will be able to track the entire length of the Great War trench system from Switzerland through France to the North Sea on a hand-held GPS / PDA device. SCAN-TO-PDF: Benefits and Considerations
Scan-to-PDF is something that a growing number of CAD users want to do with a wide format scanner, but what exactly are the benefits of saving scans as PDF files and do these benefits extend to scanned technical drawings? IN A NUTSHELL: All you need to know before buying a large format scanner for CAD!
CAD users wanting to buy a standalone wide format scanner for archiving, printing or raster to vector conversion of technical drawings and maps face a growing array of choices and confusing claims. We wrote this article, first published in MCAD Magazine (16th September 2007), to help you make an informed choice about the large format scanner that's best for you. INTERVIEW: Niels Appel, Contex
Scanners4CAD spoke to Niels Appel, Contex A/S's recently appointed Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing. Appel is now responsible for the marketing of the world's largest and most successful wide format scanner company. His appointment comes at a time when rival new products, technologies and claims are slowly nibbling away at Contex's dominant market share. |
SOFTWARE: New Scan2CAD Pro adds raster PDF read, write and convert to CAD
Softcover have released Scan2CAD v7.6, a new Vista compatible version of their professional raster to vector conversion software which reads, writes and converts raster PDF files to DXF for editing in any PC CAD and or CNC program. SHORTS: Who's Who and What's Where
USA: 27th November. IDEAL.com announces ScanCENTRAL single foot print color scan, copy and print systems. Read more ... AUS: 22nd November. Shapemakers Creative Solutions, manufacturer of the Deskan scanner, will be demonstrating Deskan FastParts at Westec 2008 in Los Angeles. Deskan FastParts is an affordable scan-to-vector solution for reverse engineering CNC parts quickly and cost-effectively. Read more ... USA: 6th November. Paradigm Imaging, the leading US supplier of Graphtec scanners, has announced the second generation of their large format multi-function system, the EIS Supra, which combines Graphtec's excellent SK200 scanner with Canon's impressive new iFP710 36" printer. Read more ... USA: 24th October. Océ has added an inline folder to the TCS500 large format colour print/copy/scan system. Large format technical colour plots can now be folded directly from the driver or operator panel of the scanner. Read more ... THE MARKET: UK Contex Crystal price slashed by 47%
The Contex Crystal's new UK list price includes a floorstand and WIDEimage scanning software. Scanners4CAD finds it surprising that the kitchen sink from Contex's Alleroed head office is not in the package as well. EVALUATIONS & REPORTS: BERTL to produce large format scanner reports
BERTL have been working with Henrik Vestermark, a prolific scanning industry commentator and consultant, to set up credible product testing criteria and procedures for their new for-sale reports. |
Large Format Scanner News and Views - August / September 2007
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CCD: Oops! Scanners4CAD apologise. We got it wrong!
We recently had an online article "Scanning uncovered" appear in MCAD Magazine. We made a mistake ... PRODUCTS: IDEAL introduces single footprint scanner / printer stand
A simple product of growing importance in large format scanning is the adjustable stand which integrates two standalone devices, a wide format scanner and printer, into a single, space-saving footprint. COMING SOON: Scanners4CAD travels to Denmark to visit Contex
We were surprised to discover that we had arrived in Denmark on the 200th anniversary of the Second Battle of Copenhagen. It was fitting that while we were in Copenhagen to build bridges with Contex, the Royal Navy was back in town returning to the Danes a ship's bell forcibly removed two centuries earlier ... SAFE SCANNING: How to protect fragile and damaged technical drawings
Sod's Law dictates that if a valuable drawing can snag, get stuck, chewed up, crumpled or concertinaed in the scanner roller mechanism, it will do so perfectly. PRICEBUSTER: Large format's lateral thinker - the scan-in-strips Deskan 6!
I first came across the Deskan large format scanning system at the AEC Systems Show 2001 in Chicago. What attracted me to it then still holds true today - it offers cost-conscious CAD users a much more affordable wide format scanning solution than conventional scanners. HOT NEWS: Contex to be sold
Contex, the Danish global leader in large format scanning, is in the final stages of being sold. |
SOFTWARE: WideTEK adds a network bridge with Scan2Edit software
We like the Image Access WideTEK 36 scanner a lot. It is fast, has excellent scan quality and is networkable. SHORTS: Who's Who and What's Where
GERMANY: 14th September. CAD Print and Planroom - SCP's complete print management solution takes the panic out of meeting urgent deadlines. Read more ... USA: 12th September. IDEAL.com introduces Scanning System3 for colour copying, network printing and internet collaboration. Read more ... GERMANY: 11th September. See Image Access's WideTEK scanner at Intergeo, Leipzig, from 25 to 27 September 2007. Read more ... USA: 5th September. IDEAL introduces multi-function Contex scanner / large format printer stand. Read more ... USA: 23rd August. Bowe Bell + Howell's new Infinity WF36 wide format network scanner now available. Read more ... UK: 3rd August. Lincolnshire County Council buy four Colortrac SmartLF Cx 40 scanners. Read more ... AWARDS: Large format scanner awards - Judging the Judges
Amongst the publicity material which we recently received were three "We've Just Won A Prestigious Award!" announcements. These set us thinking ... INTERVIEW: Ian Ferrier, Deskan
Scanners4CAD spoke to Ian Ferrier, managing director of Shapemakers, the Australian manufacturers of the unique Deskan 6 colour scanner. SCANNERS FOR SALE: KIP 2030 and 3620Ex Local Authority. Just £1000 + VAT and carriage - normal price £45,000+! Location: Manchester, England.
Vidar Atlas P42 Plus
Location: Berkshire, England.
Do you have a used or ex-demo scanner you'd like to sell?
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Large Format Scanner News and Views - June / July 2007
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FOLLOWUP: The HP Designjet 4500 scannerIt includes preconfigured printer drivers for HP Designjet printers, a 15" touch-screen with Pentium 4 2.3 GHz processor, software, a floorstand and an on-site warranty ... |
... but is it a scanner for CAD? |
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NETWORKING: Coming soon to a Big Screen near you!
The pros and cons of networking large format scanners.
SHORTS: Who's Who and What's Where
USA: 11th July. Paradigm appoint NewWave Technologies Graphtec SP200W distributor. Read more ... USA: 2nd July. Niels Appel appointed Contex Executive VP Sales & Marketing. Read more ... USA: 8th June. GEI stiffens sales team with experienced wide format solutions veterans. Read more ... USA: 6th June. Jane Hicks joins Paradigm Imaging Group. Read more ... THE MARKET: Graphtec GB cuts prices again
Graphtec GB adjust their pricing to make their scanners more competitive in the UK.
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UPDATE: Colortrac's CopySmart gets new drivers and spectrophotometer support
If you are a Colortrac user with a requirement for colour management, CopySmart's low price and powerful features make it an ideal companion. THE BOTTOM LINE: Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Colortrac's innovative SmartLF R&D comes home to roost as worldwide sales grow by 44%.
AWARD WINNERS: KIP and Contex win Wide-Format Imaging Top Product Awards
US reprographics magazine's readers identify the KIP 3000 and Contex Crystal G600 as emerging stars. |
Q&A: ASK AN EXPERT
Q: What are the limitations on the length of a scanned drawing?
A: Large format scanners can physically scan drawings of any length.
In practise however the actual length of the drawing you can scan is limited by the size of the file in Mb that your PC is capable of accepting from the scanner.
The size of the file that will be created by the scanner depends on the resolution you are scanning at and whether you are scanning in mono, greyscale or 24-bit colour.
Scanning in mono at lower resolutions creates smaller files than scanning in colour at higher resolutions. Therefore, you will be able to scan longer drawings if you scan in mono at low resolutions. However, the resolution you use must be high enough to capture all the detail you need in the drawing, or the scan - although long - will be useless for your future purposes.
Let's say you scan an A0 drawing (841 x 1189mm / 33 x 47"). Here are the approximate sizes of the file you will get scanning at different resolutions and colour depths:
* Mono - 200 dpi: 7 Mb, 400 dpi: 30 Mb, 600 dpi: 67 Mb
* Greyscale - 200 dpi: 59 Mb, 400 dpi: 237 Mb, 600 dpi: 532 Mb
* Colour - 200 dpi: 177 Mb, 400 dpi: 710 Mb, 600 dpi: 1.6 Gb
Using a Pentium IV 3.4GHz PC with 1Gb RAM connected to the scanner by USB2 - a similar spec to the PCs supplied as standard with some large format scanners - we were unable to scan an A0 drawing in colour at 600 dpi with any scanner we tried except the Image Access WideTEK. The PC just hung.
The Image Access WideTEK contains its own powerful integrated onboard PC which allows it to scan larger images than scanners that are dependent on external PCs. However, even if you are able to scan very large images, you should consider the usability of the scanned files you create.
The size of the file in Mb might be so large that it is unwieldy to store or email and either impossible or very, very slow to open in an image editing program.
In addition, as well as Mb size, older versions of Windows could not handle images with a physical length greater than 32,000 pixels. This equates to the following drawing lengths (the same for mono, grayscale and colour images):
* At 200 dpi - 160" (13.3') or 4064mm (4.06m)
* At 400 dpi - 80" (6.7') or 2032mm (2.03m)
* At 600 dpi - 53.3" (4.4') or 1355mm (1.35m)
Although the 32,000 pixel restriction has now been lifted from Windows itself, it is still retained by many image editing programs. By creating images that are longer than 32,000 pixels you might be restricting what you can do with the image later.
So to conclude, yes there are limitations on the length of the drawing you can scan using a large format scanner. However these limitations are due to the current ability of PCs and software to handle large image sizes rather than due to the scanners themselves.
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