Large Format Scanner News and Views
Large format scanner news, views and reviews written as we see it. No kow-towing, no bull, no holy cows. Just good advice on wide format scanners for CAD.
Recent articles and latest industry press releases
Selected large format scanner articles
Recent articles and latest industry press releases
|
NO BULL: Scan Speed Part 2 Contex redefines large format scanner productivity in raw "drawings per hour"
Contex's attempt to provide a more meaningful test of large format scanner scan speed is welcome. However, we are concerned that by only using raw scan speed as the measure of "productivity", it has pinned its star to lo-res speed rather than productive scanned image quality. REVIEW: Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40 large format scanner
The SmartLF Ci 40 is Colortrac's fourth generation large format CIS scanner. The use of a single large solid roller or drum allows documents to uniquely exit at the front. We evaluate it with Colortrac's ScanWorks scanning software. NEW LARGE FORMAT SCANNER: Océ launches 36" high resolution wide format colour scanner
The new Océ CS4236 is aimed at AEC, CAD and GIS users in small offices and organisations. Océ claim that the price and performance of this 36" wide format scanner, their first with 1200 dpi optical resolution, is well-suited to the needs of this market. ILLUMINATION: LEDs light up large format scanning's future!
Driven by the practical benefits of LED illumination, the wide format scanning industry is replacing CCD-based scanners' once standard fluorescent tubes with a white LED light source. INDUSTRY ROUND-UP: Obama's "Buy American" policy may limit wide format scanner choice
Part of US President Obama's plan to stimulate the US economy is a "Buy American" requirement. It sounds good but there is one small problem. None of the most popular makes of large format scanner - Contex, its OEMs (Calcomp, HP, IDEAL, Océ and Vidar), Colortrac, Graphtec and Image Access - are manufactured in the USA. This leaves Xerox as the US buyer's only choice. SIZE MATTERS: Probably the largest scanner in the universe!
AWESOME! Geofoto Scandinavia's KartoScan flatbed scanner. Has someone had fun with Photoshop at our expense? SIZE MATTERS: Colortrac sneak 56" wide large format scanner in under the radar.
We take a peak at the SmartLF Gx+ 56 which Colortrac has not yet announced but which has made a surprise appearance on their web site! It's claimed to be the largest sheet fed, CCD-based scanner available today. NO BULL: Scan Speed Phew! Some issues that need cleaning up!
We look at some large format scanner product descriptions whose benefits are diminished when properly understood. In this issue we examine Scan Speed. Turbo modes and High Speed modes allow large format scanner manufacturers to quote high scan speeds at high resolutions BUT none mention the compromised quality of the scans ... |
PRESS RELEASES: Signal / Noise Ratio
Denmark: 2nd June.
USA: 28th May.
USA: 20th May.
Denmark: 11th May.
USA: 30th April.
UK: 29th April.
Denmark: 28th April.
UK: 23rd April.
Netherlands: 22nd April.
USA: 15th April.
UK: 14th April.
USA: 13th April.
USA: 24th March.
USA: 18th March.
USA: 17th March.
UK: 12th March.
UK: 10th March.
Denmark: 9th March.
USA: 5th March.
USA: 4th March.
USA: 3rd March.
USA: 17th February.
Germany: 16th February.
UK: 2nd February.
SHORTS: Large Format Scanner Industry Round-Up
Ricoh claims 1200 dpi for new Aficio MP - but is it really?
Colortrac build on quality, ISO 20001 and technical support
Ratos strengthens Contex Holdings with $18m equity issue
ArtSystems launch Contex "Try and Buy" program in UK
Océ Q1 revenues € 658 million (approx. US$868m), down 6.3%
|
Selected large format scanner articles
|
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. TRAINING: The importance of large format scanner training!
We have received 1000s of large format scanned images over the last 13 years, the majority of them of poor or worse quality. Clearly, most wide format scanner operators do not have the knowledge, skill or time to use an expensive large format scanner effectively. There is a huge need for basic and or advanced wide format scanner training ... 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? 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? GREEN SCANNING: Towards a greener technical drawing office
Back in 2003 Xerox offered 7 Tips to make the workplace more eco-friendly. Today Océ offer similar green tips for the workplace. While there is little specific to large format scanning, there is good, general information worthy of the eco-friendly CAD user's consideration. |
REVIEW: Contex SD4490 large format scanner
The SD Series is Contex's first generation of CIS scanners and the first "true" 1200 dpi optical resolution large format scanner. We evaluate it along with Contex's new Nextimage scanning software. REVIEW: Graphtec CSX300 large format scanner
Graphtec have significantly modified the SK200 scanner included in various MFP systems, named it the CSX300 and released it as a standalone scanner. Aimed at the entry-level AEC, CAD and GIS market, the CSX300 includes Scanning Master 21+ scanning software and an on-site warranty, all at a very attractive price. 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. 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. 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. |
Bamboozled by gobbledegook?
See our Glossary!
Q&A: ASK AN EXPERT
STAY UPDATED!
Keep up to date with large format scanner news and views!
Subscibe to the Scanners4CAD RSS news feed.
|