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The new Paradigm Quatra multi-function printer/scanner.

Paradigm Imaging reveals its new Quatra large-format, multi-function scan, print and copy station, (Graphtec ScanPrint SP200W in the UK).

by Henrik Vestermark

This article is kindly reproduced courtesy of the author, Henrik Vestermark, an independent consultant with professional experience in the wide-format scanner industry since 1988. Previously Contex's Vice President for the Americas his expertise includes all aspects of the wide-format and large-format digital capture market, with experience in development, sales and marketing for a wide-format scanner manufacturer. In 2006, Vestermark started The Other Solutions, a web-based company focusing on delivery of affordable solutions and consultancy to the IT and wide-format markets, specializing in the identification of business needs and justification of solutions. He currently lives in Idaho.

hve@theothersolutions.com
http://www.theothersolutions.com

The new Paradigm Quatra multi-function printer/scanner.

Multi-function Scan, Print Copy: The Paradigm EIS Quatra

20th March, 2007.
By: Henrik Vestermark
This article first appeared in Geospatial Solutions.
See: http://geospatial-online.com

Paradigm Imaging Group has revealed its new Quatra large-format, multi-function scan, print and copy station (aka the Graphtec ScanPrint SP200W in the UK).

See: http://www.paradigmimaging.com Paradign Quatra

The Paradigm EIS (Express Imaging Station) Quatra addresses a new market segment for the multi-function copy station, starting at less than $7,500 (monochrome).

The Quatra solution includes:

  • A Graphtec JW220 24-inch color printer,
  • A Graphtec SK200 36-inch scanner,
  • Rocket scanner and printer controller,
  • ImageFLOW LT scan, print, and copy software,
  • One year of onsite service in the USA & Canada.

(Editor's Note: In the UK the Graphtec ScanPrint does not include Paradigm's Rocket scanner and printer controller and ImageFLOW LT scan, print and copy software. However it does include a TWO YEAR on-site warranty. The Graphtec ScanPrint costs £4695 for the FULL COLOUR system).

Bundling a 36-inch scanner with a 24-inch printer is an interesting concept. Paradigm's market research found that many potential copy system customers need to input both D- and E-size drawings, but they usually print only D-size documents. They can therefore fulfill their needs with the Quatra solution at a price point that starts at less than half that of competing systems. And, because the footprint of the Quatra is small — only 18 X 48 X 24 inches — it can fit on any desk.

Flexible configurations

Each scanner model comes in three different configurations — M, C, and E — related to the different scanning capabilities:

  • M — Monochrome-only scanner
  • C — Monochrome and 0.75-ips color scanner
  • E — Monochrome and 3-ips color scanner

Users can upgrade the scanner from monochrome to a 0.75-ips or 3-ips color scanner, or from the 0.75-ips to the 3-ips color model. The good news is that there is no penalty for upgrading, as the upgrade price is simply the difference in price between the models. This is the first multi-function copy system in the industry that lets users easily upgrade from monochrome scanning to color scanner with moderate color speed and finally to color scanner with fast color performance, all with the same machine.

I have always been surprised to learn how many users still have legacy drawings, maps, and aerial photography in black-and-white or grayscale that need to be digitized. We all want to ensure that our investment is protected for the future, and a scanner that can be upgraded from monochrome to color is an excellent answer. Printing of color files can be done irrespective of the actual scanning configuration. The only limitation of the monochrome configuration is related to its copying capability.

The Rocket Controller

Paradigm's Rocket controller is the glue that makes the scanner and the printer work seamlessly together as a coherent solution.

The Rocket controller is a pre-configured PC that runs Windows XP Professional; it's powered by a 3-GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor with 1 GB of memory and an 80-GB hard disk. The controller has a built-in CD-RW and DVD-ROM combo drive with a 100-MB fast Ethernet connection.

With the Rocket controller comes a mini-keyboard with touch pad, and a 17-inch LCD monitor. The footprint for the controller is just 8 X 8 X 12 inches, so it fits easily on a desktop or behind the Quatra system. The Rocket controller hosts the ImageFLOW LT application that runs the show; it comes preloaded with Windows XP Professional, scanner and printer drivers, and the ImageFLOW LT application.

Getting Set Up

The tabletop Graphtec JW220 printer and the Graphtec SK200 scanner require virtually no assembly, except for the small stand that lifts the scanner into position on top of the printer. The Graphtec SK200 scanner, at only 53 pounds, is light compared to similar models. The Graphtec JW220 printer weighs in at 46 pounds. Although there are several hardware components to be installed, the installation process is easy.

SK200 Scanner Calibration

For optimal scans, you must calibrate your new scanner before use. The scanner calibration process is smooth, and should not present any problems for users. The Graphtec SK200 scanner comes with a basic calibration sheet for the black and white points, as well as a color calibration sheet.

Basic calibrations took me less than five minutes, and color calibration is a semi-automated process. After scanning the color calibration sheet, you must mark six reference points on the sheet to ensure that the calibration utility knows the exact locations of each of the 1,080 color patches.

The Graphtec SK200 uses the latest CIS (contact image sensor) technology with 42-bit internal color capture (14-bit graytone), which parses the best 24-bit color (8-bit graytone) to the Rocket controller for further processing. The scan line consists of five CIS sensors, each approximately 8.5 inches wide, to reach a 36-inch-wide scanning capability. Documents must face up as they are fed into the scanner.

JW220 Printer Calibration

The JW220 printer from Graphtec is a 24-inch-wide, four-color thermal inkjet printer. It contains two print heads: a dedicated black one with a nozzle configuration of 320 X 2 lines and a CMY (cyan, magenta, and yellow) print head with a nozzle configuration of 160 X 3.

The ink capacity is 100 milliliters for the black ink, and 50 milliliters for each of the CMY inks. Installation is straightforward, as with most other printers. The JW220 comes with a maintenance tool for cleaning inkjet heads, etc. The printer is connected to the Rocket controller via a USB 2 port.

The Quatra system prints a D-size black-and-white copy in 100 seconds and a D-size color copy in 270 seconds. Although it's not the fastest printer system in the market, the price of the package makes it an excellent value.

ImageFLOW LT

ImageFLOW LT has a user-friendly
interface. ImageFLOW LT software

The ImageFLOW LT software is a useful, all-in-one package that can scan, preview, print, and copy images; it's included with the Quatra solutions at no additional charge. All buttons are logically placed and at the lower-right corner are the three main functions:

  • Scanning
  • Printing
  • Copying.

ImageFLOW LT supports a touch-screen monitor or regular keyboard and mouse for inputting information.

The ImageFLOW LT software is not just another scan, print, and copy application. Its base technology comes from the reprographic "ripping" world and has been enhanced with support of the Graphtec scanner and printer.

If you need support for more printers, you can upgrade the ImageFLOW LT to the full version of ImageFLOW for an additional $995. The full version adds support for more than 550 printers, and all of your print jobs can be organized in a company-wide print queue system where you can create sets and manipulate the queue.

Selecting files for printing is
intuitive with scaling and copy options. ImageFLOW LT software

Printing in ImageFlow LT

You print files that you have previously scanned, or that are already on the computer, with the Print button. In the Print dialog box, you can add files using the standard browser, select the printing device with a preset printer paper profile, and set the scaling and the number of copies to make.

Copying with ImageFLOW LT ImageFLOW LT software

ImageFLOW LT supports walk-up scanning and printing operations. In the Copy dialog box, you simply select the number of copies and the scaling factor, and then press the Copy button. You can also run the scanner in Batch mode, where the scanner continuously scans, prints, and ejects the drawings with no interruption.

To copy, you can simply walk up to the scanner,
open the Copy dialog box, choose the number of
copies to be made, and click Copy.

Scanning with ImageFlow LT

The scanning features are simple and easy to use. In brief, follow these directions:

  • Select scanning mode — Color, Gray, or B&W —
    by clicking on the appropriate tabs at the top.
  • Next, select one of the eight presets,
    or click the Edit button to create a customized scan setting.
  • Click the Size buttons for selections on scanning sizes.
  • Click the Scan button, and select file format and destination file.

To begin scanning, you can choose from one of the eight preset modes, or create customized settings. For all scanning modes, you can choose normal, high-quality, and high-speed scanning options, and then adjust the scanning resolution. You can also set the black and white points yourself, or let the software figure it out. Next, set the contrast and brightness for all scan modes.

Use the preprogrammed scan modes, or make your own

There are also a few individual values to set, such as edge sharpening for grayscale, auto-despeckle for black-and-white, and 24-bit or 8-bit color. ImageFLOW LT software

Use the preprogrammed scan modes,
or make your own.

Next, you need to set your scan size. In the Document Size dialog box, choose ISO, ANSI, or ARCH preset sizes, or set your own custom sizes. ImageFLOW LT tracks recent sizes that you've used so that you can reuse your sizing for future scans. ImageFLOW LT software

You can also let ImageFLOW LT manage your scan size information. This feature is very handy when scanning in batch mode, where drawing sizes can vary with each scan. Simply select Automatic Width and Length, and the program takes over. You can also select Automatic Deskew so the program straightens tilted images, making the scanning process more efficient.

Set document sizes in this dialog box.

An All-in-One System

The Quatra solution from Paradigm Imaging Group is a well-thought-out, easy-to-operate, multi-function system that is putting pressure on competitors.

With a starting price of $7,495 and an easy upgrade policy, you get a lot for your money, including a 24-inch printer and a 36-inch scanner from Graphtec all bundled with Paradigm's Rocket controller and a full suite of preloaded software. On top of this, Paradigm adds a one-year, onsite service in both USA and Canada. Because of all these features and the very low entry price, I rate the Quatra as a highly recommended solution.

GIS Applications for Wide-Format Scanning

Wide-format scanning is used in a variety of ways in GIS, including reusing legacy paper maps, quick map reproduction, and bringing maps into software programs for future use.

Scan-to-File

Scan-to-file is the classic application for wide-format scanners. It originated in the CAD world and offers GIS users a way to reuse legacy paper maps by scanning them into an electronic format or directly into the GIS system. This allows businesses to recoup invested intellectual property from legacy maps.

Quatra Summary

Typically, two approaches exist. The first is to convert maps on demand and the second is to convert all legacy maps into an electronic archive. The latter reduces the amount of storage space needed and prevents further deterioration of maps, which can justify the financial cost of an office-wide scan-to-file process.

Disaster recovery is another application for scan-to-file. A city engineering department, for example, can use a scanner to make electronic copies of drawings of bridges, utility lines, buildings, and the like and store them in a safe, fireproof location. There are two viable options for the scan-to-file approach:

  • Outsource the scanning to a third-party scanning service.
  • Invest in a solution so you can do the scanning in-house.

Scan-to-Print

Scan-to-print, or S2P, was first used following the introduction of wide-format color scanners in the late 1990s. These devices enabled the GIS community to expand their service offerings to include color map and other wide-document reproduction.

The scan-to-print workstation was created using a wide-format scanner as the front end to a wide-format printer. In the GIS community, making quick map reproductions from legacy maps was seen as a quick way to expand the service offering. Many county, state, and federal organizations were the first to jump into this new concept. For example, in the case of emergency response, map reproduction is crucial for faster response time

Scan-to-Application

Scan-to-application, an innovative use of scanner technology, has popped up in recent years, propelling wide-format scanners into new niche markets. For example, you can scan legacy maps such as geologic, contour, and property and use ESRI ARCInfo to compare with current maps.

You can develop more accurate maps by registering the older maps with the new coordinated system. Using the ArcScan extension, you can scan contour maps at around 600 dpi. Ensure that the contour lines overlay the a new images correctly, and you can edit images and vectorize the contour lines in the old map and convert it into a GIS Shape file or geodatabase. This is just one example of how an innovative company has found a new way to capitalize on wide-format scanning technology for GIS users.

Copyright ™ The Other Solutions 2006 Revision 3/26/2007

This article was written by Henrik Vestermark of The Other Solutions, Inc.

hve@theothersolutions.com
http://www.theothersolutions.com

For comments, discussion or consultancy don’t hesitate to contact:

Henrik Vestermark,
The Other Solutions,
866 E Tuweep St,
Meridian, ID 83642
USA
Phone: +1 208 887 4780
Cell: +1 571 276 4050
Email: hve@theothersolutions.com
Web: www.theothersolutions.com
Skype: henrikvestermark