Scan2CAD raster to vector conversion software

REVIEW:

Contex SD4490 large format scanner

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Conclusion

Overall, we were very impressed with the Contex SD4490 large format scanner and Nextimage software.

Externally, it is a stylish scanner with a scan width that allows E size (but not A0 or Arch E size) drawings to be scanned in landscape. Although the SD4490 is a bit too big for a small office, it is surprisingly light and is easily carried by two people.

The scanner's 1200 dpi optical resolution allows it to separate fine details even when scanning at low resolutions, which potentially allows users to create smaller lower resolution files with faster processing times.

The supplied Nextimage software is logical, easy to use and uncluttered. Its ability to let you change settings with a slider bar while watching the image change in real time makes it extremely easy to select appropriate threshold, despeckle and hole fill settings. However, this ability is let down at present by the fact that the scanning preview - where you select settings - doesn't necessarily reflect what you get in the final scan.

The Contex SD4490 is the fastest large format scanner we have timed to date with the exception of the Image Access WideTEK. In black and white and greyscale it challenges the WideTEK on speed, although the WideTEK is still much faster in colour, at least on the tested PC configuration. However, the SD4490's speed is compromised by the need to preview scans in order to select appropriate scan settings, necessitating three passes through the scanner - one for the preview, one to rewind and one for the final scan.

We also liked the fact that it is easy to scan over an office network with the SD4490. This is a positive productivity benefit in a small office.

On the negative side, we found it hard to load large, curled documents - although this is true for all large format scanners to a greater or lesser extent. The scanner's adaptive thresholding was less effective on our test drawing than other software we have seen. This is a downside if you have a lot of dirty drawings to scan.

The SD4490 is not a budget scanner. In the UK, it costs almost twice as much as the Colortrac Cx 40e (Colortrac's top of the range CIS scanner) and more than twice as much as a Graphtec CSX300. In the US the price differential is much less, but you have to buy Nextimage software as an extra. Less expensive SD models with slower scanning speeds are available but, unlike scanners from Colortrac and some Graphtec scanners, these are not upgradeable. Buy the wrong SD scanner and you are stuck with it.

There is considerable extra cost (750 pounds or 800 US dollars) to obtain the full Nextimage Scan+Copy software with copy capability. While this might be worthwhile for high-end colour users wanting to benefit from colour calibration, it seems a lot to pay for simple CAD copies. However, the Scan only version of Nextimage does provide a workaround with its ability to print a previously scanned drawing using dedicated or Windows drivers.

Finally, if you are going to buy a Contex SD scanner, you are advised to use a PC with Contex's recommended specs - a 1.66GHz Dual Core Processor, 2GB RAM, a 7200rpm SATA hard drive with 5GB free space and a high speed USB 2.0 interface - or better.

Disappointingly, Contex has not implemented the "scan once then edit" approach used by Colortrac's ScanWorks software. Instead of adding this productive feature to Nextimage, they have opted for a reliance on prescans which not only means that what you see might not be what you get but which prevents users from gaining full advantage of the impressive scan speeds of the SD Series. In our opinion, Contex has effectively hobbled its own invention.

That said, Nextimage is still very much version one software in flux. It is already very good and has a highly attractive interface. We expect to see it getting better and better. We have been told that Contex are addressing the current lack of an easy rotate and if they can also address the adaptive thresholding and preview / productivity issues, this will become an excellent scanner and software combination.

Scanners4CAD looks forward to covering the SD Series' future developments.

(Editor's note: Since we reviewed the SD4490 in September 2008 its UK price has dropped by more than a third, making it much more competitive.)

Our thanks to Brian Honeycutt of Contex A/S and Jon Jordan of ArtSystems Limited.

Contex A/S:
www.contex.com

ArtSystems Limited (UK Contex distributor):
www.artsystems.co.uk

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