Scan2CAD raster to vector conversion software

REVIEW:

Contex SD4490 large format scanner

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Paper Handling

As previously mentioned, with its 44" scan width the SD series scans wider than any other CIS scanner, and wider than all but two of the CCD scanners on our large format scanner comparison chart. According to Contex, a width of 44" was chosen because the latest technical document printers from HP and Canon are 44" - presumably to allow users to print E size drawings in landscape.

The SD Series' width allows it to scan E size (34" x 44") drawings in landscape. However A0 (33" x 47") and Arch E size (36" x 48") drawings must still be scanned in portrait, as would be the case on a 36" scanner. That said, while we have come across A0+ size documents that were too wide to fit through a 36" scanner, we have not yet encountered a document that would not fit through a 40" scanner. So finding a document that will not fit through a 44" scanner is unlikely!

The SD series has a maximum media thickness of 0.04" / 1 mm, enough for normal thickness documents.

We fed some 20 different drawings on various media through the SD4490. Most of the drawings were rolled, folded and or dog-eared. We had a little difficulty loading documents that had upwardly curling leading edges, but once loaded these passed through the scanner successfully. We also had a problem with a particularly slippery film document which the scanner could not grip. We were able to resolve this issue by selecting the scanner's Soft Handling option before loading the document.

As with our review of the Graphtec CSX300, we tried feeding a sheet of newspaper through the SD4490. As with the Graphtec, the newspaper concertina'd. However, Contex explained that because of the paper grain in newspaper it will inevitably concertina if fed through the scanner in one direction but it will pass through sucessfully if fed through in the other. This proved to be true.

The SD4490's paper feed is centre justified and face-up, allowing you to see the drawing as you scan it. The document has to be manually placed in the centre of the platen by lining it up with screen printed ruler and paper size guides. This is easy to achieve with a well-behaved flat document but is awkward if you are fighting with a large curled document that you are trying to flatten out and line up with the guides at the same time.

The SD control panel includes Forward and Backward feed buttons but no obvious Stop or Cancel button. On asking we were told by Contex that pressing either the Forward or Backward feed button after the scan has started cancels the scan.

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