Scan2CAD raster to vector conversion software

NEW SCANNER:

New 24" Contex XD2490 offers price, performance and pedigree

Contex XD2490 24 inch scanner
The new Contex XD2490
24" (A1 / D-size) large format scanner
 

Contex, the Danish large format scanning and imaging solutions leader, has announced the XD2490, a fast new, low-priced, 24" wide large format scanner capable of capturing A1 / D-size technical documents and maps in monochrome, greyscale and color.

The new XD2490 effectively replaces the HD2530.

The XD2490 is Contex's second CIS (contact image sensor) large format scanner. It is a modified and much shortened version of Contex's first CIS scanner, the successful 44" wide SD Series. The XD2490 is based on the SD Series' fastest color model, the top-of-the-range SD4490. The XD2490 inherits the SD4490's good looks, fast scanning speeds and 1200 dpi optical resolution, the highest available in CIS-based scanners today.

The most visible difference between the SD4490 and the XD2490 is the latter's reduced image width, just 24" / 610 mm. (Maximum media or document width is 26.6" / 676 mm.) Internally, the XD2490 uses just three staggered CIS arrays to cover the 24" scan width. Missing from the XD2490 is the SD Series' right-hand side control panel, an extension which housed its electronics. This is now incorporated within the XD2490.

Being 20" shorter in media width and 28" overall, the Contex XD2490 is much lighter than the the SD Series. Weighing just 35.5 lbs or 16.1 kg, the Contex XD2490's size and weight makes it eminently portable. While Contex are promoting its use on-site and say that it is "easy to move and fits on a desktop or table", (it has no floorstand at present), and claim that its "advanced CIS technology ensures scanner stability during transport", it is not pushing portability as the XD2490's major benefit. Instead, Contex is promoting price and performance. Above all else, it is promoting the XD2490's low price.

The XD2490 demands the attention of CAD users for two reasons.

The first is its aggresive price, the lowest yet seen in A1 / D-size scanning, a testament to Contex's growing combativeness as its CIS technology matures. The second is Contex's argument for buying the XD2490, a size of scanner that has never been as popular in AEC or CAD or GIS as A0 or E-size scanners which are capable of capturing a wider range of paper sizes, specifically the larger than 24" ones common in CAD. If Contex is to sell the XD2490, it must find a use for it. Contex now seems to have done so although some will argue their solution already exists in larger size scanners.

Essentially, Contex are presenting the XD2490 to AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) professionals as a "low-cost way to scan, copy and communicate".

Communicate?

Yes, Contex's big idea is the XD2490 as a means of communicating marked-up drawing changes to A1 / D-size documents from one site to another. The XD2490, it says, is an "easy and affordable way to scan, copy, and distribute wide-format documents, plans, drawings, and changes from wherever you work". The benefit, it claims, is improved workflow and communications. Contex's is an interesting and attractive proposition. Further, the very low cost of the XD2490 means that those who might once have scoffed at this suggested application, will now give 24" scanning serious consideration.

The scanner as communications tool

Contex-XD2490-Brochure
Contex XD2490 Brochure -
the case for the modern day,
on-site scan-to-email "fax machine"!
 

Contex's emphasis is not on scanning but on the XD2490 as part of a total AEC communications system. Contex propose that AEC users mark-up A1 / D-size drawings on-site, then use the XD2490 like a modern-day fax machine to scan and instantly send changes back to base with "one-touch e-mail."

So, if you work on site with largely A1 / D-size drawings, the new Contex XD2490 will provide you with a fast way to communicate your marked-up changes and amendments to technical documents with head office. If this is not what you do, or you use larger drawing sizes, you will have to find another use for it. At present Contex don't seem to have any other strong idea about where the XD2490 will fit in outside of the new AEC "communications" market.

Contex's proposed AEC application is one which large format scanners have done at larger sizes before. It is not as revolutionary as they would like you to believe. However, Contex has reinvented the case for this application around a very affordable A1 / D-size scanner capable of meeting the needs of the many AEC professionals who DO use these sizes on site and in the office. Further, Contex has packaged the solution with slick, one-touch scan to email software and, most importantly, (it can't be said enough), done so at the lowest price yet for an A1 / D-size scanner.

Coupled with the natural Danish good looks of this product, you will be hard pressed not to be tempted .... just a little.

Price

Contex understand the need for an aggressively attractive price and are introducing the XD2490 with the lowest recommended list prices yet seen for a 24 inch large format color scanner - just US $3970, Euro €2700 and GBP £2775 (excl).

USA - US $3970
This includes NextImage SCAN, a two year RTB (return to base) warranty, cables and user guides. Additional and extended service options are available through Contex dealers and authorized service providers.

UK - GBP £2775
This includes Nextimage SCAN, a two year RTB (return to base) warranty (first 12 months swap out warranty), cables and user guides.

Contex is making much of its lower-than-ever prices as a "breakthrough" in large format scanning. While this is not untrue, it would carry more weight if A1 / D-size scanners were more popular among CAD users. The fact is, they are not. Most CAD users won't make an investment in an A1 / D-size scanner knowing that A0 or E-size documents are likely to need to be scanned as well. Consequently, larger size scanners that give more options are prefered.

Even so, the majority of CAD users don't buy large format scanners. In Contex's XD2490 brochure, it asks the question, "Do you want to reduce out-of-house scanning and copying costs but hesitate to invest in a pricey professional scanner?" This implies that the affordable XD2490 is not a "professional scanner", that maybe only scanners capable of capturing A0 / E-size documents are "professional". Whatever Contex mean, the XD2490 has inherited the best features of the professional SD Series with some improvements thrown in. Some CAD users may well be tempted by these prices.

See our article Do A1 / D-size large format scanners present a viable CAD solution?

Appearance

Contex SD Series Controls
The Contex XD2490 with
simplified touch buttons (right).
 

Unlike the big, space-hungry SD Series wide format scanners which have a total width of 60" or 5 feet, Contex's publicity images show the XD2490 looking sublimely compact, closer in appearance to a desktop scanner than a large format device.

The absence of a floorstand - Contex are not supplying one at the present time but indicate they may do so later depending on demand - emphasises the impression of desktop cuteness. In reality, this 32" wide scanner is probably bigger than it looks.


Gone! The Contex SD4400 Series
electronics housing / control panel
(right) has been removed from
the XD2490.

Nevertheless, Contex has done much to make the XD2490 as compact as possible. Unlike the SD Series whose right-hand-side houses the electronics inside and a control panel outside, adding much to its excessive 60" width, the XD2490 has new electronics built into it which, coupled with new, simplified touch-button controls, removes the need for the SD Series' housing. This reduces the XD2490's overall footprint to something approaching small and elegant.

In the SD Series, Contex argue that its electronics housing is easily accessed for the purposes of servicing. Now that it has been removed in the XD2490, we wonder how this impacts on access to the XD2490's updated electronics?

Specifications

Anyone familiar with the SD Series will immediately see many similarities with the XD2490, like sRGB color space, 48-bit color and 16 bit black / white capture using face-up scanning via a high speed USB 2.0 connection with Contex's xDTR. Being a CIS scanner, the XD2490 is ENERGY STAR compliant. This means it will save electricity costs by automatically powering down into a low energy "sleep" mode when not in use.

When you do come to use the XD2490, the supplied software is Nextimage SCAN. Nextimage SCAN+COPY is a paid for extra. AEC users buying the XD2490 as a "communications tool" will find all the scanning and scan-to-email features they need in the supplied Nextimage SCAN. Buyers wanting the ability to scan-to-copy via popular supported wide format printers have the option to upgrade to Nextimage SCAN+COPY.

The XD2490 is a flexible technical document only scanner with a maximum media thickness of 0.08" (2 mm). Contex claims that the XD2490 provides precise, accurate images with high 1200 dpi optical resolution. It also claims that the XD2490 can scan at up to 240 A1/D size drawings per hour in color and up to 514 drawings per hour in monochrome but, it must be pointed out, only at 200 dpi optical resolution. This is normally too low for quality scanning. Also, feeding in drawings at a rate of 514 per hour is probably impossible for any longer than the first 15 minutes, and requires two operators.

While the XD2490 with Nextimage SCAN is fully capable of capturing high quality images for raster to vector conversion, Scanners4CAD believes that this high volume claim for scanning productivity creates the wrong impression. High quality scanned images cannot be scanned at speed en masse. (See our article Contex redefines large format scanner productivity in raw "drawings per hour".)

The XD2490's rated speeds are given at 400 dpi Turbo, a quality-reduced, speed increasing mode which scans at 400 dpi in the X and 200 dpi in the Y direction. Contex quote the XD2490 scanning a 24" document at 400 dpi Turbo in RGB color at 3 ips and a grayscale / monochrome one at 10 ips.

Otherwise, the XD2490 supports 32 and 64-bit Windows XP and Vista OS. It includes a TWAIN driver for use with EDM software and MS Office. The XD2490's ability to save file space with intelligent 8-bit index color scanning makes it suitable for emailing color PDFs like mark-ups, as well as archiving other standard file formats like TIF and JPG.

The historic problem with A1 / D-Size scanners has been finding a use for them. Contex is making an attractive case for the XD2490 as a communications tool. Most importantly, Contex is underpinning its argument with a very attractive price.

If you will only ever need to scan large format AEC, CAD and GIS technical documents and maps up to A1 / D-size or can make the compromise on visiting a scanning bureau when you need bigger documents to be captured, the XD2490 represents an attractive if limited large format scanning solution at an excellent price.

For further information, please contact Contex A/S:
www.contex.com