Scan2CAD raster to vector conversion software

REVIEW:

Graphtec CSX300 large format scanner

... Continued. [Graphtec CSX300 - previous]

Conclusion

Fifteen months in large format scanning is a long time. The market has changed. The Graphtec CSX300 enters the market at a time when new scanners from other manufacturers are soon to be released. These will steal some of the CSX300's thunder. Graphtec have now lost the intitiative which the SK200 once offered.

Nevertheless, the Graphtec CSX300 is an attractive, if conventional CIS scanner which we can recommend to CAD users and companies with low volume requirements for scanning monochrome and colour technical documents. Its low price makes it suitable for cost-conscious users, and its compact design and light weight make it a good choice for companies with limited space or who need an A0 / E-size scanner to transport around.

Importantly, the CSX300 is capable of producing high quality scans of technical drawings - although not without issues. We recommend that CAD users always use the High Quality mode - while on guard to ensure that the scanner has not defaulted back to Normal mode. Where the CSX300 is weakest is in its software.

While Scanning Master 21+ has its share of good, practical features, it has others that are poor. Its Rocker Mode is old-fashioned, laborious and difficult to use quickly with any precision. It is not a high productivity tool. Graphtec are rumoured to be bringing out new scanning software shortly, so anyone buying a CSX300 now should confirm if it will a]. be compatible and b]. be supplied as a free software upgrade.

We recommend that users who have "difficult" drawings - i.e. ones where getting the correct scan settings might take some experimentation - download a copy of Softcover's Scan2CAD raster editing / raster to vector conversion software. They can then use the scanner's TWAIN driver to scan directly into Scan2CAD, and use Scan2CAD's on-the-fly thresholding functions to find the correct simple and adaptive threshold settings. This will be quicker than struggling with Scanning Master's Rocker Mode.

Please Note: Scan2CAD's scanning and thresholding functions are free and unlimited in the Scan2CAD trial version, which is downloadable here.

The on-site warranty included in the CSX300's price (one year in the US, two years in the UK) is a very attractive plus point, not only saving money (most scanner manufacturers charge extra for an on-site warranty) but showing that Graphtec and their distributors are confident about the reliability of their product.

The Graphtec CSX300 is available from:

UK - Graphtec GB:
www.wideformatscanners.co.uk

US - Paradigm Imaging Group:
www.SCANtopia.com

[Graphtec CSX300 - previous] [Graphtec CSX300 - beginning of article]