HOT NEWS:
Nine "new" Graphtec HD Plus wide format scanners from Paradigm
Graphtec's new HD Plus wide format scanner range: from left - the CSX300, CS610, CS510 and IS210.
HD (High Definition) large format scanning is the flavour of the month!
Happy Days are here again...
On 10th April Contex announced their new HD (High Definition) Series. On the same day Colortrac emphasised on their new web site that "all our wide format scanners are HIGH DEFINITION (HD)". Next day, no less than nine new Graphtec HD Plus large format scanners were announced by Paradigm.
Perhaps a soupcon of pique flavoured Paradigm's precipitate press release. Paradigm have been using "HD" to distinguish their imagePRO Gx 42 HD / GxT 42 HD multi-function peripherals (MFP) since 2006. Paradigm say that "HD Plus stands for unsurpassed Graphtec reliability - the industry's best on-site support warranty PLUS no warm-up time PLUS no cameras or mirrors"!
All this just goes to show that despite what Contex's competitors say in private about the industry leader and its technology, all take Contex's public announcements of new product releases very seriously. The rush to use or reaffirm ownership of "HD" shows that Contex still set the pace in the wide format scanner market. Is any large format scanner manufacturer capable of overtaking them?
One company who thinks they can at least catch up with Contex - and soon - is Graphtec. Industry insiders say Graphtec is aiming for 40% market share in 2009. Do Paradigm's "nine new Graphtec HD Plus wide format scanners" mean they now have the scanners to take on Contex in a summer offensive? What killer features do Paradigm's new Graphtec HD+ scanners have?
Can Graphtec overtake Contex?
Graphtec are a Japanese manufacturer of CIS (contact image sensor) wide format scanners. Unlike Colortrac, Contex and Image Access, Graphtec have never manufactured CCD (charge couple devices) scanners.
CIS scanners are best suited to the needs of scanning technical drawings, the biggest market for wide format scanners. Graphtec's lack of CCD scanner does not disadvantage them in this market where CIS scanners are increasingly common. CCD scanners are best suited to the demanding professional reprographics market where superb colour accuracy is needed. CCD's market is small by comparison to CIS. As CIS technology improves many graphics professionals may be tempted to convert to it - but perhaps not yet!
Graphtec's indomitable CAD battleship,
the renewed and repainted CS510!
Contex have traditionally manufactured only CCD large format scanners but are expected to announce first generation CIS models soon. If true, this will strengthen Contex's hand in the AEC and CAD technical drawing, a market where Contex have struggled to contain Colortrac and Graphtec recently. However, a strong Euro may make Contex's Danish devices expensive at a time when aggressive pricing is driving entry-level A0 / E-size scanner prices down.
We expect Contex to bring out a CIS large format scanner(s) pitched aggressively at the AEC and CAD technical drawing market. Contex's CCD-based scanners will continue to target the needs of the smaller but profitable high definition graphics market, an area where CCD scanners excel but where Graphtec's CIS scanners, indeed anyone's CIS scanners, have yet to establish themselves. Lastly, the OEM market plays a huge part in deciding who is biggest. Both Graphtec and Contex are successful in the OEM market.
This war will hot-up soon and be fought largely in the AEC and CAD technical drawing market. The winners will be cost-conscious AEC and CAD users paying less and less for wide format scanners than ever before! Can Graphtec overtake Contex? It depends on the players, the products and the pricing. With nine new Graphtec HD+ products, the biggest player is the Paradigm Imaging Group.
Who are Paradigm?
Paradigm Imaging Group of Costa Mesa, California, are Graphtec's US distributor and their most successful wide format scanner distributor worldwide. Paradigm was founded in 1989 to sell customised solutions based on Vidar scanners. When Vidar was acquired by Contex in 2002, Paradigm approached Graphtec about selling their first generation of CIS scanners, the CS1000 / 2000.
In just a few years, Paradigm's skillful marketing and careful price-based product positioning of the subsequent CS300 / 400 and the IS200 / CS500 / 600 series has grown Graphtec's share of the US market year-by-year. With Graphtec's fourth generation of CIS scanners set to ship in May 2008, Paradigm is now the key to Graphtec's success in North America. Is this the moment, we wonder, when Paradigm overtake IDEAL, the US Contex distributor, to make Graphtec the biggest selling large format scanner brand in the USA?
The answer to that depends on what Graphtec and Paradigm have in their arsenal. Nine new HD+ scanners sounds awesome! However, there are really only five new Graphtec scanners - the IS210, CS510 and CS610 (each with Base and Pro models), a new 24" model and the new CSX300 (Pro only). Paradigm has positioned and priced these to meet nine different HD+ application areas. All except the thick media versions, the CS610, are targeting the AEC, CAD and GIS technical drawing market, the biggest prize of all!
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Paradigm's "new" Graphtec HD+ series makes much the same point as Contex's "new" HD Series - this is an established product line that works to a high standard and which requires little improvement or fixing. As a result, Paradigm's HD+ Series offers more of the same, not a bad thing when the majority of Graphtec (and Contex) users were quite satisfied with the image quality of the old series.
The old Graphtec CS500
with paper catch basket
Our tests of the old IS200 and CS500 / 600 series show that they offered the sharpest CIS scans we've seen. This made them suitable for scanning technical drawings for CAD work and raster to vector conversion. Additionally, Paradigm's IS and CS scanners carry a three year on-site warranty in the USA. (The CSX300 has a one year on-site warranty). Overall, Graphtec scanners provide CAD users with the quality and reliability they expect. What more do you want for CAD work? How do you make a good scanner better?
Well, you start by painting it black to give it the semblance of newness. Like Contex's cosmetically updated HD Series which is now available in black and silver, Graphtec have dispensed with the old dark, almost black, blue colour and given their new scanner range a coat of true black. The paper size measurements on the platen are printed in an attractive, complimentary amber colour. But, as we all know, beauty is skin deep. The big question about the Graphtec HD+ series is "what is new under the hood?"
Again, much like Contex's new HD Series scanners, there is little truly new. Almost all the key features stay the same! Only two new features of any substance distinguish the new Graphtec CS610 / 510 / IS210 range from its predecessor, the most important being a new paper feed mechanism. To their credit the Graphtec family brochure simply states that the "42" line-up is renewed". This confirms our long-held view that Graphtec is the wide format scanner manufacturer least likely to exaggerate their capabilities.
The "renewed" features are:
- Now available in black
- 9600 dpi interpolated added to all Pro versions
- A new paper feed mechanism to "iron-out" wrinkled drawings
- Energy Star 2007 compliance to save power when not in use
- Scan length extended to 999m long (software feature)
- New Scanning Master 21+ software (minor updates)
Good as Graphtec scanners are, we do not see these "new" features setting the market ablaze. If this is all that the new Graphtec range has to offer, it is a little disappointing. Many will now be waiting to see what Contex release. That will at least be truly "new".
Nine "renewed" Graphtec CS610 / 510 / IS210 HD Plus range
Graphtec's new 24" scanner,
the CS510-06
Paradigm's old IS200 and CS500 / 600 scanners are being replaced by three IS210 (Base, Pro, Limited Color), three CS510 (Base, Pro, 24" Pro), and two CS610 HD+ (Base, Pro) scanners, a total of eight models. The 24" CS510-06 model is the equivalent of a Pro.
The ninth is the CSX300. All the new Graphtec scanners except the 24" CS510-06 and 36" CSX300 are 42" wide models, the same as before. The scan speed, scan accuracy and media thickness remain the same throughout the series.
| Model | Scans | Width | Optical | Interpolated |
| IS210 Base | mono / grey scale | 42" | 600 | 800 |
| IS210 Pro | mono / grey scale | 42" | 600 | 9600 |
| IS210 Pro LC | mono / grey scale / Limited Colour (256, 8-bit) | 42" | 600 | 9600 |
| CS510 Base | mono / grey scale / colour (16.7m, 24-bit) | 42" | 600 | 800 |
| CS510 Pro | mono / grey scale / colour (16.7m, 24-bit) | 42" | 600 | 9600 |
| CS510-06 | mono / grey scale / colour (16.7m, 24-bit) | 24" | 600 | 9600 |
| CS610 Base | mono / grey scale / colour (16.7m, 24-bit) | 42" | 600 | 800 |
| CS610 Pro | mono / grey scale / colour (16.7m, 24-bit) | 42" | 600 | 9600 |
| CSX300 | mono / grey scale / colour (16.7m, 24-bit) | 36" | 600 | 9600 |
NOTE:
- The main differences between Graphtec's Base and Pro versions are interpolated resolution, scanning speed and scan quality options - the High Quality option is not available in Graphtec's Base versions.
- The Base model's maximum interpolated resolution is 800 dpi, the Pro's maximum interpolated resolution is 9600 dpi.
- Paradigm's quoted scan speeds are 4.5 ips mono / 1.5 ips colour (Base); 9 ips mono / 3 ips colour (Pro) at 400 dpi.
- All Base scanners are hardware upgradeable to the Pro model by changing a databoard in the scanner.
- The CS510 scans thin material up to 0.06 inches (1.5mm) while the CS610 (below) scans thick media up to 0.8" (20mm) thick.
- The CS610 scanner will automatically detect thick media via its ITA (Intelligent Thickness Adjustment) system.
- All scanners support High Speed USB 2.0. All scanners except the CSX300 support 10Base-T / 100Base-T network connectivity.
The new features in more detail.
Like Henry Ford's Model T, Graphtec scanners are now available in any colour you like, so long as its black. It's not a benefit. Neither Graphtec nor Paradigm are claiming it as such. It's just different. And new!
All CS610 / 510 / IS210 HD Plus series scanners have 600 dpi true optical resolution, the current industry standard and available in the Graphtec scanners since 2002. All Pro versions have 9600 dpi interpolated resolution, the highest there is, up from the previous 4800 dpi resolution. All Base scanners have 800 dpi interpolated. (Interpolated resolution is a useless feature - we question why any large format scanner manufacturer bothers to mention it, but they all do. Please ask the salesman to demo scanning an A0 / E-size drawing at 9600 dpi interpolated in colour!!)
A new paper feeding mechanism improves the scanning of wrinkled documents by increasing the pressure on them. Generally, CIS scanners are poorer at scanning folded and crumpled drawings than CCD scanners whose greater depth of field makes them better suited to getting image content in wrinkles in focus. However, if a CIS scanner can press the drawing more tightly against the glass, as the Graphtec scanners now do, the problem can be considerably reduced but probably not completely resolved. It's a useful improvement.
A feature in all their new scanners and one apparently under-rated by Graphtec is Energy Star 2007 compliance.
Energy Star eliminates wasted energy through energy-efficient design. Energy Star compliant scanners use less energy to perform normal tasks. When not in use for more than 13 minutes, Graphtec scanners automatically enter a low-power mode to reduce consumption to 5W or less. Previously, only WideTEK scanners from Image Access could claim Energy Star compliance.
Graphtec CIS scanners for 8-bit CAD and thick media Graphics
The IS210 and CS510 are Graphtec's entry-level and mainstream CAD scanners.
Graphtec's top-end reprographic option,
the thick media CS610
The top-of-the-range CS610 with its Intelligent Thickness Adjustment (ITA) is aimed at the reprographics market scanning artwork on board or foamex. In the CS610 the lid of the scanner automatically adjusts to the appropriate height of the thick media to be scanned. As 99 out of a hundred CAD users do not need to scan very thick media, the CS610 series is for graphics professionals only.
As a CAD user, one of large format scanning's great mysteries is "why capture technical drawings in 16.7m (24-bit) colours when there are only 8 - 16 colours on the paper drawing?". It seldom makes sense for CAD users to do so. If all you are doing is capturing technical drawings with 8 - 16 colours, (most old technical drawings do not have more colours than this; it is the maximum number of pens in an old pen plotter circa 1980-90), then using an 8-bit scanner to save 256 colours rather than 16.7m makes sense.
Graphtec deserve credit for persisting with a low cost 8-bit 256 colour scanner, now out of fashion with other manufacturers. CAD users with a limited budget who work mostly in monochrome (black and white) but who also occasionally need to scan technical drawings in colour should consider Paradigm's 8-bit IS210 Pro LC.
Graphtec's entry-level mono
and 8-bit (256) colour IS210
Offering an 8-bit limited colour large format scanner tells me that Graphtec are their own men, in business to provide CAD users with practical scanning solutions for every application and budget. Graphtec are not following their rivals' lead to fill check boxes with fancy me-too features, like 48-bit colour capture which is "281,474,976,710,656 colours" according to Contex's web site!
The one question I have about Graphtec's integrity is their 9600 interpolated resolution. This is a probably a check box feature, given that both Contex and Colortrac have it.
New Paradigm Graphtec CSX300 HD Plus
Graphtec's latest wide format scanner is the "full colour" CSX300 HD+. It is a genuinely new product, a compact and lightweight, 600 dpi optical resolution, 24-bit colour scanner. This is no cosmetic update.
Now redundant Graphtec SP200W
Scan Print system with SK200 scanner
The CSX300 HD+ is a significantly updated version of the Graphtec SK200, a 36" scanner which impressed us in the Scan Print SP200W system (now discontinued) and the OEM'ed KIP 3000. The CSX300 is supplied as a Pro model i.e. there is no Base option. What you see is what you get. Paradigm are suggesting a price of under $10,000 for the CSX300 HD+. What do you get for that?
"It's a baby!" Graphtec's newest
scanner, the compact CSX300!
The CSX300 HD+ is a face-up scanner with paper guides that slide across the platen to make drawing feed easier. It is an Energy Star compliant, 24-bit (16.7m) colour scanner that is also capable of scanning in an 8-bit (256) limited colour mode. It is designed to scan technical drawings, documents and artwork in mono, grey scale or colour on standard 0.06" (1.5mm) thick or less paper, (including the document carrier sheet if you are using one). As you might expect, the CSX300 HD+ scans slower than its bigger brothers, the IS210 / CS510 / 610 series.
Other differences are its 36" image width, which will scan A0 and E-size technical drawings in portrait mode, and the fact that it has no Ethernet connection - the CSX300 supports High Speed USB 2.0 only.
Claiming Graphtec's standard +/-0.1% precision, the CSX300 provides the same sharp, accurate images as the more expensive IS and CS Pro scanners. It has 600 dpi optical resolution, today's industry standard and more than enough for CAD work.
Unlike the mono-directional SK200 which had no reverse paper feed and no auto paper sizing ability, the CSX300 has user-friendly optical detection of standard paper sizes and a bi-directional paper feed, allowing its software to support a "rocker mode" to adjust scan settings.
What will it be like to work with? Scanning Master 21+ software
There is now a new version of Graphtec's technical drawing scanning software, Scanning Master 21+ which will scan to File, Print, Viewer and PDF.
The new features in Scanning Master 21+ are:
- Scan-Print Button
- automatic skew correction
- automatic size detection
- extended scan length, now 999m
I have never been a fan of Graphtec's Scanning Master 21 software. However, there are people that are. They tell me that while it may be awkward and difficult to learn and use, (they do not deny this), if you persist with it and learn to use it in the way it is intended then you can get good useful results from it. I must say that I never got on with it to the extent that I felt comfortable with it.
Hint: If you cannot do it yourself, get an expert salesman to set Scanning Master 21+ up for you. Set up correctly, it could provide the necessary default settings to cover most scanning situations.
None of the new features address my objections to the way Scanning Master 21+ works, specifically its "rocker mode", the scanning and rescanning of parts of the image in order to adjust the settings to get a better result.
We have now received a Graphtec CSX300 to review. We look forward to attempting to reconcile our differences with Scanning Master 21+. In particular, we look forward to evaluating how effective its thresholding is.
Conclusion
Paradigm bring passion to their business. Proof is the speed with which they responded to Contex's HD Series press release with their own announcement of nine new Graphtec HD Plus scanners. They will not allow Contex one inch of media coverage, especially while Contex use "HD" to describe their new CCD scanners series. But is passion enough to overtake Contex?
The market's passion today is for lower prices. Paradigm have never undersold their scanners and have always backed them up with excellent support warranties. Paradigm add value. We imagine that Paradigm will continue with this same sales formula that has made them the fastest growing wide format scanner distributor in North America. The question is "are Graphtec's new scanners new enough to stand up to whatever Contex will be bringing out soon?"
Graphtec and Paradigm will say, indeed have said to us, that their CIS scanners development is concentrated on one technology, not two. Unlike Contex, who are now believed to be bringing out their first generation of CIS scanner, Graphtec are now on their fourth generation of CIS scanners. They have done the development, made the product and honed it to a high level of customer satisfaction.
It now remains to be seen what Contex bring out and at what price. It may be that new CIS products from Contex will force some price cuts from Paradigm. We do not know. Nor do we know what Colortrac, a very important CIS developer and innovator, has up its sleeve. Time will tell!
The Bottom Line is that "HD" means "Happy Days" for CAD users wanting to buy a better-than-ever scanner at an ever lower price!
CSX300 Review
We look forward to working with the CSX300! A full review will appear on Scanners4CAD shortly. If you wish to receive notification of this and other
wide format scanner reviews, please subscribe to our newsletter or RSS Feeds. Our first impression is that the CSX300 is an exciting new scanner at an attractive price. For those wanting the benefits of a faster scan speed and a 42" scan width, the upgraded, proven and reliable IS210 and CS510 / 610 HD+ series from Paradigm have much to offer Graphtec fans.
All will be available from Paradigm in early May.
Paradigm Imaging Group:
http://www.SCANtopia.com
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