Large Format Scanner News and Views
Large format scanner news, views and reviews written as we see it. No kow-towing, no bull, no holy cows. Just good advice on wide format scanners for CAD.
Recent articles and latest industry press releases
Selected large format scanner articles
Recent articles and latest industry press releases
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DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT: Historic Bletchley Park WW2 spy files to be digitized with HP's help
Bletchley Park, the outstanding British counter-intelligence operation of WW2, one vital to Allied success, is having millions of archived documents, maps and photographs digitized with HP's help. NEW 24" SCANNER: Colortrac's unique front exiting SmartLF Ci 24 brings new benefits to desktop scanning The practical new Colortrac SmartLF Ci 24 is the first A1 / D-size desktop scanner with a front exiting media path. Unlike scanners with rear-exiting media, it occupies no more desk space than its footprint. It can be used in the tightest corners of crowded offices, on cluttered desks, even on shelves.
RASTER TO VECTOR BLOG: Are A2 / C-size scanners available at affordable prices for CAD and CNC work? Our blog, Raster to Vector Auntie, looks at today's available mid-range A2 / C-size scanners. Are these very expensive devices suited to CAD and CNC work? Do a new generation of aggressively priced A1 / D-size and A0 / E-size scanners offer greater value - and a better CAD / CNC solution?
OEMS: Xerox badges the Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40 large format scanner! The recent release of Xerox's Wide Format 6604 and 6605 Solutions shows that Xerox has quietly entered into an OEM agreement with Colortrac to badge its SmartLF Ci 40 large format scanner.
VIDEOS: Soon, on a big screen near you .... Colortrac large format scanning and copying videos. Colortrac Limited has produced eleven short videos with an average run-time of under three minutes suitable for viewing on your PC. They cover the basics of day-to-day large format scanning and copying using Colortrac SmartLF scanners and ScanWorks and CopySmart software.
AWARDS: CCD (charge coupled device) inventors awarded 2009 physics Nobel Prize. Forty years after two American scientists, Willard Boyle and George Smith, working at Bell Labs invented the first CCD (charge-coupled
device) digital optical sensor, they have been awarded a half share in 2009's physics Nobel Prize. Their invention of CCD optical imaging sensors has made large format scanning, digital cameras and the Hubble Telescope possible.
NEW SCANNER: New 24" Contex XD2490 offers price, performance and pedigree Contex, the Danish large format scanning and imaging solutions leader, has announced the XD2490, a fast, new, exceptionally low-priced, 24" wide large format scanner capable of capturing A1 / D-size technical documents and maps in monochrome, greyscale and color.
LARGE FORMAT SCANNER Installations and ApplicationsISIS - Image and Scanner Interface Specification Standard:
ISIS is typically used to capture office documents on A4 / legal size and or A3 / B-size scanners. Colortrac is the first large format scanner manufacturer to support it. Most other manufacturers support TWAIN. The UK's Allied Images explain ISIS and its benefits.
Finland's M-Files recommended as an affordable EDMS solution by UK's Allied Images
The South African distributor of Colortrac SmartLF large format scanners recently asked us if we could recommend a low cost viewing, indexing and filing system. In trying to find a solution, we asked Allied Images, Colortrac's UK & Ireland distributor, what it would recommend. "M-Files" was the instant answer.
Deskan 7 scans historical Australian newspapers and town plans
Valuable Australian art, like "Ghost Gum", above, painted by Albert Namatjira, the best known Aboriginal painter, can be safely scanned with the "built in Brisbane" Deskan 7. This Aussie large format scanner has now given the Wauchope Historical Society a way to safely scan valuable but fragile newspapers and town plans.
Lebanese Parliamentary elections use Colortrac large format scanners to capture votes
As part of an European Union initiative, 26 40" wide Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40m monochrome technical document large format scanners were purchased to capture ballot papers in the recent Lebanese elections. Why, we wonder, did they not use fast, high volume A4 - A3-size document scanners?
NO BULL: Scan Speed Part 2 Contex redefines large format scanner productivity in raw "drawings per hour"
Contex's attempt to provide a more meaningful test of large format scanner scan speed is welcome. However, we are concerned that by only using raw scan speed as the measure of "productivity", it has pinned its star to lo-res speed rather than productive scanned image quality. NEW GENERATION SCANNERS: Colortrac's fast new SmartLF Gx+ Series redefines large format color graphics scanning.
With true 1200 dpi optical resolution, true instant-on LED lighting, true ENERGY STAR compliance and fast Gigabit Ethernet data transfer, Colortrac's 6th generation SmartLF Gx+ large format CCD scanners make the older, slower, more expensive, fluorescent tube color graphics scanning solutions from Contex and its OEMs - GTCO Calcomp, HP, Oce and Vidar - look as out-of-date as a CRT TV in today's high definition, flat-screen HDTV world. NEW LARGE FORMAT SCANNER: Paradigm Imaging announce Graphtec's newest large format scanner, the SK280.
California's Paradigm Imaging has announced a new Graphtec large format color scanner, the SK280, which is included in their enhanced new EIS (Express Imaging Systems) Supra wide format scan-print-copy system. The Graphtec SK280 succeeds the SK200 which it replaces in the OEM market. REVIEW: Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40 large format scanner
The SmartLF Ci 40 is Colortrac's fourth generation large format CIS scanner. The use of a single large solid roller or drum allows documents to uniquely exit at the front. We evaluate it with Colortrac's ScanWorks scanning software. NEW LARGE FORMAT SCANNER: Océ launches 36" high resolution wide format colour scanner
The new Océ CS4236 is aimed at AEC, CAD and GIS users in small offices and organisations. Océ claim that the price and performance of this 36" wide format scanner, their first with 1200 dpi optical resolution, is well-suited to the needs of this market. INDUSTRY ROUND-UP: Obama's 'Buy American' policy may limit wide format scanner choice
Part of US President Obama's plan to stimulate the US economy is a 'Buy American' requirement. It sounds good but there is one small problem. None of the most popular makes of large format scanner - Contex, its OEMs (Calcomp, HP, IDEAL, Océ and Vidar), Colortrac, Graphtec and Image Access - are manufactured in the USA. This leaves Xerox as the US buyer's only choice. SIZE MATTERS: Probably the largest scanner in the universe!
AWESOME! Geofoto Scandinavia's KartoScan flatbed scanner. Has someone had fun with Photoshop at our expense? ILLUMINATION: LEDs light up large format scanning's future!
Driven by the practical benefits of LED illumination, the wide format scanning industry is replacing CCD-based scanners' once standard fluorescent tubes with a white LED light source. |
PRESS RELEASES: Signal / Noise Ratio
UK: 27th July
Sweden: 15th July
USA: 12th July
UK 25th June
USA: 24th June
USA: 18th June
USA: 17th June
USA: 17th June
USA: 16th June
USA: 14th June
UK: 10th June
USA: 10th June
USA: 10th June
USA: 8th June
Belgium: 25th May
USA: 24th May
USA: 19th May
USA: 18th May
USA: 27th April
USA: 20th April
USA: 20th April
USA: 20th April
Denmark: 16th April
USA: 13th April
USA: 13th April
USA: 6th April
USA: 2nd March
USA: 26th February
Germany: 24th February
USA: 22nd February.
USA: 22nd February
USA: 19th February
USA: 11th February
USA: 9th February.
UK: 8th February.
USA: 5th February.
USA: 3rd February.
USA: 2nd February.
USA: 28th January.
UK: 25th January.
USA: 21st January.
USA: 20th January.
USA: 12th January.
LARGE FORMAT NEWS: Large Format Scanner Industry Round-Up
CONSOLIDATION:
As the only scanner manufacturer to offer planetary, flatbed and sheet fed scanners, Image Access used different channels to market its products. Now, by acquiring the rights to sell its own Bookeye scanners, it plans to get its eggs to market in its own basket.
BIG BUSINESS:
Canon and Océ have announced that they have reached a conditional agreement to combine their wide format printing activities through a fully self-funded, public cash offer by Canon for all the shares of Océ.
BUSINESS:
Like most large format scanner suppliers, Océ has been struggling to sell its standalone devices in the face of an economic downturn and a very aggressive marketing campaign by Contex, its OEM supplier.
BRANDS:
VIDAR, the oldest surviving brand name in large format scanning, is set to disappear. Beginning January 1st, 2010, all VIDAR wide format scanners will be branded with the Contex name.
PEOPLE:
Svenn Poulsen, President and CEO of the Contex Group A/S, has resigned. His resignation follows mutual agreement with Ratos, the Swedish private equity firm which acquired the Danish developer and manufacturer of a wide range of digital imaging solutions in 2007.
DUPLEX SCANNING:
Image Access, the German manufacturer of WideTEK large format scanners, has introduced what it claims is the first large format duplex scanner i.e. one capable of scanning both sides of a sheet at once. The market is newspapers and all other double-sided printed documents.
SOFTWARE:
As its name suggests, Contex's Nextimage Touch is touchscreen scanning and copying software aimed primarily at the emerging MFP (multi-function peripheral) market.
PORTABILITY:
GEI WideFormat, the US distributor of Colortrac large format scanners, has released a durable aluminum carrying case designed to protect the Colortrac SmartLF Ci 40 from rough treatment and possible breakage during transport.
TAKEOVERS:
Kodak has completed its takeover of Bowe Bell + Howell's Scanner Division, first announced in January 2009. Will Kodak continue to focus on small format office document scanners or will it make Image Access the player it deserves to be in the large format market?
DISCUSSION: Do A1 / D-size scanners provide a viable CAD scanning solution? Contex's XD2490 is the first of a new generation of CIS-based A1 / D-size scanners. Its biggest downside is that it cannot scan the larger A0 / E-size drawings common in CAD. Our research suggests that some CAD users will buy it provided the price is low, low, low. We look at some issues.
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Selected large format scanner articles
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QUALITY SCANNING: Creating high quality scans for raster to vector conversion
We see hundreds of poor quality scans. Most are created on expensive large format scanners whose product literature glows with the promise of quick and easy high quality scans. However, there is no guarantee of useful results when the scanner is used inappropriately for the drawing in hand. So, how do you create a high quality scan for raster to vector conversion? This article provides useful hints and tips to point you in the right direction. TRAINING: The importance of large format scanner training!
We have received 1000s of large format scanned images over the last 13 years, the majority of them of poor or worse quality. Clearly, most wide format scanner operators do not have the knowledge, skill or time to use an expensive large format scanner effectively. There is a huge need for basic and or advanced wide format scanner training ... NO BULL: Scan Speed Phew! Some issues that need cleaning up!
We look at some large format scanner product descriptions whose benefits are diminished when properly understood. In this issue we examine Scan Speed. Turbo modes and High Speed modes allow large format scanner manufacturers to quote high scan speeds at high resolutions BUT none mention the compromised quality of the scans ... SCAN-TO-PDF: Benefits and Considerations
Scan-to-PDF is something that a growing number of CAD users want to do with a wide format scanner, but what exactly are the benefits of saving scans as PDF files and do these benefits extend to scanned technical drawings? GREEN SCANNING: First steps towards green large format scanners
What does "green scanning" mean, exactly? What are ISO 14001, Energy Star, Energy Saver, RoSH and WEEE? What about the distribution carbon trail? What can be done to lessen scanning's impact on the environment? Most importantly, are the large format scanner manufacturers doing enough to ensure users get a clean, green product? GREEN SCANNING: Towards a greener technical drawing office
Back in 2003 Xerox offered 7 Tips to make the workplace more eco-friendly. Today Océ offer similar green tips for the workplace. While there is little specific to large format scanning, there is good, general information worthy of the eco-friendly CAD user's consideration. |
REVIEW: Contex SD4490 large format scanner
The SD Series is Contex's first generation of CIS scanners and the first "true" 1200 dpi optical resolution large format scanner. We evaluate it along with Contex's new Nextimage scanning software. REVIEW: Graphtec CSX300 large format scanner
Graphtec have significantly modified the SK200 scanner included in various MFP systems, named it the CSX300 and released it as a standalone scanner. Aimed at the entry-level AEC, CAD and GIS market, the CSX300 includes Scanning Master 21+ scanning software and an on-site warranty, all at a very attractive price. IN A NUTSHELL: All you need to know before buying a large format scanner for CAD!
CAD users wanting to buy a standalone wide format scanner for archiving, printing or raster to vector conversion of technical drawings and maps face a growing array of choices and confusing claims. We wrote this article, first published in MCAD Magazine (16th September 2007), to help you make an informed choice about the large format scanner that's best for you. SAFE SCANNING: How to protect fragile and damaged technical drawings
Sod's Law dictates that if a valuable drawing can snag, get stuck, chewed up, crumpled or concertinaed in the scanner roller mechanism, it will do so perfectly. EXPLANATION: Large format scanner accuracy and calibration
All large format scanners scanners can produce inaccurate scans if they are not properly maintained and calibrated. This article describes four areas where problems can occur: Colour uniformity, colour accuracy, stitching errors and dimensional accuracy. It describes what causes these problems, how different large format scanner manufacturers go about trying to avoid them and what you need to do to keep your scanner accurate. |
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