NEW GENERATION SCANNERS:
Colortrac's fast new SmartLF Gx+ Series redefines large format color graphics scanning
Colortrac, the Anglo-Sino manufacturer of SmartLF large format scanners, announced two new devices, the SmartLF Gx+ 28 / Gx+ T28 and Gx+ 42 / Gx+ T42 in May 2009.
The Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ 28 / Gx+ T28, ("T" is for Thick media), and Gx+ 42 / Gx+ T42 join the recently released Gx+ 56 / Gx+ T56, the world's widest sheet-fed scanner, as Colortrac's 6th generation of SmartLF Gx+ large format CCD-based color graphics scanners. Compared to the older SmartLF Gx 42, there is much to admire in these new devices, not least Colortrac's growing emphasis on engineering build quality.
Highest - Brightest - Fastest - Biggest!
Colortrac's SmartLF Gx+ Series
The SmartLF Gx+ range are the first CCD (charge coupled device) color graphics scanners with true 1200 x 1200 dpi high optical resolution. (The older SmartLF Gx 42 scanner had 1200 x 600 dpi resolution.) However, it is not high optical resolution that makes the SmartLF Gx+ Series so impressive; rather it is the combination of the practical working benefits of instant-on 2D LED illumination, cost-saving ENERGY STAR® compliance and fast Gigabit Ethernet connectivity that distinguishes the SmartLF Gx+ Series from most other CCD-based graphics scanners.
With the exception of Image Access' impressive but expensive WideTEK Series, which has had this technology for some years, rival CCD-based wide format scanners are now as desirable as a CRT (cathode ray tube) TV in the modern HD (high definition), flat-screen world. Yes, they still work ... but, given a choice, would you buy a CRT TV today? The fact is that the basic specifications of the SmartLF Gx+ Series leave the more expensive graphics scanners from Contex and its captive OEMs - GTCO Calcomp, HP, Océ and Vidar - looking old and ordinary at best.
| Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ | Contex HD Series | Calcomp ScanPlus 7 HD | HP Designjet 4500 * | Océ CS4300 Series | Vidar HD Series | |
| Optical Resolution | 1200 | 600 | 600 | 508 | 600 | 600 |
| Max ** Resolution | 9600 | 9600 | 9600 | 9600 | 9600 | 9600 |
| LED Illumination | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Instant-On | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Warm-Up Time *** | 15 sec | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min |
| ENERGY STAR | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Connectivity | USB2 / Gigabit Ethernet | USB2 / FireWire | USB2 / FireWire | USB2 / FireWire | USB2 / FireWire | USB2 / FireWire |
| Min Scanner Width **** | 28" | 36" | 36" | 44" | 36" | 36" |
| Max Scanner Width | 56" | 54" | 54" | 44" | 54" | 54" |
| Introduced | 05/09 | 04/08 | 04/08 | 08/06 | 04/08 | 04/08 |
Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ 28
Affordable A1 / D-size color scanning
* HP large format scanners appear not to have been upgraded to Contex's HD Series yet. They are the equivalent of Contex's earlier G600 (508 dpi) models).
** We include Maximum (aka Interpolated or Extended) Resolution to show all are equal. However, it is a worthless feature. Beware those who emphasize high scanner resolution by using this instead of optical resolution.
*** From a cold start. Demanding graphics users needing the highest accuracy will want to stabilize the fluorescent tube light source first. This can require a warm-up period of five minutes to one hour.
**** Sheet-fed graphics roller scanners only i.e. this does not include flatbed scanners like the 18" Contex Copymate.
Comparing technical specifications at face value, the new SmartLF Gx+ CCD-based scanners have all the features, technology and speed, you would expect to find - and want - in a modern CCD-based color graphics scanner. We expect Colortrac to do very well with its impressively specified new devices. Quite simply, the Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ Series has it all:
- the highest optical resolution,
- robust, long-life LED illumination,
- true instant-on operation,
- genuine ENERGY STAR compliance,
- fast network connectivity,
- a practical A1 / D-size option at 28",
- the widest scanner at 56", (A0 / E-oversize landscape),
- the fastest claimed scan speeds with A0 drawings, and
- the most attractive prices.
Contex's color graphics solutions have been effectively overtaken by a new range of products whose best features are simple ones, like true instant-on LED illumination and true ENERGY STAR compliance. Colortrac claim that the addition of Gigabit Ethernet connectivity has also made the SmartLF the fastest scanner today.
Despite Contex's arguments defending fluorescent tubes, its present inability to offer LED illumination with the consequent spin-off benefits of instant-on and true ENERGY STAR compliance underlines its and its captive OEM's reliance on CCD technology from yesteryear. (See "LEDs vs Fluorescent Tubes" box feature, below.) Having the lesser specified products must be an inconvenience for companies that brand Contex scanners like HP and Océ. The danger for buyers now is a descending fog of misinformation designed to maintain sales of increasingly redundant Contex-built graphics scanners.
Colortrac's SmartLF Gx+ Series is a welcome development. It implements the latest technology in an affordable, high quality color graphics scanner. It can double-up as both a technical imaging and color graphics scanning solution and work as a scan and copy solution in conjunction with a large format printer. (As Colortrac is Canon's preferred large format scanner supplier, its support for Canon, also HP, printers is good.) But best, perhaps, is that its attractive price offers AEC, CAD and GIS users the enticing option of spending just a little more to get a scanner that is capable of scanning color graphics as well as technical drawings.
Make no mistake about it, the Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ is a significant new product, one which we look forward to reviewing shortly.
The SmartLF Gx+ - A thoroughly modern large format CCD scanner!
The Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ Series comprises three new wide format scanners:
- the SmartLF Gx+ 28 / Gx+ T28,
- the SmartLF Gx+ 42 / Gx+ T42 and
- the SmartLF Gx+ 56 / Gx+ T56.
Other than obvious differences in physical size and weight, the SmartLF Gx+ 28 / Gx+ T28, Gx+ 42 / Gx+ T42 and Gx+ 568 / Gx+ T56 wide format scanners are identical except for:
- image size, (28", 42" and 56");
- the number of quadri-linear CCD cameras, (4, 6 and 8); and
- the SmartLF Gx+ 56 / T56's 600 dpi, not 1200 dpi, optical resolution.
Optical resolution
True 1200 dpi optical resolution heads the list of the SmartLF Gx+'s new features. Its 1200 dpi optical resolution is the highest available today in any CCD-based large format scanner. However, 1200 dpi optical is more than can be used to practically scan an A1, let alone an A0, document in monochrome, let alone a color one. The resulting files will simply be too big. Sadly, high optical resolution like this is a non-feature of little real benefit. Those who do not understand scanning will overrate its value.
Interpolated (aka Enhanced or Maximum) resolution
There is a growing tendency for large format scanner manufacturers and resellers to list high interpolated resolution figures rather than the lower, more useful, optical resolution. For what it is worth, (nothing), the SmartLF Gx+ Series has 9600 dpi interpolated resolution, as high as that available in any other large format scanner. Those who do not understand scanning will overrate its value.
LED illumination and ENERGY STAR
In terms of the bigger picture, there are better, more practical and more desirable new features in the SmartLF Gx Series than unusably high optical or enhanced resolution. Topping our list is LED illumination.
The SmartLF Gx+ Series' best new feature is its robust, long-life "2D" LED illumination and the instant-on, cost-saving ENERGY STAR benefits that flow from it. LED illumination provides a genuine, no warm-up, no waiting i.e. on-demand capability and allows true ENERGY STAR compliance, neither of which are fully implemented features of Contex CCD scanners.
So what exactly is "2D LED illumination"?
The image is illuminated from two angles.
Essentially, 2D LED illumination means that two banks of LEDs illuminate the document from two angles, not one. Colortrac claim that this improves imaging in folds and reduces spectral reflection. This enables more precise color scanning of glossy photos and artwork.
Other new features
Among the other new features which the SmartLF Gx+ / Gx+ T Series offers are:
- new design CCD cameras,
- optimized color capture using sRGB color space,
- a new paper guide assembly optimized for media rigidity and accuracy,
- innovative pressure saddles on rollers at the camera stitch points,
- improved catches for easier opening of the scanner,
- gas struts to hold it open and close it more fluidly,
- a magnetically mounted, single scan glass for easy removal or replacement,
- quieter operation through an improved stepper motor,
- a worldwide compliant and replaceable external power supply,
- and a redesigned control panel supporting 11 languages.
Speed
The Gx+ 28 (A1 / D-size) and Gx+ 42 (A0 / E-size) are Colortrac's fastest scanners to date, claiming an impressive scanning speed of 12 ips monochrome and up to 4 ips color with A0 drawings at 200 dpi. So confident are Colortrac about their speed they are now measuring it using an A0 sheet, not the smaller A1 sheet used for speed measurements previously. (A smaller sheet can give faster speed measurements because less data has to be processed.)
The SmartLF Gx+ Series offers the choice of an industry standard USB 2.0 interface or very fast data transfer via Gigabit Ethernet connections. Colortrac believe it has now closed the gap and overtaken Contex in terms of pure scanning speed and that it now offers both the fastest and most productive large format scanners.
We aim is to test these competing devices' speed and productivity claims shortly. Watch this space.
Upgradability
As with all Colortrac scanners, the SmartLF Gx+ Series monochrome (m) models can be upgraded on-site from an "m" to a "c" (color) or "e" (express color) and from a "c" to an "e" by email. This allows Colortrac's customers the unique ability to buy a mono or color scanner now for a current project knowing that should they need to upgrade to fast color at some future stage they can easily upgrade by email. Gx+ versions cannot be upgraded to Gx+ T thick media versions. However, Gx+ T versions can be upgraded from one to another in the same way as Gx+ models.
Pricing
Suggested list prices start at just USD $9,995 / GBP £5,745 for the monochrome SmartLF Gx+ 42m rising to a highly competitive USD $13,295 / GBP £7,245 for the SmartLF Gx+ 42e (express color).
The prices are attractive and from what we have seen in demonstration of the SmartLF Gx+ at Colortrac's St Ives HQ, the performance levels are high, both in terms of the quality of the scanned image and its speed of production.
Scan and Copy Software
We've said so before ... a scanner without software is just a lump of iron.
SmartLF All-in-One
Every SmartLF scanner includes SmartLF All-in-One scan, copy and email software designed for non-specialist users. It is simple to use and provides useful but basic scan-to-file, scan-to-copy and scan-to-PDF functions. SmartLF software saves scanned documents as PDF, TIFF or JPG files individually or as a batch, and makes copies of your documents to any Windows printer.
However, while SmartLF All-in-One software is an adequte performer, where Colortrac really excels as a total scanning solution is in the optional software ScanWorks (scan) and CopySmart (copy), both USD $580 / GBP £295.
Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ 42 with ScanWorks
ScanWorks software
When it comes to scanning technical drawings and maps, we believe that ScanWorks gives users a productivity advantage over other scanning software solutions. This is because unlike other scanning software, ScanWorks software uses "scan-it-once" technology.
All other scanners and their software must first perform one or multiple pre-scans. This is time-consuming. Of course, you can skip this chore and hope for the best. If you do you will almost certainly join thousands of others who use expensive scanners to get poor results. But with a SmartLF scanner running ScanWorks, you simply scan once, then perform all the image cleaning and enhancement on the scan in real time. It's quick and easy and what you see is what you get. The only time you will have to rescan is if you need to change the resolution.
In addition, ScanWorks' built-in Intelligent Adaptive Thresholding for image restoration is recognized for its excellent results, not only by us but also by Cadalyst Magazine (April 2007).
CopySmart software
No CCD scanner would be complete without good scan-to-copy software. In this regard, Colortrac's optional CopySmart is simple but powerful, well-liked by the graphics professionals who use it to make precise color copies of artwork, posters and photographs, etc., as well as AEC, CAD and GIS users who use it to make quick copies of technical documents and maps for hard-copy distribution.
CopySmart allows a SmartLF scanner and one or more market leading printers to be combined into a large format black and white and or color copying system. It provides simple-to-use, fast inkjet or LED copy from any large format SmartLF scanner. CopySmart uses specially written internal plotter drivers and a file based TIFF driver for accurate copy size control, paper economy and minimum configuration effort.
Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ 42
with Canon printer and CopySmart
SUMMARY
The new SmartLF Gx+ Series is important because it dramatically increases your CCD-based large format color graphics scanner buying options in a market dominated by Contex-built scanners.
From our viewing of the Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ Series, which includes the 56" wide, 600 dpi optical Gx+56 / T56, the world's widest scanner, these impressively specified devices now represent a thoroughly modern scanning solution for the professional color graphics industry. With its new and attractive features, we expect the SmartLF Gx+ Series to be successful in this market for some time to come.
Additionally, the SmartLF Gx+ Series' new scanning technology is available at prices which are lower than equivalents from Contex, its OEMs and others. Its competitive pricing is only a little higher than that of CIS scanners which are targeted at technical document scanning in the AEC, CAD and GIS markets. We expect that the relative low cost of the SmartLF Gx+ Series' solution will appeal to users in the AEC, CAD and GIS markets willing to pay a bit more for a superior CCD color graphics system that also provides a practical technical document scanning solution. It promises the best of both worlds.
If nothing else, the SmartLF Gx+ Series shows Colortrac's claim to be the leading innovator in large format scanning is not without substance. It shows Colortrac's increasing competence and competitiveness. Importantly, Colortrac has kept the faith with those who expect a quantum leap in technology made available at lower and lower prices.
Colortrac Ltd:
www.colortrac.com
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LEDs vs Fluorescent Tubes
The general consensus in the wide format imaging industry is that CCD scanners give better color results than CIS ones. The only company to disagree with this is Graphtec who does not have a CCD scanner.
Contex, like Colortrac, argue that better color image quality is the reason why one would buy a CCD scanner rather than a CIS one. Contex is now the only major manufacturer to still use fluorescent tubes, not LEDs, as standard in its CCD scanners.
Despite its stated belief in the superiority of fluorescent tubes, Contex has, in fact, already investigated and developed an LED illumination solution. This is an optional plug-in alternative to the fluorescent tubes supplied as standard in its CCD-based HD Series. Contex rejects our description of its LED plug-in as a "stop-gap".
Contex has pointed out to us that it developed an LED solution before Colortrac. As the Colortrac SmartLF Gx+ Series has only just been released and the Contex LED plug-in has been available since November 2008, Contex wants us to credit it with having an LED solution before Colortrac. So, for the record, the first company with LED illumination in a CCD scanner was Image Access, followed by Contex with its optional plug-in, then Colortrac.
Contex is well aware of the benefits of LED lighting. It says that its LED light cartridge upgrade provides the following benefits - "sharper scans, lasts longer, reduces power consumption by up to 33%, features true instant-on and is easy to install". So why, we wonder, has Contex not pushed its LED solution more, given that it is claiming such an impressive string of benefits for LED illumination?
Contex has told us that fluorescent tubes with a high Color Rendering Index are better than LEDs for CCD-based large format color graphics scanners. In other words, Contex is claiming that fluorescent tubes provide better quality color recognition. Contex say that as a company it is more concerned with providing appropriate quality results rather than a low cost solution. For this reason, Contex say its scanners are more expensive than others.
"CCD", say Contex, "is about better image quality, including better color accuracy. CCD products have higher prices for this and other reasons. Contex offers the option of LED lighting in our CCD scanners – but to force something that inherently cannot provide equivalent or better image quality – just for the sake of specs – is not the Contex way".
We believe that Contex knows that LEDs offer great benefits. However, the most likely reason why Contex is not pushing its LED plug-in is because you cannot pop LEDs into a CCD scanner designed for fluorescent tubes without some loss of image quality. We predict that Contex's next generation of CCD-based scanners will be illuminated by LEDs. What will Contex say about LED illumination then?