FLAAR Reports Nicholas Hellmuth AUGUST 2004

Scanning 35mm Slides and Negatives

Scanning for Printing on inkjet and/or laser printers CONTENTS FLAAR Reports

Introduction 1 Color Negatives 2 Scanning B&W or scanning Color to create B&W 2 How Much DPI do you Need? 3 Scanning for the Internet, or for Home or Hobby? 3 Toaster-Shaped Scanners for 35mm Slides and Negs 4 Older Scanners 4 Canon Scanners 2004 5 CanoScan FS2720U 5 CanoScan FS4000US 5 Konica Minolta Scanners 2004 5 DiMage Scan Dual II 5 DiMage Scan Dual III 5 DiMage Scan Dual IV 5 DiMage Scan Elite II 6 DiMage Scan Elite 5400 6 DiMage Scan Multi Pro 6 DiMage Scan Dual IV 6 Nikon Scanners 2004 6 Nikon Coolscan V ED 6 Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED 6 Auto-Loader (especially on Nikon scanners) 6 Batch scanning is better than auto-loader 6 General Information on Scanning and Scanners Licensing Information 7 Scanning objects with relief, or 3-D objects 7 If you wish to distribute this report to Newton Rings from flatbed scanners 7 other people within your company, please Scanning into the film grain 7 obtain a site licensing agreement for Sweet Spot 8 multiple copies from FLAAR by contacting Turnkey Systems or scanners as part of a package 8 Sheila Irving, [email protected]. Substantial discounts are available Using Scans on Stock Photo CDs 9 for licensing to distribute within your Kodak Photo CD 9 company. The advantage of a license is Other brands of scanners good enough for 35mm size 9 that you can opt for automatic updates. Older models of scanners or used scanners 10 You may have noticed that FLAAR Umax reports tend to be updated as additional 10 information becomes available. Epson Scanners 11 General Considerations 11 In some instances a license would Heidelberg scanners and LinoColor software 11 be available to distribute outside your Other Scanners: the ones used by professional company, including in other languages. prepress or photo labs 12 To distribute this report without license Scanner Software 12 violates federal copyright law. To avoid Data Asset Management Software 13 such violations for you, and your company, Sharpening 14 you can easily obtain additional copies Digital Imaging Software from www.wide-format-printers.NET. 14 RGB vs CMYK 15 Storage of your Digital Images 15 Heidelberg Caption for front cover: Where to Buy 15 scanner for slides and negatives at Other FLAAR reports on scanning FLAAR facilities in Guatemala. 15 Training and Books 16 FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 1

Scanning 35mm Slides and Negatives Introduction

Scanning for Printing Every scanning expert once faced his first scanner on inkjet and/or laser printers and had no idea which button to press much less how to get a good scan. We all start from ground zero. You will be doing just fine after some practice. What is This report covers primarily scanning of 35mm negs crucial is to select the proper scanner and even more and slides. If you have medium format or 4x5 film to important is to have the best scanner software. scan, please look at our separate report on scanning those sizes. Although that other report is also for pre- There are two equally valid approaches to scanning. press users, it’s a good general introduction to what One is how to squeak by with the cheapest scanner. scanners are best for doing 2 1/4 inch medium format You can indeed get some rather good scans from an and 4x5 inch large format for photographers. Other economy scanner (if your original slides or negatives FLAAR reports on scanners are listed on www.wide- are exceptional to begin with). But that is not our format-printers.NET. approach. FLAAR is non-profit so we can’t afford a million dollar scanner anyway. Thus we ignore the The FLAAR reports on scanners and scanning price and instead concentrate on ascertaining what are brought to you as a public service by Nicholas is the best scanner for outputting your image at large Hellmuth and the FLAAR Digital Imaging Resource format or with any digital printer. If you worry about Center, Francisco Marroquín University. Research the price that clouds the issue of which is the better and evaluation of scanners is also undertaken by scanner. Dr Hellmuth and his staff at Bowling Green State University, Center for Applied Technology. Thus don’t be surprised that your favorite scanner (that probably got rave reviews in a popular magazine) If you have 8mm film or movie film to scan; sorry; we is either not included at all, or does not get such a don’t cover that. Those sizes are too small to enlarge hot review at the FLAAR evaluation center. This is and print at large format magnitude. Also, don’t cover because we have had an opportunity, over several document scanning. years, to inspect a wide range of scanners at all the major international trade shows in Germany as well If you need a document scanner (for scanning as across the USA. We also get detailed information thousands of letter-size documents), that is an entirely from a myriad of sources that are not available to separate kind of scanner where speed and efficiency consumers. Scanner companies will often tell us is more important than photographic quality. Hence surprising things that they don’t admit in their PR we do not cover document scanners at all. releases. Furthermore, we do actual tests with the best scanners that we find at these trade shows. If the If you need a wide format scanner for maps or magazine writer whose review you just read has had architectural drawings, we have a separate report on the opportunity to see what a Creo EverSmart flatbed these scanners. scanner did with the same images, then perhaps he or she might not have been so enthusiastic about the Scanning, digitizing, or digital photography of paintings lesser scanners that populate the reviews in popular for subsequent giclee production or for décor is magazines. covered in a separate series on giclee. We have lots of experience in all aspects of giclee and décor, both Another difference is that FLAAR does not accept scanning and printing. advertising. We do welcome corporate sponsorship and appreciate it when scanners are provided to The present report is for entry-level through pre-press our university so we can test them. But the people level scanning of 35mm slides and negatives. This who test the scanners are not paid by the scanner report is pertinent for printing on inkjet printers, with companies. You might also notice that FLAAR does laser or LED printers for desktop publishing, and for not use company PR photos, nor do we repeat scanning for offset printing as well. company PR releases (and definitely not the hype so popular in commercial ads). We do, however, have a definite bias towards the better scanners and are not FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 2 impressed with the output of lesser scanners. Thus Most good scanner software has features to assist we do not even review the Hewlett-Packard scanners with scanning color negatives. If you have to deal nor other $299 entry-level equipment. with color negatives, be sure you check the software before you buy the scanner. SilverFast, if it is certified Nowadays a scanner is primarily a plastic box with for your new scanner, can be purchased at any time glass on top and a light tube on rollers running up and used to overwrite the original scanner software. and down guidelines. What makes the scan brilliant SilverFast is usually better than the software that and gives you a masterpiece to enlarge on your digital comes with your scanner. printer is the scanner lens and the scanner software. Good software on a cheap scanner can do as good If you are still taking photos with color negative film, a job as lousy software on an expensive scanner. then stop, and use slide film instead. Transparencies And a really dedicated scanner operator can get a (which are positives) are much easier to scan than better scan from a medium priced scanner than a lazy negatives. Color negatives are not appropriate for operator on an expensive scanner who uses auto- digitizing. But of course no one realized this during the scan and then repairs the damage with Photoshop 1960’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s, or ‘90’s, so lots of photographers after the scanning is finished. have legacy archives of color negatives.

Color Negatives Scanning B&W or scanning Color to create B&W

If you are scanning color negatives, these are tough If you want to produce black-and-white images with a due to the orange tone. You need either a professional digital printer, don’t use black and white film anymore. scanner software such as that available on a Creo You get far superior B&W images in the digital era EverSmart flatbed scanner, or try SilverFast. We have by starting with color, switch mode (in Photoshop) used the color-neg mode in the Scitex software but via multi-channel mode. In this manner you can work have not yet tested the similar mode in Creo’s current with all the color channels in black and white. If you version. Creo bought Scitex about three years ago. are printing to an inkjet printer keep your files always The scanner we tested back then was a $54,000 in RGB; let the printer driver or RIP software change Scitex flatbed with Scitex software. The updated the file to CMYK. If you are printing to an LED light version of that scanner is available today from Creo imager, it prints with RGB light, so obviously wants the at $45,000 since competition has driven down prices. file to stay in RGB. The software today is improved over what we started with. We cover printing in B&W in our course on digital photography. One of the FLAAR Reports goes into SilverFast is made by LaserSoft Imaging, a German even more detail specifically on black and white digital company with offices in the USA. SilverFast software imaging and printing. is not available for Creo scanners. However the two softwares are actually quite similar in many respects. Ilford makes a monochrome (sic) “4 color” quad-tone If you know one it is easy to use the other. black inkset for inkjet printing as do other companies. Check out www.FineArtGicleePrinters.org and www. wide-format-printers.net for all FLAAR publications.

Some inkjet printers, especially with Epson piezo printheads, can’t do B&W prints well. The Epson 7500 and 9500 were legendary for their metemaric inks. They glow green in daylight. Printers with thermal printheads may do a better job reproducing large format images in B&W.

Silverfast software CD FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 3

However subsequently Epson came out with printer Scanner companies, like inkjet printer companies, models 7600 and 9600 which work hard to reduce excel at exaggerated and sometimes misleading metemarism. If you wish additional information on specs. When you see “2400 x 1200 dpi” that really how to print your B&W photographs with an improved means you get only 1200 dpi. That is not adequate for Epson printer contact [email protected]. This 35mm slides. The only flatbed scanner under $10,000 company (Parrot Digigraphic) specializes in fine art that can potentially handle 35mm slides or negatives giclée and photographic quality printing for museums, is the new Epson scanner available by spring 2004. universities, companies, as well as individuals in print However without testing this in person we are unable sizes 13 x 19 through wide format sizes 24” and 44”. to certify its results of recommend it since the specs of 4800 dpi seem unlikely for a single pass scanner. The If (like me) you simply already have decades of old other aspect is that it takes more than dpi to make a B&W negs that you have to scan, just don’t expect good scan. DPI only allows you to enlarge a scan. DPI wonders, because your B&W negs only have so much by itself is not a measure of equality whatsoever. information in them (its rather limited due to lack of color). There is a good information on B&W imaging in If you are scanning 35mm slides for use on the internet, books by Jim Rich. Even if you scan in color this book for home or hobby (which means not enlarging them is essential reading. One edition is published directly more than 4x5 inches) then any good 1000 dpi or 1200 by Rich himself, “The Photoshop Grayscale Book,” dpi flatbed is okay (Heidelberg’s LinoScan, Microtec, Rich and Associates (publisher), fax 301 652-8665. A Umax, and entry level Epson1 are okay). subsequent edition by Rich covers color in Photoshop version 6. For use on the Internet you need only 72 dpi. Of course you need the 72 dpi at the final size (several inches by several inches). Your original is 35mm in How Much DPI do you Need? size, so your scan will drop down in dpi as you re-size to your final size. Scanning for the Internet, or for Home or Hobby? If you need to enlarge these slides to 11x17 inches, Why can’t you scan your 35mm slides on an Agfa, HP, however, you need much more dpi at the size of your Microtek, or Umax flatbed scanner? originals so you still have 120 to 150 dpi remaining at 11x17 size. Adobe Photoshop will do the math for Because you need at least 2500 dpi on a flatbed (or you. Never “create” dpi; always let Photoshop adapt 2700 dpi in a dedicated scanner such as a Nikon). the dpi naturally as the picture gets larger. The more Your average flatbed can produce only 600 dpi, 1000 you enlarge your image the dots per inch (really pixels dpi, or 1200 dpi. Nowhere near enough. Also, unless per inch) will drop accordingly. This is accomplished you have SilverFast scanner software, the software in Adobe Photoshop. You need that software anyway. with cheap scanners is not adequate to produce good We are unable to provide remedial Photoshop scans. courses; there are more than enough books from Peachpit Press and IDG already (listed in our sites). Extrapolated dpi is useless; you need true optical dpi. The whole question of resolution is covered in FLAAR Reports in the Photo Series and in a report in the FLAAR course, DP 200.

1 Epson has entry level scanners which are okay for what they offer but are not what a serious photographer ought to have. However the top models of Epson scanners are in a different league. The new high end Epson Polaroid slide scanner scanners combined with SilverFast software are as good if not better than any Microtek or Umax. The other advantage of Epson scanners is that they produce new models every two years or so. Umax has stalled and not really been innovative in the last three years. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 4

At every point in your decision making process, realize scanners not even the original Nikon 2000 at its 2700 that dpi is only a superficial measure of the capacity of dpi. “Entry level” would now be the Nikon CoolScan your slide to be enlarged. You simply need a certain IV ED, with 2900 dpi. However it’s dynamic range is a minimum. So if you feel a toaster-sized scanner will miserly 3.6. You know its entry level when the ad hype do the job, at least get a sample from other scanners claims “great detail throughout a wide range of tones.” for comparison (use your same identical slide and Obviously the Nikon CoolScan 4000 would seem the compare the results at an enlargement to 30 inches best technology, especially coupled with SilverFast on a large format printer). It is unlikely your own slides (which should eventually be available, albeit after- will result in the same class of results that the scanner market). companies tweak off of their own test slides that they show at trade shows or in advertising brochures. It is our understanding that both Nikon scanners (4000ED and 8000ED) had a few weak points or glitches. Nikon announced their replacement, their Toaster-Shaped Scanners for 35mm Slides and models 5000 and 9000. Since Nikon can’t afford to Negs have unpopular or faulty products, and as second- generation equipment has the opportunity to correct Entry level through pro-sumer scanners come in the mistakes of earlier models, we recommend several sizes and shapes: checking out either of the new Nikon models, 5000 • Flatbed scanners and 9000. If you find the earlier models 4000 and 8000 • Toaster shaped scanners on e-bay, probably best to skip them. Nikon would not o Upright 35mm one-slice toaster have replaced them so quickly if the earlier models scanners had been flawless. o Squat toaster scanners, usually multi- format (35mm and medium format) Although SilverFast may be bundled with the Polaroid you can also get SilverFast for the Nikon (www. silverfast.com) so again, that evens out the two Older Scanners scanners. But with our Scitex we have enlarged a 35mm slide and printed it at 42 x 36 inches and it was The Leaf scanners were top of the line in their day, but museum quality. At trade shows Creo is now exhibiting their day passed years ago. The older Microtek slide enlargements of about 36 by 48 from a 35mm slide. scanners (1990’s) are not recommended. Any 1800 Plus you can do batch scans of 40 slides in a sequence dpi dedicated slide scanner (toaster shaped) is not on the Creo EverSmart flatbeds. We realize that most recommended. Most people are quickly disappointed home users prefer the under $2000 toaster-variety with the low-end toaster-shaped scanners such as the of 35mm scanner rather than the $14K to $45K Creo Nikon Coolscan III or its 1800 dpi Polaroid equivalent. but since most popular photography magazines don’t We do not recommend any toaster-sized scanner often tell you about the really good scanners we felt under 2700 dpi. our reviews were a good opportunity.

For several years both Polaroid and Microtek offered the same or similar 4000 dpi scanner for 35mm size film (both scanners are made in the same factory; only label and software differ). Reviews criticized both for poor detail in the shadows, the result of being a low-end system. But most American’s like anything with big numbers, so Polaroid’s 4000 dpi lured lots of people away from the 2700 dpi Nikon model 2000, even though that Nikon generally gave better results (it takes more than raw dpi to produce a good image).

Nikon then countered with its own 4000 dpi scanner, the Super CoolScan 8000ED. To further clobber To Creo iQSmart scanner Polaroid Nikon came out with its SuperCoolScan 4000ED. With these models available it would be not advised to use any of the earlier low-end toaster FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 5 make matters even more confusing, we asked a scanners offer 5000 dpi. Drum scanners offer up to friend who had both a Polaroid and a Nikon 4000 10,000 dpi. Today (2004) the new general of Nikon which he preferred. He said he got better scans from toaster-shaped scanners and even the upcoming the Polaroid. The only way we can decide for sure is flatbed from Epson offer the possibility of considerable to get both scanners side by side in our own lab at potential for reasonable cost. Although most pre- the university and test them both. Unfortunately this press professionals will stick with their heavy iron, the will have to wait until we get some grants to cover normal user at home, even the pro-sumer level, can the costs. In the meantime of course Polaroid went today have scans from under $3,000 that four years bankrupt and its scanners are no longer easy to find. ago cost over $50,000.

Summary so far: for home use, or hobby, for printing up to tabloid size, a toaster-shaped scanner is better Canon Scanners 2004 than a cheap flatbed scanner. The reason is that the toaster-scanners can produce 2700 dpi but the cheap CanoScan FS2720U flatbeds only 1200 dpi. A flatbed scanner, however, This is their entry level toaster-shaped scanner. is just fine for scanning for the Internet or sending a Canon makes excellent products but the most recent snapshot to friends or relatives (your computer monitor generation of Nikon scanners is a newer model. The does okay at 72 dpi). CanoScan models are now several years old. Still good, but Nikon had the opportunity to fix the weak But if you need to print with a 1200 dpi color laser, points in their earlier models. or a 1440 dpi inkjet, at tabloid size, then you need the 4000 dpi toaster-like scanners. A flatbed scanner CanoScan FS4000US that can produce 4000 dpi costs over $12,000 (Creo 16 bit quality can now be handled in most aspects on iQsmart3) with the really good ones at about $42,000 version “8” (Adobe Photoshop CS). But Photoshop LE (Fuji Lanovia C-550 Sprint, Creo EverSmart Select and is not what you want. Supreme). The downside of scanners in the $10,000 to $20,000 range is that they may lack anti-Newton Unclear whether it has been updated for Mac OS X. glass. You need anti-Newton glass if you intend to SilverFast is not mentioned as a bundle opportunity consistently produce scans of professional quality. but www.silverfast.com reveals that this software is indeed available as an after-market add on for Canon scanners.

Konica Minolta Scanners 2004

DiMage Scan Dual II 12-bit file size, 2820 dpi.

3.2 density is very honest, and not adequate. This is probably why other manufacturers inflate their numbers.

DiMage Scan Dual III KonicaMinilta are more honest about their specs than Nikon. They admit their dynamic range of 4.8 is FujiFilm Lanovia Quattro scanner at GraphExpo 2003 “computed.” For this model they do not admit that you get with a single pass. Several years ago, if you intended to enlarge your images to 36 inches or more, then you needed to DiMage Scan Dual IV scan with equipment better than any of the toaster- Although the size and shape of the unit is the same as shaped scanners. You needed sophisticated software medium format scanners from Polaroid, Microtek, and also, such as you get with Fuji, Heidelberg, and Nikon, the Minolta unit handles only 35mm. 3200 dpi especially with Creo (Scitex). The better flatbed is about the limit before you scan into the film grain. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 6

DiMage Scan Elite II misleading advertising claims (which are not in Nikon’s 16 bit, 2820 dpi. long range interest), the three new Nikon scanners have the best pedigree of any toaster-shaped 35mm DiMage Scan Elite 5400 slide scanners available today. But don’t get tempted An unusual dpi, 5400, and an unusual size and shape by the lower price of the previous models IV, 4000, (small, essentially similar to 2700 dpi scanners). or 8000. There are apparently several good reasons why these scanners were replaced so quickly. DiMage Scan Multi Pro 16 bit, 4800 dpi, Ultra SCSI (and oldie but goodie), and FireWire. Multi-format, 35mm and medium format. Auto-Loader (especially on Nikon scanners)

DiMage Scan Dual IV If you have thousands of slides to scan, don’t get 3200 dpi. Again honest advertising; states you need lulled into believing that an “auto-loader” on a toaster- to sample the scan up to 16 times. Does not reveal shaped dedicated 35mm film scanner is much help. the total scan time, but even admitting the number of Yes, it “works” but it ain’t very practical. Most people scans required is a good first step. who made the mistake of buying the Nikon auto- loader (including us at FLAAR) are not impressed. Nowhere is scanner software seriously discussed; Many people complain it’s not as automatic as they SilverFast is not mentioned in the basic brochures. were led to presume. This is because such an auto- loader is not intended for serious professional use. The Nikon LS 2000 is, however, nice for occasional Nikon Scanners 2004 use for single slides.

Nikon Coolscan V ED To scan an entire slide archive you need a tabloid Even though the size and shape is typical of scanners sized flatbed that holds 40 to 48 slides at a time to do with 2700 dpi this model offers 4000. Offers 14 bit batch scans. analog/digital converter. To get full 16 bit requires the model 5000 ED. All Nikon scanners work with Mac Of course you can OS X. also use a letter- sized flatbed and Nikon Coolscan 5000 ED batch scan 20 at a 16 bit A/D converter. time….if your small scanner software Nikon advertising has tended to verge on slightly supports batch misleading. The first warning signal was about two scanning (not all years ago when Nikon claimed their scanner was do). close to as good as a drum scanner. Sorry, no toaster- shaped scanner is even close to a drum scanner; not Polaroid 35mm slide scanner even the Imacon which costs a dozen times more than Nikon. Batch scanning is better than auto-loader Next Nikon advertised a 4.2 to 4.8 density range without fully stating how they reached this unreal total With a Nikon or Polaroid slide scanner you have to number. Apparently it takes many passes to reach this handle each slide one by one. What scanner can you range. That means longer scanning times. Thus we use if you have to scan thousands of negatives or are skeptical of Nikon ads that claims 38 seconds for slides? the V ED, 20 seconds for 5000 ED and 185 seconds for the 9000 ED. It is not fair to claim high speed and With a tabloid-sized flatbed scanner you can scan high density range, because you don’t get the high 40 slides at a time in frame holders, or 48 slides if density with a single scan at 20 or 38 seconds. Inkjet you put the slides directly on the glass (as you see printers do the same subterfuge (claim high dpi and above). The first really good scanner we had was a high speed; but to get the high dpi requires multiple Scitex EverSmart Supreme, in the FLAAR office, (at passes which lowers the speed to a crawl). Despite FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 7

Scanning into the film grain

When you scan past 3000+ dpi (about 3500 dpi) you are scanning into the grain of the film. There are various software tricks to hide that fact but you are nonetheless stuck with some graininess. Now you know why digital scan backs are better than film…and why 35mm slides are not the way to go. If you were scanning 4x5 size you would unlikely scan into the grain because the larger size of the film allows you to scan at less than 3000 dpi. Creo EverSmart scanner at PMA 2004 You can see the results of scanning into the grain that time) in Essen-Werden, Germany. This model is almost every time you go to a trade show. Companies considered the best flatbed scanner available today display their beautiful new printers, but the image they (best also in its software capabilities). Scanners of use looks all grainy and bumpy in the background, comparable quality would be the Screen Cezanne especially in areas of solid color. Sometimes the Elite and the 5000 dpi Fuji FineScan model. Today graininess is lousy dot pattern (any piezo printer at 360 we have the updated Creo version of the same Scitex dpi; any older Encad printer; any new Encad printer EverSmart Supreme. We just finished scanning over at fast print modes). But often the sandy pattern is 1,000 4x5 chromes over the summer. Results were because the stock photo was an inadequate scan to spectacular. begin with. How to avoid film grain? Avoid using 35mm originals, General Information on Scanning and Scanners or use a software that eliminates at least a portion of the graininess. Or, get a really good book on Adobe Scanning objects with relief, or 3-D objects Photoshop and learn a few of the advanced tricks on how to get rid of film grain. The better scanner If you are scanning objects (3D) or anything with softwares are gradually recognizing the problem of relief or texture, you need a Heidelberg (LinoColor/ film grain and are producing filters to minimize it. LinoScan) or a Umax scanner for entry level or Heidelberg Nexscan, Fuji Lanovia for high end. Most other prepress scanners such as the excellent models Software for removing Grain or Digital from Creo are not designed to focus past the glass plate Noise and hence are ideal for transparencies or photos but not good for woven items, leaves, etc. Unfortunately In our course on digital photography we discuss each finding anyone who sells Fuji brand scanners is a brand of software that is useful for removing film grain challenge. Now the problem will be finding someone and/or digital noise. You can download the course in three years who can still service them. contents abstracts at no charge from any FLAAR web site. Heidelberg, however, no longer makes the Circon or 2400. Curiously our Linoscan 2400 was unable to focus on 3-D objects. But we scanned 3-D objects Sweet Spot acceptably with the Linoscan Saphir Ultra (a rebranded Umax). Best 3-D scans were from the Fuji Lanovia Beware that entry level flatbeds from Umax and scanner. Microtek only scan at full resolution down their sweet spot, a more or less 4” path down the middle. On We do not have any Microtek scanners at either either side of that sweet spot they scan only at 800 dpi university so are unable to comment on how or or whatever their true dpi really is. This fact is rarely whether they can handle 3-D objects. indicated in advertisements. Even in the brochure you have to understand the mumbo-jumbo to realize that We do not have any Epson scanners, so are not able the acclaimed dpi is only for a small portion of the to state how they handle scanning 3D objects. scanner surface. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 8

We are unsure of the sweet spot of Imacon scanners Turnkey Systems or Scanners as Part of a (since we do not have one). It has been suggested Package that their sweet spot on some models is for 35mm slides and that you do not obtain full resolution on If you have been sold a system package (printer plus transparencies of 4 x 5 inch size. scanner plus other items) you almost certainly ended up with a low end scanner. Why? Don’t be fooled by interpolated dpi, that’s just air pumped into your image. It has no value other than First, most people who sell printers don’t do any pumping up the numbers in an attempt to impress printing. They only sell equipment. How often have potential buyers. they actually scanned a 35mm slide and enlarged it on the equipment they are selling you? To escape the limitations of the sweet spot you need an XY or other sophisticated scanner such as Second, if they included the scanner you really needed a Heidelberg Nexscan, CreoScitex EverSmart, Fuji then the price would be so high you would not have Lanovia, etc. The FLAAR Photo Archive spent several bought their printer system. If you ever have to scan years searching for a really good flatbed to handle a single 35mm slide and print that on a large format its 50,000 slides. We first settled on the CreoScitex printer, then you realize that the average flatbed EverSmart Supreme and Fuji high end models. scanner is totally useless for a 35mm size. 1000 dpi at the size of a tiny 35mm slide is barely good This information is primarily for handling 35mm slides. enough for the Internet or a postcard to your parents If you do 35mm sometimes and medium format other for Christmas. Perhaps okay for a family album for times then you are in a pickle because whereas a 1200 your kids. But if you are attempting to sell these as dpi flatbed is okay for medium format (if you need to fine art prints, the competition will eat you alive if they enlarge the medium format to 5 x 7 inches for example) find out you are using a low end scanner. The reality that flatbed is totally useless for scanning 35mm for of capitalism can be rather rough on your start-up serious prepress use unless you need only a 3 x 5 expenses. inch enlargement. For under $2000 the only scanners that can handle 35mm for entry level prepress are the Although we recommend that you purchase your dedicated slide scanners at minimum of 2700 dpi. scanner at the same place you buy your printer, if they feature Microtek scanners, that’s sort of a warning it’s low-end, low-bid. If the place you buy your printer features Screen, Fuji or Creo scanners, then you know you are dealing with a company who caters to professional printers, photo labs, and prepress shops who can tell the difference in the final scan.

Using Scans on Stock Photo CDs

It is unlikely that you will be able to achieve museum quality large format prints from stock photos you get on a cheap CD collection. The average image we use is about 190 MB for a 36 x 36” image and that is only printed at 600 dpi. If you print at 1200 or 1440 dpi you will need a larger file. An entire CD could hold only 3 such images. Yet people buy CD’s with thousands of images and dream about printing and selling the resultant prints. Of course if you are only printing at 35mm slides from the FLAAR photo archive being letter size you can get away with a smaller digital file scanned by Scitex EverSmart Supreme, 2000, Essen- (18 to 50 MB helps). Sorry, we don’t have enough Werden,Germany. Where possible our reviews are based on actually using the pertinent scanners. thousands of staff to provide training on how to scan and prepare the files for printing. You need books by Peachpit Press and IDG Books for that. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 9

Kodak Photo CD Since Kodak promotes their Photo CD system, we are leery of any scanners or scanner software that they In the 1980’s thousands of photographers had their offer. The Kodak Photo CD scanner systems I first saw slides scanned into the Kodak Photo CD system. I in 1996 were about $125,000 work stations, grossly had lots of my transparencies put on this system. overpriced (they used a Sun Sparcstation computer, somewhat of overkill). The price has dropped and Today the weak points of Kodak Photo CD scanning today you are better off with a basic Mac or PC clone are better known. We no longer would send anything anyway. for a Kodak Photo CD. We do not recommend the Kodak Photo CD system. Kodak itself is a perfectly With respect to the Kodak RFS 3600 Film Scanner. At reliable company, it’s just that their Photo CD Photokina the Kodak booth had too many thousands system was developed many years ago before most of people so I skipped it. I do not have experience with photographers realized they could get much better that model but no Kodak product has ever excited scans with their own equipment in their own studio. me. It’s usually “too little too late.” It will probably take several months to catch up with the new models and If you like the scans and are happy with them, we are dissect their claims. pleased for you. But the Kodak Photo CD system was originally made so John Q Public could view snapshots If you are spending your hard-earned money on a on cheap home TV monitor. This failed to capture scanner get one directly from a company which is anyone’s interest a decade ago, but photographers devoted full-time to scanners. Creo, for example, quickly figured out it was an effortless way to get their is definitely devoted to scanners. Their reputation images scanned by someone else. Nowadays most is on their scanner line as much as on their other scanners are better quality than what Kodak offered. equipment. You are better off scanning your images yourself. The Kodak PhotoCD system is not the ideal way to scan because too much data is thrown away by their Other brands of scanners good enough for 35mm compression scheme. size

The Kodak “image pack” concept is especially useless Other brands of professional quality scanners do exist nowadays because even students know how to resize but we see them seldom at tradeshows oriented to an image in Adobe Photoshop. Takes 15 seconds. photographers. These other brands of scanners tend So it’s a waste of space to store countless different to be shown exclusively at tradeshows dedicated to sized resolutions on a CD disk as perpetrated by the prepress for offset printing. antiquated Kodak system. As we expand our coverage of scanners we will include Furthermore, images on Kodak Photo CDs are hard some of the other top brands. But since you are going to open properly to get at what little data is captured to buy only a single scanner, and since Creo is the only by the unusual and long outmoded Kodak process. company I know of that makes scanners specifically If you are stuck with Kodak PhotoCD scans you did for photographers who wish to do inkjet printing at earlier (such as us and everyone else who did not large sizes, these are the ones we recommend you recognize the low-end nature of that process), use select from. SilverFast to open them. Kodak attempted to make proprietary software, to “encourage” people to use a Notice that we do not select just one single scanner complete Kodak solution. Of course American’s don’t brand: we list all brands that we know from experience accept proprietary schemes, so the Kodak system or word of mouth from other users are the top was left isolated, with few users. contenders (Creo, Fuji, Screen). To say that only one single brand is good would be inappropriate of Why the Kodak scans are weak is a technical question. an independent testing facility at a university. Our job Get the Peachpit Press book on the Kodak Photo CD is to weed the wheat from the chaff, sort out which system and you will then understand. It’s out of print; scanner ads may employ misleading statistics, and no, we don’t know where to get a copy, but if your offer a wide palette of choices to the end-user. library has one, it’s worth reading (if you need to be convinced why not to have your slides done in this system). FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 10

The Umax 3000 was rated by users as very slow. We hear this problem every time we find someone who had this vintage scanner. It gets the primary claimed dpi only down the sweet spot, a 4” band down the middle. The ads make shameless claims that it’s as good as a drum scanner. Such a claim is usually a yellow flag that suggests there is nothing special about the scanner so they have to engage in hype to try to sell it. These are all good reasons to avoid a used Umax 3000 if you find one on e-bay.

In the last three years Umax has all but disappeared from trade show presence. They appear to have 35mm color slide negatives dropped any pretense of high end models (so the Umax 3000 disappeared). They have continued to crank out the same old “Umax III” relabeled as the Older models of scanners or used scanners PowerLook 1120. They claim 3.7 Dmax but I take any of their claims with a grain of salt. Scanning is only Avoid most older scanners. Its mechanics may still 14 bit, not full 16 bit. However price of $1199 with work but its software will be obsolete. Today’s software SilverFast Ai version 6 is acceptable. Just realize that is so superior to older scanner software there is no such a flatbed is totally and absolutely inadequate comparison. If you take the same scanner, and use for scanning anything as small as a 35mm side for two different scanner softwares, the best scan will serious use printing. About all you would get from a come from the better software. Yes, a bad software 35mm slide is an image to use in e-mail or on the will result in a lousy image. Might as well be direct and Internet. not mince words. SilverFast, Heidelberg’s LinoScan, and Scitex EverSmart software are the best three we Whereas such a flatbed is okay for larger size film have experienced so far. such as medium format or large format, a flatbed usually lacks enough dpi for something as small Remember that all Agfa rebranded Microtek scanners as 35mm, unless you don’t intend to enlarge your are no longer available from Agfa. All Heidelberg slide past postcard size. Umax does not make any LinoScan models rebranded from Umax are no toaster-shaped dedicated 35mm slide scanner. Thus longer available from Heidelberg. So it will be tough whereas Umax and Heidelberg are good for books, to get repairs on such discontinued products. Fuji was photos (large prints, not small negatives), for enough still selling scanners as of DRUPA 2004 but it is our pixels enlarge a 35mm size images you need more understanding that they are no longer manufacturing horsepower. the Lanovia C550 and sooner or later it is probable that tech support and service may be difficult to find.

Umax

I have two Umax PowerLook scanners, the original dating back to about 1996 and the model III. In their day they cost about $3,000 with transparency adaptor. Good quality for large objects for a reasonable price (probably under $1,000 by now). You could get the same scanner with better software as the Heidelberg 1400, with LinoScan scanner software. We prefered the Heidelberg variant. You can get SilverFast for both the Heidelberg and for the Umax. Silverfast Ai software manual FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 11

The Umax PowerLook 2100XL offers 800 dpi over a slide, but is adequate for medium format or large 12 x 17 inch area. They do not indicate whether or format, if you are on a limited budget. The scanner is what size the sweet spot is. 800 dpi is not adequate $1,399 list price. for anything but scanning something postcard size. Forget doing 35mm at 800 dpi. 3.4 Dmax is not what The Epson Expression 1640XL Graphic Arts version professional prepress needs either. I do not know is only 42 bit but offers a 12 x 17 inch scanning area. what earlier model this is a descendant of. The ad The 3.6 Dmax is an honest appraisal. Although all talks about winning an award in 2001. That is typical scanners need independent certification (of which of Umax of 2004; they are living in the past, selling off none is available for any brand that I know of), at least what they designed many years ago. Here is where Epson does not claim the unacceptable numbers that Epson is ahead. Epson comes out with new models Nikon touts. at least every two years.

Umax offers Binuscan software, a popular scanner General Considerations software in Europe. Another Umax scanner software offering was borrowed from Howtek. We do not know Although Epson may be a viable alternative to Umax, if Umax still offers that. Howtek software has not neither Epson nor Umax should be considered if impressed me. We were told that one of the Howtek your main item to scan is 35mm. If you are a library, drum scanner softwares came from the same place as museum, photo studio or professional in any field, you ColorByte RIP. We have several end users who really need a Fuji or Creo flatbed scanner. If you have to like that and several even more vocal users who were scan 4x5 or larger you need anti-Newton glass too. bitterly disappointed and went to another RIP. Neither These are the little things that the scanner ads don’t of the softwares offered by Umax has won enough mention. accolades in reviews in independent professional magazines. Notice that we distinguish a PR review in Be aware that a flatbed requires a transparency a trade magazine from an independent review, which adapter or some other adaptation to handle slides. are scarce in both trade magazines and commercial Otherwise a flatbed scanner is intended to scan solely magazines that must survive by paid advertising. The flat objects, like paper prints, post cards, etc. best software for your Umax is from SilverFast.

Heidelberg scanners and LinoColor software Epson Scanners If your originals are medium format (6x6 cm) or 4x5 In many ways Epson has taken over the lead from then the Heidelberg Linoscan 1400 is okay if you just Umax in scanners for entry level at reasonable intend to print no larger than 8x10. Just be sure to do prices. a sample scan and then a sample print to make sure your systems work. My experience with advertising claims for printer dpi and Nikon claims for Dmax make me wary of scanner We have two different Heidelberg Linoscan scanners claims for 4800 x 9600 dpi, but the Epson Perfection and get great results with both of them. The LinoScan 4870 Photo has tempting specs. But only a trial run, and software of 2002 is greatly improved over their software direct comparison, would reveal its actual capabilities. of several years ago. For our test evaluation of the I am guessing the count is based on multiple scans. new version of LinoColor we provided a test person The Epson Perfection 3200 Pro is 3200 x 6400. 3.4 with the model 2400 scanner. He had never scanned Dmax is modest but at least they are honest there. anything before in his life. He did not even know fully how to use Photoshop (we wanted to emulate a Most Epson scanners offer SilverFast software. Be typical newbie). His scans after the second day were sure to get the full-version. Lite versions are often just excellent. After we explained a bit about image dpi vs a trial version. printer dpi (two totally different forms of measurement) he was accomplishing professional scans. Indeed his The Epson Expression 1680 offers 1600 dpi, 48-bit. scans were so good that he never even had to use That is nowhere near enough for scanning a 35mm Photoshop to tweak them. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 12

In addition to the discontinued desktop models, Heidelberg made a 5000 dpi high end model. Although we have experience with the Creo and Scitex EverSmart Supreme, the Fuji Lanovia C-550, and the Agfa XY-15, we have not yet had access to Heidelberg’s top of the line model, Nexscan. Newcolor 5000 was evidently the newest and last Heidelberg scanner software solution. This scanner would be good for 35mm size. You need at least 3500 dpi and excellent software to bring out all the quality within a 35mm slide (presuming you want professional results). Aztek Plateau scanner at PhotoPlus 2003 trade show Since Heidelberg and Agfa scanners are no longer manufactured (Heidelberg is reportedly totally out of The last LinoColor scanner software (before they the scanner market for two years; Agfa is mostly out withdrew from the scanner market) is also good and of the market), we naturally recommend a company obviously coordinated directly with the Heidelberg which is fully into the market for the long run. That Linoscan equipment. We like the then new version of would be Creo. LinoColor much better than what was available three years previously.

The Creo software of the CreoScitex EverSmart scanner series is an excellent scanner software and easy to learn. Besides, you can usually wrangle a day of training into the deal when you purchase a Creo scanner.

Binuscan software is popular in Europe. During the 1990’s I was skeptical, because reviewers in the US magazines were rough on it. But at DRUPA 2004 I had an opportunity to visit the software engineer who Heidelberg Linoscan scanner developed Binuscan. Frankly we feel his approach is valid, and definitely worth the effort to check it Other Scanners: the ones used by professional out. Binuscan offers a slightly different approach, prepress or photo labs but if you are in synch with this philosophy of digital imaging, you might enjoy the process, and the results. We review Creo, Imacon, Screen, Aztek, and drum So at least try it out. Binuscan now also makes color scanners in separate reports in the FLAAR Series on management software, another reason to consider Signs, in the FLAAR Series on Printers for Photos, this brand. and in the series on Giclee. There are indeed a few scanners that we have a buyer advisory on ( a polite way of saying we do not recommend them).

Scanner Software

Please recognize that if you make the effort to learn your scanner’s own software your scans will be so good you won’t have to use Photoshop to do anything but resize the image. If you are using Photoshop to repair or fix up your images, then you are not taking advantage of your scanning software. Creo is the best for the high end. Binuscan software displayed at DRUPA 2004 trade show FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 13

SilverFast is effectively the international default SilverFast works on Umax and Heidelberg scanners standard for scanner software. We have this at the (it’s after-market). So don’t worry that SilverFast is university and find it comparable in many respects perhaps not bundled; you can always buy it later. to that of Scitex, used in Creo software. However No, it’s not cheap, but do you want a cheap scanner SilverFast is not cheap; in some instances it may cost software? The software is more important than as much as the scanner (for $300 scanners that is). the hardware especially in low end and mid-range However an expensive scanner with lousy software scanners. is potentially worse than an entry-level scanner with outstanding software. Aztek drum scanner software has a capable digital imaging expert behind it, but the sample scans SilverFast is available from LaserSoft Imaging for the we received so far from their drum scanner were following scanners: unconvincing. Since we were not present while the • Canon scans were done (at Aztek headquarters) we don’t o CanoScan FS2710 know what caused the problems. This is why we rely o CanoScan FS4000US either on evaluating equipment in our own facility or • Epson (almost all models) end-user reports. Real people using actual scanners • Microtek in everyday pre-press work. However now Aztek has o Most ArtixScan models a completely new and different scanner, the Plateau o Most Scanmaker models model flatbed (the model tested previously was the • Minolta drum scanner). However until we can test it ourselves, o DiMage Scan Elite 5400 we reserve judgment. o DiMage Scan Elite II o DiMage Scan Multi II It’s basic mathematics, if your scans are superior to o DiMage Scan Multi Pro the work of your competition then your company can • Nikon acquire more clients (especially taking them away o Most models including 5000 ED but from your competition if they are attempting to use the model 9000 is not yet on the list, some cheap scanner). Assuming that you don’t have but since they include the Nikon 8000 a quarter-million dollar LightJet or Durst printer, the surely the 9000 will be added shortly. best way to show off the superiority of your scanner • Polaroid is to enlarge your images on a Canon, ColorSpan, o SprintScan 120 Epson, Hewlett-Packard DesignJet, Mimaki or other o SprintScan 4000 and 4000Plus comparable professional inkjet printer. If it’s a Creo or o SprintScan 45 Ultra Scitex scan then you can enlarge your 35mm slides • Umax (most models) to 42 x 36 inches or larger or your middle format transparencies to 54 inches and your 4x5 even larger. If it’s a cheap scanner then you will get pixelation and be able to see all the other defects.

Why is the software for Nikon and other scanners not the best available (even when the scanner hardware is)? Just remember, Umax, Microtek, Polaroid, Nikon are all hardware manufacturers or distributors. In most cases the insides of the scanners are made in Taiwan and simply packaged and branded by the camera companies. Camera companies have no past history with developing software. SilverFast, in distinction, is exclusively dedicated to software for scanners. Hence the people at SilverFast have to come up with a great product or they will cease to exist. Nikon will not go Heidelberg 35mm slide scanner tray out of business just because its Nikon Scan is a bit elementary. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 14

Data Asset Management Software After that everyone has their own preferences for the software for the various other tasks. If you are good The other software you might enjoy having is Canto at handling things on your own you can squeak by the Cumulus. This software archives and keeps track minimalist manner or you can have a pertinent kind of of your digital image files. Portfolio is a comparable software to handle each individual task as we do. data asset management software, but more at entry level, from Extensis. The international standard is For layout software we find Adobe PageMaker the Cumulus. easiest though early versions allowed inkjet prints only up to 44 inches (QuarkXpress can’t go larger either). But PageMaker and FrameMaker have both been Sharpening dropped by Adobe as they concentrate on InDesign.

The auto-sharpening features of even the best and You can achieve larger sizes print from Photoshop or most expensive scanners tend to be excessive. To get Illustrator. Adobe InDesign allows up to 18 feet but around t his situation, just turn off auto-sharpening, and has a steep learning curve. People who need to make make your own sharpening profiles. The CreoScitex giant signs use special sign software. Adobe Version scanner software has excellent options for generating CS (available now) probably allows larger sizes. your own sharpening levels. I would guess that other good software does also, but I have more practice Most people use Photoshop to “clean up” their scanned with CreoScitex. images. Scores of books tell you how to do this. These books neglect to mention that using Photoshop to clean up a quickie scan is the worst way to handle your workflow. If you have a good scanner that implies you have an excellent scanner software (such as from Creo, Fuji, or Screen). With these scanners your scanned image is perfect out of the scanner; it can go direct to printing with no tweaking. At most you need to remove dust-and-scratches that are inherent from any flatbed (or dirty slide).

If you have to tweak the colors in Photoshop then your scanner parameters are not set correctly and you are not using the full features of your scanner Nik Sharpener software CD and manuals software. Most good scanner software is much better than Photoshop. This is why we do not recommend If you prefer after-market softening software, try nik Microtek or rebranded Microtek under the Agfa brand; Sharpner, from nik, a produce of technical software in because SilverFast, LinoColor, and Creo software is Germany. Nik makes a variety of other digital imaging better. software you should try out too.

Digital Imaging Software

For digital imaging software Adobe Photoshop is the world standard, ver 6, version 7, or version 8 (“CS”). Version 6 is more than adequate, a polite way of saying it is much improved over version 5.5. Here at FLAAR we do have some of our workstations updated to ver 7 but don’t feel it necessary to update our people who are doing Photoshop work for the Internet.

iCorrect Edit Lab CD by Pctographics FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 15

You still need Photoshop but only to resize the image Although you may have visited www.flatbed-scanner- to reach the 120 minimum; 150 maximum dpi that most review.org don’t forget the additional information on printers prefer for up to 300 dpi for 1200 to 1440 dpi www.cameras-scanners-flaar.org systems. Or, you may need Photoshop to repair the scans that everyone else does who are using primitive Canto Cumulus is the best professional data TWAIN connections rather than doing all the scanning management archiving software. corrections inside the original scanner software. The less you need to use Photoshop the more professional you are. If you are a flawless scanner operator, you Where to Buy will never need to touch Photoshop except to resize your images. For Fuji scanners, we have given up trying to figure out where they are sold. There are two different divisions iCorrect from Pictographics is another digital imaging of Fuji companies: one makes the Fuji FineScan; the software you might wish to check out. other makes the Fuji Lanovia C-550.

For CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, hard RGB vs CMYK drives, and RAID systems to store your scanned images, contact rgroover@dcdrives. They sell only If you are scanning to eventually print on any large digital storage….no scanners, so please don’t ask format inkjet printer, leave your images in RGB mode. about scanners or printers there. But do ask about Do NOT turn your images into CMYK. And never take storage. Dirt Cheap Drives is the same company as a CMYK image and re-convert it back to RGB. Yes, of what used to be called MegaHaus. Both are where course your inkjet will print CMYK, but you get better FLAAR buys all our DVD-RAM and hard drives. results allowing the printer software or RIP software make the conversion from RGB. For books on scanning and digital imaging (also on traditional printing): look at the offerings of Peachpit The older traditional scanner software presumed you Press. The Photoshop Grayscale Book, is available were going to use an old-fashioned four color press directly from the author, Rich and Associates so automatically converted all scans into CMYK. Be (publisher), fax 301 652-8665. careful not to allow your scanner software to do that. Keep one original version in RGB (or LAB mode). AGFA has great books on digital imaging, with the best illustrations of any publisher. Unfortunately AGFA is Books on scanning, on printing and books on Adobe not dedicated to publishing so their books are virtually Photoshop by Dan Margulis Wiley & Sons publisher) impossible to find. can explain what LAB color space is. Technical books on digital color and color management If you are scanning photographs (not negs, not are available from GATF (Graphic Arts Technical transparencies) you will get a better scan if you use Foundation). the original transparency (and a transparency is usually better than a negative). SilverFast scanner software is an excellent product of LaserSoft Imaging. This is by far the best scanner software. Contact Paul Buckner, paul@silverfast. Storage of your Digital Images com.

Once you scan, you will need to store your images. Creo and also Nikon scanners you can buy from Best source for DVD-RAM, CD-R/CD-RW, RAID, etc [email protected]. The SilverFast software (for best price) is Dirt Cheap Drives. They handle is worth its added price (if you aspire to make good solely storage equipment, not scanners. So don’t scans and prints that are photo-realistic in quality). send your scanner questions there, but yes, you can get what you need to store your scanned images. This is where we buy all our storage equipment for digital images. Contact Robert Groover, rgroover@dcdrives. com. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 16

Other FLAAR reports on scanning Since most people ask for where to get training, which books to read, we have the following suggestions. If you need to scan artwork, such First, check the index of every FLAAR site for Book as paintings, that are too large Reviews, for Magazines (trade magazines), and for to fit onto a tabloid flatbed, then Training. The key six A to Z indices (of six different you need the FLAAR Report on FLAAR sites) are hot-linked at the bottom of every “Scanners and Digital Cameras single page of all those sites, way down at the very for Digitizing Paintings for Fine bottom. Every site is different. The time you spend Art Giclee Printing.” There are checking out our indices will save you umteen times plenty of means of scanning the amount of time you will loose floundering in color large objects if you can afford the management, ICC color profiles, and all the other equipment; all is explained in this digital pitfalls that await you (don’t worry, just do some report. This scanner report is in reading, some basic practice, get an easy-to-use and the FLAAR Series on giclee. very forgiving printer such as an HP DesignJet and you will be producing museum quality prints). If you need a wide format scanner to scan maps or other sheets, Training, books, and articles are listed in each index of then we now have a “FLAAR Fast every pertinent FLAAR network site under “Training” Facts on Sheet-fed Large Format “Book Reviews.” magazines or trade magazines. Hot Scanners.” This is available in links to each index are at the bottom of every single the CAD-GIS series. page so you can skip from one site to another. Peachpit Press, IDG, and Agfa have the best selection. We do NOT cover any questions on repairs, nor on where to get scanner drivers. We are unable to The FLAAR training courses for digital photography recommend any commercial place to scan your are listed in www.digital-photography.org. material. If your questions are covered in one of our standard reports, please download the report. We cover books and websites on scanning in a Otherwise, we are not always able to attend to unique separate FLAAR Report. questions. However every incoming e-mail is actually read. Most of the features of our reports are based on requests by our readers. Most readers said they Advisory preferred to pay for reports rather than fill out a new inquiry form every time they wanted new titles. Hence We are quite content with the specific scanners and printers we have in the two FLAAR facilities at the two universities. We would we spent 6 months building an entire new web site obviously never ask for a scanner that we knew in advance would where you can use your credit card to obtain the not be good. reports directly (www.wide-format-printers.NET). But we can’t guarantee or certify any make or model because we don’t know the conditions under which a scanner or printer might be utilized in someone else’s facility. Heat, humidity, dust, Training and Books experience level of your workers (whether they are new or have prior years experience): these are all factors that will differ in your There is a good book on B&W imaging in a new book place of business as compared with our two universities. by Jim Rich, The Photoshop Grayscale Book. Even Actually you may have people with even more experience than we if you scan in color this book is essential reading. do, since we deliberately use students to approximate newbies. However please recognize that if you make the effort FLAAR is devoted to assisting newcomers learn about digital to learn your scanners own software your scans imaging hardware and software. This is why Nicholas Hellmuth is will be so good you won’t have to use Photoshop to considered the “Johnny Appleseed” of wide format inkjet printers. do anything but resize the image. If you are using Just remember that every machine has quirks, even the ones we Photoshop to repair or fix up your images, then you like. However it may be that the specific kind of scanning you need are not taking advantage of your scanning software. to do may never occasion that shortcoming. Or, it may be that your Scitex is the best scanner software for the high end. scanner was manufactured on a Monday and has defects that are SilverFast works on Heidelberg, Epson, Agfa, Umax atypical, show up more in the kind of media you use which we may not use as often during our evaluations. Equally possibly a and other brands of scanners (SilverFast is after- scanner that was a disaster for someone else may work flawlessly market from LaserSoft Imaging). for you and be a real money maker for your company. FLAAR Reports Scanner Series 17

Thus be sure to test a scanner under your own specific work We figured it might be nice to share this information and spare conditions before you buy. Check with other people in your area, you the trial-and-error that we went through before we found what or in the same kind of print business that you do. Don’t rely on were the appropriate scanners. references from the reseller or manufacturer (you will get their pet locations which may be unrealistically gushy): find someone on your own. Acknowledgements

Although we have found several makes and models to work very We have received SilverFast scanner software from LaserSoft well in our facilities, how well they work in your facilities may also Imaging scanners for evaluations from Heidelberg and Scitex. depend on your local dealer. Some dealers are excellent; others This means obviously that we know more about the pros and cons just sell you a box and can’t provide much service after the sale. of these scanners. When we have the scanner in-house we can If you pay low-bid price, you can’t realistically expect special photograph it in action too. However no scanner manufacturer maintenance services later on. Indeed some low-bid internet pays FLAAR or the university for the evaluations. sales sources may have no technical backup whatsoever. Parrot Digigraphic provided FLAAR with sponsorship to help Most of the readers of the FLAAR Reports look to see what upgrade the design of the scanner websites several months ago. scanners and printers we use in our own facilities. Readers realize If you knew our earlier site format (which had lots of content but that we will have selected the equipment that we like based on zero design and poor navigation) we hope you have noticed the years of experience and research. Indeed we have met people at new design of www.flatbed-scanner-review.org. trade shows who told us they use the FLAAR web site reports as the shopping list for their corporate purchases. Other than assistance in improvement of navigation of the web site, FLAAR does not receive any outside funding for our reports on Yes, it is rather self-evident that we would never ask a manufacturer scanners or photography. Thus we do not receive any commission to send a product which we knew in advance from our studies was on sales, nor any funding from any scanner manufacturer. no good. But there are many scanners which are great but we simply do not have them in our facilities. We recommend the scanners which we feel are best for the job at hand (usually printing at wide format sizes). Our information is So again the suggestion: be sure to ask around in other print based from what end-users tell us plus what is widely known in shops, with IT people in other corporations, at your local university the industry (such as the tendency for scanner specifications to be or community college. Go to tradeshows…. but don’t use the unrealistic to the point of being misleading). We have also used booth…ask questions of people in the elevator, in line at the the Seybold reports on scanners as a useful reference. restaurant, anywhere to escape the smothering hype you get in the booth. We realize that each scanner manufacturer is proud of their scanners but they need to realize that some of their end users feel disillusioned, especially when they know the full story. If an FLAAR’s scanner review program ad claims 6000 dpi and you get that only with a 35mm slide size, and not with the size of a 4x5 chrome, that may be much more Our scanner information is based on a program funded by than merely misleading. When an ad is considered misleading Japan’s National Museum of Ethnology where FLAAR was asked that violates a host of federal regulations. to provide a plan for scanning their 35mm slides which they had obtained from the FLAAR Photo Archive (of Maya antiquities and If any manufacturer feels their scanner needs more detailed art). FLAAR subsequently received a $100,000 grant to work out scrutiny in order to document its features, when time allows we a program of how best to scan the slides of various sizes in the can put the scanner through its paces at our university. FLAAR Photo Archive. All brand names, model names, and/or company names are registered trademarks of the respective companies.

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Please realize that all reports are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. The reader software is free from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html PDF files are intended to be read on your computer monitor. Naturally you can print them if you wish, but if the photographic images within the reports were high enough dpi for a 1200 dpi laser printer it would not be possible to download them. So the images are intended to be at monitor resolution, naturally in full color. FLAAR itself makes the files available only in PDF format because that is the international standard. We have no mechanism to print them out and mail them. Obviously if you have downloading problems we will try to help, but please realize that we assume you have a 56K modem (or better) and capabilities to handle a basic PDF file.

Proprietary rights notice: Copyright FLAAR 2002; updated August 2002; updated November 2002, updated February 2004, last updated September 2004