Large format scanner

[kamidake]

Does anyone own a flatbed large format scanner that they like and are affordable? My old Epson is slowly dying and it's a standard 8.5x11 document scanner. I'm looking for something that scans up to 8.5x14 (legal size) on a flat bed. So far I've found ones with document feeders that scans legal sizes, but not flat. And the large format 11x17 ones are REALLy expensive. >_<

So, if anybody got one or know of any, please post brand and model. Thanks in advance!

[JWR]

Does anyone own a flatbed large format scanner that they like and are affordable? My old Epson is slowly dying and it's a standard 8.5x11 document scanner. I'm looking for something that scans up to 8.5x14 (legal size) on a flat bed. So far I've found ones with document feeders that scans legal sizes, but not flat. And the large format 11x17 ones are REALLy expensive. >_<

So, if anybody got one or know of any, please post brand and model. Thanks in advance!

I have been using a Mustek scanexpress A3 1200
http://www.mustek.com/onlinestore/produ ... ucts_id/32

It's 11.7 x 16.5 scan surface is great for larger artwork.
Only small problem I have had with it was when I got a new Win 7 computer it took Mustek a couple of months to release a Win 7 driver for it. Since then I have had no problems with mine.

[graymouser]

I also have a Mustek scanner. I love the convenience of not having to piece things together; especially since I am so bad at it. As JWR pointed out, it is amazingly cheap. I do not think it scans as detailed as more expensive large flatbed scanners, but I don't need a high dpi to post images online anyways.

There is one down side that I am aware of. I don't know if this is a common problem with them, but mine has a real hard time with the darker pinks and magentas. It keeps wanting to make them orange. Here are 2 scans for comparison. The top one is the seller's scan and the second is a scan by the Mustek.





Fortunately, this problem seems to be limited to a small range of color, so many times this is not a big issue. Also, most of the time I can fix it in my graphics program, but not always. The above image is an example of one I can't seem to fix.

Overall I think that the advantages of the large bed outweigh the disadvantages of the color issue, but it is something to be aware of. Since the price for the Mustek is so low, I have even played with the idea of having a backup normal-sized scanner for the occasional cel with the problem colors. It would still be A LOT cheaper than the thousands you would spend on other large format flatbed scanners.

[iceman57]

I have been using a Mustek scanexpress A3 1200
http://www.mustek.com/onlinestore/produ ... ucts_id/32

Same here, the best quality/price deal available on planet earth for an A3 format scanner. I just switched to WIN7 and didn't yet try it, sounds not good but maybe Mustek customer service knows about this issue.

There is one down side that I am aware of. I don't know if this is a common problem with them, but mine has a real hard time with the darker pinks and magentas.

Never noticed this, I heard about variation in US machine users for scanners in general.
See here a picture I scanned (FOTNS february contest for Daisuke Gori funeral tribute), exact yellow/orange colors from the original after a year of scanner use.
Uighur Mongolian charge : http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/4691 ... ouleur.jpg

Also, most of the time I can fix it in my graphics program, but not always. The above image is an example of one I can't seem to fix.

> Photoshop
> Left toolbar > Magic wand tool > level 30 (+ smooth selection activated) > Select the area
> Upper menu > Image > Setting > Adjust > Chrominance/Saturation/Brightness" > change chrominance to -15, saturation to +15

[JWR]

I have been using a Mustek scanexpress A3 1200
http://www.mustek.com/onlinestore/produ ... ucts_id/32

Same here, the best quality/price deal available on planet earth for an A3 format scanner. I just switched to WIN7 and didn't yet try it, sounds not good but maybe Mustek customer service knows about this issue.

You need to go to the Mustek website and download the new Win 7 driver.

[graymouser]

> Photoshop
> Left toolbar > Magic wand tool > level 30 (+ smooth selection activated) > Select the area
> Upper menu > Image > Setting > Adjust > Chrominance/Saturation/Brightness" > change chrominance to -15, saturation to +15

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately I do not have Photoshop but a different program completely. It's old but has given me no problems until this color problem came up. I will try to mess around with it and see if there is something similar to what you describe above. Like I said before, most of the time I can correct the color easily, but for some reason this cel is not cooperating. I really don't want to have to buy another graphics program.

Sorry, I did not mean to hijack this thread. Overall I would agree. I am happy with the Mustek and maybe this problem is just my particular computer/scanner combination.

[kamidake]

The thing I worry about the Mustek is the scan quality and like graymouser said, the color issue. Since I'm mostly going to be scanning sketches, I worry those finer line drawings won't scan very well. Any of you have used the Mustek for sketch scanning? Maybe post a link to your scan? ^_^

Thanks for all the responses so far!

[JWR]

Here are a few examples of one I scanned recently on mine.
http://ryan.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_ ... mID=300251
http://ryan.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_ ... mID=300269
http://ryan.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_ ... mID=305181
http://ryan.rubberslug.com/gallery/inv_ ... mID=300615

[graymouser]

If you are mainly scanning sketches, I think it will work out fine as far as color goes. I can't imagine a sketch having the dark/hot pink color that is affecting my cel. It handles the paler pinks just fine. Below are 2 sketches I just did now. Both are too big for a standard bed so normally I would have had to piece them together.

I should point out that I did no editing of these scans other than adjusting for size (I made them smaller) and position (turned the horizontal scan 270 degrees so it is upright). I used the default setting for resolution, did no color editing to make the lines more obvious, and did not put white cardboard in back of these single sheets of paper, even though the scanner lid is black.

http://itamejihada.net/storage/miko.jpg
http://itamejihada.net/storage/nakago.jpg

Both sketches are roughly the same size so the vertical colored sketch was shrunk down more than the horizontal sketch. It did seem to do a better job on the black and white sketch than the colored one as far as the line quality goes, but the colors of the vertical sketch are pretty much right on - even the pale pink.

When I change the default resolution to the highest level and scan with white cardboard behind the sketches, the colored sketch improves dramatically. IMHO, I think the black and white sketch looks slightly worse with these changes, but this may be more a matter of taste.

http://itamejihada.net/storage/miko2.jpg
http://itamejihada.net/storage/nakago2.jpg

I imagine that someone who has more scanning and editing experience with sketches could make these images incredible.

[JWR]

One of the things I like about mine for sketches it that the lid backing on mine is black which helps bring out pencils and sketches better.

On my Epson I always had to place a piece of heavy black posterboard behind my sketches in order to keep them from getting bleached from the white lid.

I have not had any problems with colors not being true to the cel. I use Arcsoft photo impression 4 that came with my Epson scanner and it works fine for me.

[kamidake]

I think I'm sold on the Mustek. Thanks everyone for your input!