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Avoid These Mistakes When Buying a Flatbed Scanner

29th November, 2010 - Posted by admin - No Comments

A needs assessment is the first step in shopping for the best fit in a new flatbed scanner. Consider the following to find the best high quality flatbed scanners for professional users.

Determine first what you are willing to pay and which features are most important to you. This will help in comparing models and will give you an idea of which features are must-have versus really-wants.

Most flatbed scanners have no trouble scanning documents or photographs. Most can scan negatives though an adaptor may be required. If you need the ability to scan three-dimensional objects, there are scanners that can deliver that as well. What you will be able to scan will be limited by the size of the scanner bed. Be aware that some manufacturers produce beds that measure in feet, so size need not be a limiting factor.

Resolution drives quality. The more information the scanner captures initially, the more information per pixel, the higher the quality of output. Quality of output is limited by the resolution of the input. Optical resolution and color depth should be considered when choosing a scanner. For professional applications, 4800 dpi will provide enough digital information to output very large images with a great depth of color and shadow. 48-bit color is best for high-end output. When evaluating scanners, be aware of the dynamic range each model offers. Dynamic range is the difference between the darkest and lightest portions of an image. A higher number signifies more subtleties in an image.

The amount of output that can be accomplished in a given time is directly related to the speed of the scanner. Of course, the more information that the scanner acquires the slower the process will be. Most spec sheets will assess speed in ipm (images per minute) or ppm (pages per minute).

Before purchasing, check the basics to make sure the new high quality flatbed scanner will work with existing equipment. Check the connection interface. USB is very common, but do not assume that it is standard. Platform compatibility should be considered. Consider whether all the software needed is bundled with the equipment. Look to see if image-editing software, color calibration and driver software are included.

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