Large Format Scanner (or Wide Format Scanner) are specifically designed to handle documents much larger than standard Letter sizes. These scanners play a crucial role in various professional fields, including architecture, engineering, and design, here’s why they are valuable:
- High-Quality Digital Replicas: Large format scanners create high-quality digital replicas of large documents without compromising on detail or clarity. Whether it’s technical drawings, blueprints, or other over-sized documents, these scanners ensure that the digital versions retain the same level of detail as the physical ones.
- Efficient Digitalization: The scanning process with wide format scanners is streamlined, enabling quicker digitalization of large documents. This efficiency saves time and effort compared to manual methods.
- Space-Saving and Accessibility: By transitioning from physical to digital documentation, organizations can significantly reduce the space required for document storage. Moreover, digital assets are easily accessible and shareable, contributing to a more efficient workflow.
- Preservation and Archival: The digital replicas created by large format scanners are often used for archival purposes. They ensure the preservation of important documents over time, safeguarding historical records and valuable information.
- Improved Productivity: Large format scanners allow scanning multiple pages at once, resulting in increased productivity. Their advanced scanning technology ensures high-quality scans with accurate details, reducing the need for manual editing or retouching.
How do I choose the right wide format scanner for my needs?
Choosing the right wide format scanner involves considering several important factors. Let’s explore them:
- Document Size and Media Compatibility:
- Evaluate the maximum document size that the wide format scanner can accommodate. Different scanners have varying maximum widths, typically ranging from 24 to 60 inches. Image Access offers the widest range of wide format scanner covering 36-inch, 44-inch, 48-inch and 60-inch wide scanners, all with nearly unlimited length.
- Consider the types of media the scanner can handle, such as paper, blueprints, canvas, or even rigid materials like foam boards. Ensure the scanner is compatible with the specific media you’ll be scanning.
- Scanning Speed:
- If you have large volumes of documents to digitize, scanning speed becomes crucial. Faster scanning speeds enhance productivity and efficiency, reducing the time spent on the scanning process. WideTEK scanners is by far the fastest color scanner on the market, producing production quality images at 8 inches per second for 150 dpi in full color.
- Connectivity and Software Integration:
- USB and Ethernet connections are common and provide easy integration with your existing hardware and network infrastructure. WideTEK Scanners has 1 GBit Fast Ethernet with TCP/IP based Scan2Net® interface. No need to worry about WideTEK scanners software compatibility due to the Scan2Net® technology integrated in the scanners own built in 64 bit Linux PC and it is OS independent, runs with Windows 8, 10, Linux, Mac.
- WideTEK Scanners are true standalone system capable of scanning directly to FTP servers, hot folders, USB drives, to cloud applications in the internet or copying to printers directly, without the need for an extra PC.
- Design & Productivity Features:
- Look for productivity-enhancing features that streamline your scanning process. Consider the size of the feed-in platform designed into the scanner—being able to put your full hands on the originals as you feed them in helps maintain straight alignment.
- Scanning with the images face-up or face-down may seem insignificant, but it impacts maintaining set order. WideTEK scanners offers a face-up scanning (no more “blind” scanning).
- Technology: Wide format scanners use two common types of image extrapolating technologies, choose the technology that aligns with your scanning requirements:
- CCD (Charge-Coupled Device): These scanners offer high-quality scans with excellent color accuracy and depth. They are typically more expensive, such as WideTEK WT36-600, WT44-600 & WT48-600.
- CIS (Contact Image Sensor): CIS-based scanners are more affordable and energy-efficient but may sacrifice some color accuracy, such as WideTEK WT36CL-600, WT48CL-600 & WT60CL-600.
- Image Enhancement Features:
- Some scanners offer features like automatic crop, automatic deskew, auto color correction, on the fly rotation and Real time display of scanned images, modify images without rescanning. Evaluate whether these enhancements are essential for your workflow.
- Customer Support and Warranty:
- Consider the level of customer support provided by the scanner manufacturer. A reliable warranty ensures peace of mind in case of any issues. Don’t forget the consumables, or forget them, since they do not exist in WideTEK scanners.
- Price and Value:
- Balance your budget with the features you need. While cost is a factor, prioritize value over the lowest price. Investing in a quality scanner pays off in the long run. Despite having said that, you don’t need to worry about the price with WideTEK scanners.
Remember, understanding your specific needs and workflow is crucial. By considering these factors, you’ll be better equipped to choose the right wide format scanner for your requirements.
In summary, the value added by large format scanning to various professional sectors is immense, reflecting its importance in contemporary digital document management. If you’re considering investing in one, keep in mind the long-term benefits such as time-saving, improved productivity, and enhanced image quality.
If you’d like recommendations for specific large format scanners, feel free to ask us at ABTec Solutions.
Contact ABTec Solutions today on Toll Free (800) 775.8993 or reach out and fill the form and we will contact you as soon as possible.
