Large flatbed scanner

[Pieter12]

99% of my black and white work is darkroom prints and I need a way to digitize them. I am toying with the idea of getting an 11x17” or so flatbed scanner that won’t cost a fortune but has a modern connection (meaning not SCSCII) and decent software to run on a Mac. I don’t make that many 8x10 prints now, mostly 11x14 and copy stand shots require more setup than I would like, since I don’t have room to leave a dedicated setup standing. Color is all digital, so color performance is not a factor.

 

[ozphoto]

Maybe an Epson 11000XL? This has a maximum scan area of 12.2" x 17.2", which just fits your specs. These have been superseded by the 12000XL, and are the largest flatbeds I'm aware of other than the now ancient Creo flatbeds (taken over by Kodak years ago.)

Other than this, a copy stand and camera is the only other alternative I can think of to achieve what you're looking to achieve

 

[koraks]

an 11x17” or so flatbed scanner that won’t cost a fortune but has a modern connection

Name one example...? Does this exist? Or maybe your definition of "a fortune" is more generous than mine.

 

[Gato Diablo]

I've been using a Plustek OpticPro A320L on a Mac with Vuescan for several years and it has worked very well for me.

It looks like it's been discontinued and replaced with the A320E. At a glance, it looks like the main difference is the L is 1600dpi max and the E is 800 dpi max. The L may still be available from some sources - the E comes in around $650.

I have several scanners, and use Vuescan for all of them. It works great.
Dan

 

[George Collier]

I think this is fairly new and is probably what you are asking about.

Epson Expression 13000XL Archival Scanner | Products | Epson US

Large-format scanner supports media up to 12.2 x 17.2. Features 2400 x 4800 dpi resolution; 3.8 Dmax; outstanding image quality; and bold, accurate colors.

epson.com

 

[Pieter12]

Name one example...? Does this exist? Or maybe your definition of "a fortune" is more generous than mine.

I have seen them ranging in price from least can $400 to a bet less than $4000, different resolutions, different manufacturers. I guess I want to know if anyone (like Gato Diablo) had any experience with any of them. 20 years ago I used an Epson at work, but that had a SCSCII interface and technology has moved on from then, using LEDs and probably different sensors for the scans.

 

[ozphoto]

A3 Scanners (from a *very* quick Google search). Note these are all new,, so you probably could pick up used offerings from the same manufacturers, and others if you dig deeper.

Expression 13000XL - Epson Australia

Expression 13000XL, Expression 13000XL, B11B257501, Scan up to A3 in size 2400 x 4800dpi optical resolution High Precision Micro Step Drive technology Advanced Matrix CCD Micro Lens Technology Optional Transparency unit for film scanning Powerful bundled software Unique AutoFocus optics , The A3...

www.epson.com.au

OpticPro A320L | Plustek Australia

The MAC compatible Plustek OpticPro A320L is a large format scanner that can scan a 12” x 17” (304.8 mm x 431.8 mm) size document with resolution as high as 1600 DPI.

plustek.com

FB5000X – Avision ( Europe )

Of the 3, the Epson has the higher DPI specs, the Avision the lowest.

• Epson 2400dpi
• Plustek 1600dpi
• Aviation 600dpi

In the used dept. this bad boy isn't cheap, but it is probably *the* best high end scanner you could lay cash down on:

CREO iqSmart 3 High End Film Scanner | eBay

Freight costs are an estimate only.

www.ebay.com

The only issue if you decided to go this route, would be the software - Oxygen. Kodak owned, it might be difficult to come by and I'm not sure you'd get the best out of the Creo, if you used 3rd party. This unit includes the software, another listed does not; that slight $$ saving between the two would be the difference between a brick and a Ferrari.

Additionally, the Creo no longer has service assistance, so you'd need to be stocked up with parts and ready to fix yourself - if that is daunting, probably best to go with one of the new ones currently available.

We use four of these and four Epson 12000XL at work. The Creo is amazing - dial in the dpi to what you want and away you go.

 

[Pieter12]

Since I am scanning prints, I really have no need for higher than 600-800 dpi in order to get files for publication. The best I have seen so far is a Plustek A320L from their e-bay store, possibly refurbished, for $800. There are cheaper ones out there, but they seem to be oriented to document scanning, not sure how well they would do with a photo.

 

[MattKing]

FWIW, I just spent about 3 minutes scanning this from a 12"x18" colour print.
I used an inexpensive Canon Multi-Function office printer/scanner/fax, using the Canon software.
The platen is only just slightly larger than letter size, so I scanned it in two parts and used stitching software to put it back together. A tiny amount had to be cropped from the side.
The result is too big for uploading here, so I had to spend a minute or so re-sizing it as well.


I share this in case you already have a smaller scanner and haven't investigated the stitching approach..

 

[Pieter12]

FWIW, I just spent about 3 minutes scanning this from a 12"x18" colour print.
I used an inexpensive Canon Multi-Function office printer/scanner/fax, using the Canon software.
The platen is only just slightly larger than letter size, so I scanned it in two parts and used stitching software to put it back together. A tiny amount had to be cropped from the side.
The result is too big for uploading here, so I had to spend a minute or so re-sizing it as well.
View attachment 377508

I share this in case you already have a smaller scanner and haven't investigated the stitching approach..

I have tried stitching and found it not satisfactory when there are large even tones, like a sky. For some reason at least my Epson v600 can’t give me an even tone across the scan and stitching is a bear.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I have tried stitching and found it not satisfactory when there are large even tones, like a sky. For some reason at least my Epson v600 can’t give me an even tone across the scan and stitching is a bear.

Pieter: Are you creating a tiff file from the scan or a jpeg? If a jpeg, the compression may be too high creating banding in the sky.

 

[Pieter12]

I am making a jpeg, but the problem is not banding. It is the fact that the exact same tone does not scan the same probably because it is in a different area of the scanner. I will try scanning a gray card to see if I can better see and possibly understand the issue. The scanner also produces an annoying flare along the borders of the image for some reason.

 

[koraks]

The scanner also produces an annoying flare along the borders of the image for some reason.

I get the same thing trying to scan prints that are larger than my 4990's platen. The distance between the platen and the print surface along the edges apparently results in flare. Very annoying as there's virtually nothing that can be done about it, short of cutting the print in half...

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

A3 Scanners (from a *very* quick Google search). Note these are all new,, so you probably could pick up used offerings from the same manufacturers, and others if you dig deeper.

Expression 13000XL - Epson Australia

Expression 13000XL, Expression 13000XL, B11B257501, Scan up to A3 in size 2400 x 4800dpi optical resolution High Precision Micro Step Drive technology Advanced Matrix CCD Micro Lens Technology Optional Transparency unit for film scanning Powerful bundled software Unique AutoFocus optics , The A3...

www.epson.com.au

OpticPro A320L | Plustek Australia

The MAC compatible Plustek OpticPro A320L is a large format scanner that can scan a 12” x 17” (304.8 mm x 431.8 mm) size document with resolution as high as 1600 DPI.

plustek.com

FB5000X – Avision ( Europe )

Of the 3, the Epson has the higher DPI specs, the Avision the lowest.

• Epson 2400dpi
• Plustek 1600dpi
• Aviation 600dpi

In the used dept. this bad boy isn't cheap, but it is probably *the* best high end scanner you could lay cash down on:

CREO iqSmart 3 High End Film Scanner | eBay

Freight costs are an estimate only.

www.ebay.com

The only issue if you decided to go this route, would be the software - Oxygen. Kodak owned, it might be difficult to come by and I'm not sure you'd get the best out of the Creo, if you used 3rd party. This unit includes the software, another listed does not; that slight $$ saving between the two would be the difference between a brick and a Ferrari.

Additionally, the Creo no longer has service assistance, so you'd need to be stocked up with parts and ready to fix yourself - if that is daunting, probably best to go with one of the new ones currently available.

We use four of these and four Epson 12000XL at work. The Creo is amazing - dial in the dpi to what you want and away you go.

You can get Creo scanners from Scan Solutions, they are very well supported by Micheal Streeter. You typically get the scanner with a Mac mini loaded up with oXYgen software.

They are very good, but I'm not sure the OP needs that level of quality for producing web reproductions of his prints. Personally I'd figure out a way to camera-copy the prints, but short of that an XL Epson would be the way to go. These scanners are HUGE however and so may present size issues just as a copy rig would.

 

[Pieter12]

You can get Creo scanners from Scan Solutions, they are very well supported by Micheal Streeter. You typically get the scanner with a Mac mini loaded up with oXYgen software.

They are very good, but I'm not sure the OP needs that level of quality for producing web reproductions of his prints. Personally I'd figure out a way to camera-copy the prints, but short of that an XL Epson would be the way to go. These scanners are HUGE however and so may present size issues just as a copy rig would.

My need is more for self-publishing, or at least making prototype books, so 6-800 dpi is fine, but I do want better than “just for the web.”

 

[NortheastPhotographic]

My need is more for self-publishing, or at least making prototype books, so 6-800 dpi is fine, but I do want better than “just for the web.”

Yeah 800dpi is not going to stress anything available today. Personally I'd choose one of the Epson XL scanners, or do copy work. The Creos are great but more for scanning film than prints necessarily. I run an Eversmart Supreme II.

 

[ozphoto]

You can get Creo scanners from Scan Solutions, they are very well supported by Micheal Streeter. You typically get the scanner with a Mac mini loaded up with oXYgen software.

They are very good, but I'm not sure the OP needs that level of quality for producing web reproductions of his prints. Personally I'd figure out a way to camera-copy the prints, but short of that an XL Epson would be the way to go. These scanners are HUGE however and so may present size issues just as a copy rig would.

Agree 100%. They are a big beast, and I think the XL would do a great job.

Guess it comes down to a) price, b) location and c) how deep one’s pockets are.