To get a professional wide format image it sure helps to start with a flatbed scanner of capable quality

First, start with a good image, not only a winning subject, but a picture taken with a professional camera or scanned on a professional scanner. Our first experience with high-end scanners was the Fuji Lanovia C-550; then we began testing the Scitex EverSmart ProII flatbed scanner. We selected this particular scanner as a result of checking out all the high-end scanners at Seybold '99 and GraphExpo '99 trade shows. We found the Scitex EverSmart scanners to offer the widest range of options.

Scitex now makes a complete line of professional quality tabloid-sized flatbed scanners, the EverSmart Jazz, the EverSmart Jazz+, the EverSmart Pro II, and the EverSmart Supreme.

The entire range of Creo (Creo-Scitex) scanners is available from Parrot Digigraphic. The Creo Eversmart flatbed scanner range includes the Jazz, Jazz+, Pro II, Select, and Supreme.

We recommend the people at Parrot because they have years of experience with Scitex scanner equipment. Even with the brand name change from Scitex to Creo-Scitex to Creo, the Eversmart scanners are the same (now with better software).

Scitex EverSmart flatbed scanners are also sold by Ilford Imaging.

The Scitex EverSmart is one of the few flatbed scanners that is powerful enough to scan 35mm slides. Most other flatbed scanners do not have enough true optical dpi to handle something as tiny as a 35mm slide. This EverSmart (the Supreme) offers 5000 true optical dpi.

Naturally Scitex scanners do wonders for 6x6 cm transparencies. And if you have 4x5 chromes then you can create billboard-sized images.

If you wish the senior review editor of the FLAAR Digital Imaging Technology Center to help you decide which high-end or prepress scanner is optimal for your situation, just send an e-mail to Nicholas Hellmuth, wideformat@flaar.org DR Hellmuth will do his best to answer you personally within 48 hours, but be sure to indicate what scanner you have/or intend to obtain, what wide format printer you have/or intend to purchase; and do your best to indicate whether your budget is really prepared for entry into the large format arena (don't worry about paying FLAAR, We are nonprofit and neither ask for nor receive payment. Answering your questions is part of our public education program.

The more you tell about what business you will use wide format or professional scanner for, the easier it is for us to pinpoint which scanner and which wide format printer are best. Equally important, if you indicate which wide format printers you have read about, tested, or are about to buy, We can perhaps save you from making a serious mistake!

We are, however, unable to answer questions about "which scanner is best for under $299;" or "should I use an Epson or a Lexmark inkjet printer for my kids school homework?"

For more information on wide format scanners you can contact: ACTion Imaging Solutions US at Tel +1 303 973 6722, Fax +1 303 973 7092, info@action-imaging.com .

Download Now!

Download the FREE Previews

All reports by Dr. Nicholas Hellmuth

UPDATED: August 02/2001

Review on Scitex EverSmart Scanners