Today's scanners are so powerful and capable that even professional-quality instruments are within reach of anybody who can afford a digital camera or computer.
Flat-bed scanners Flat-bed scanners are somewhat like photocopiers - you place an original face down on the glass and a sensor runs the length of the original to make the scan.
If your print is large enough and good enough, even inexpensive scanners are capable of producing results that can, with a little work, be turned into publication-quality images.
These scanners can also be used as a type of close-up camera for taking images of flat subjects at full-size or high magnification.
Flat-bed scanners can be adapted for transparent originals using a transparency adaptor, which is usually another light source that resides in the lid above the scanner bed that moves in step with the scanner head under the original.
Check that the adaptor is supplied with the scanner, as a separate one can add considerably to the total cost.
If you intend to scan flat originals of about A4 size, an entry-level scanner offering resolutions in the region of 600 ppi (points per inch) - often quoted as 600 dpi (dots per inch) - will be fine.
For scanning artwork up to A3, you will need an A3-size scanner, which is far more costly than an A4 type.
Scanning a large original in sections in order to blend the parts together is not recommended with entry-level machines, as unevenness around the edges is likely to make a poor match.
Well-known manufacturers, such as Umax, Microtek, and Heidelberg, offer machines that cater for a range of needs, from the home-office worker upward.
In general, it is true that the more you pay the better performance you can expect in terms both of its mechanical operation and the software interface.
Before you buy - Examine the interface - the software with which you control the scanner - as some examples can be confusing and badly laid out.
- Check that the scanner's connection is suitable for your particular computer: the best is FireWire (which is also known as IEEE 1394); USB is a low-cost option; while SCSI may be used by some professional-grade equipment.
- Make sure that you can return the scanner to the store if it does not work with your computer and software.
Operating conflicts are not uncommon.
- If you need to scan films or transparencies, ask whether a transparency adaptor is extra.
If so, check on how much it costs.