Large format scanners education and training includes knowing the different types of large scanners available as well as how to use them. When you need to scan blueprints, newspapers and other large media, a large format scanner offers the option to scan the entire piece in one take. The other option is to scan the subject piece by piece and then put it together, but this may not be a viable solution.

These scanners are available in both roll-fed and flatbed varieties. The scanning size starts at 11x16 but can range up to 34x36 or even larger. Although these scanners are advertised as "easy to use," it is best to get additional training in their usage for the best results. Learn more about large format computer scanners:

1. Find out how large format color scanners work.

2. Take a course or additional training for large format printers and scanners.

3. Check different wide format scanners for fine art for comparison purposes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover the use of a large format scanner

Before you spend money on a large format scanner, decide if you really need this machine. Large format scanners education and training includes knowing the types of scanners available as well as their most prominent features.

I recommend: DPS Digital Publishing Solutions offers information on large format scanners including what to consider when buying one, such as speed and resolution. They also review some of the scanners available. Make an educated decision before purchasing your wide format scanner. Wise Geek provides information about wide format scanners including average size and types of scanners, which include sheet-fed or roll-fed scanners.

Utilize large format flatbed scanners by training on their use

Take training in the use of large format scanners to improve your output and make excellent scans. Too often, a person assumes that the scanner will produce high quality right out of the box, but this myth is not true and a simple training course can increase the quality of your scans immensely.

I recommend: Scanners 4 CAD offers an informative article on the importance of training to use large format scanners. They provide examples of poor quality scans and tips for improvement and recommend a scanner training class for better results. Bowe Bell & Howell offers scanner training courses on-site at their facility and computer-based training for self-paced learning. Large Format Printers offers a course in large format printers, which includes a section on learning large format scanners.

Compare the large format flatbed scanner available for your needs

Educate yourself on the scanners available to make an informed choice. Look at quality, type, speed and ease of use. Decide whether you really need a large format color scanner or if monochrome will do. Color scanners cost substantially more and may not be necessary for your particular type of work. Compare scanners side-by-side before you buy.

I recommend: Large Format Photography looks at different scanners and shows examples of scans made with the different scanners. Flatbed Scanner Review gives information about large format scanners and provides information on many of the scanners available. FLAAR reviews large format scanners and printers with many reviews already in for 2009. Check this information before you buy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Refurbished wide format scanners may be a cost conscious option. Make sure the scanner is operating correctly before you purchase it and ask if there is a warranty.

If you've decided to convert your design drawings, medical images or large format documents or art into digital media via large format flatbed scanner you need to take into account the options available. You'll also need to take into account the cost effectiveness of in house scanning as opposed to farming the job out to a reprographics specialty shop.

A large format scanner is a major investment for your company. There are a few things you'll need to consider before making the investment in one of the large format computer scanners available on the market today:

1. What size media will be scanned on the large format scanner?
2. Is the media rigid or is it able to be fed through a document handler?
3. What type of financing or lease option is most cost effective for my company?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get the largest of the large format scanners

When the size of your scanned documents is unpredictable, you may want to choose a large format scanner with the biggest capacity possible. In some instances a 24 inch by 36 inch, or size D style, will fit most needs, unless your company scans specialty items, such as banners.

I recommend: Colortrac SmartLF Gx 25 Large Format Scanner from Colortrac Ltd is a great size D type scanner. It's best for general engineering applications. The XEScan Solution by Xerox Corporation handles documents up to 42 inches wide, 100 feet long and up to 1/2 inch thick. This copier, scanner and printer handles damaged documents beautifully and reproduces with ease.

Determine if your company needs one of the large format flatbed scanners

When scanning things like art pieces and other documents produced on rigid material, you need a scanner that is capable of handling the job. For artistic applications, you'll also need a quality large format color scanner to reproduce the colors in the art effectively.

I recommend: Flatbed wide format scanners for fine art are available through Super Warehouse, which carries the Epson Expression 10000XL Graphic Arts Scanner with a 12-inch by 17-inch bed and 2400 x 4800 dpi resolution. For larger applications, such as paintings, try the Action Imaging Solutions Colortrac Series available from SCANtopia.

Find the best pricing plan available on large format scanners for your company

When scanning large format media of various sizes, you'll find that when you go big, you go big on price as well. Pricing for large format scanners requires setting aside investment capital, or going into a lease or rental agreement. Unless you are able to do your own service on your large format scanner, or have an inside line on parts, you may want to choose a lease situation over a purchase situation.

I recommend: Refurbished large format scanners can be found through EME Corporation/Large Document Solutions and save you capital over purchasing new equipment. Digital Data Services has leasing options that save your company the large investment of purchasing the scanner.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Refurbished wide format scanners are a great investment for those with the technical repair knowledge on board, but to avoid costly repair bills, lease your unit.
• •  Refurbished wide format scanners are a great investment for those with the technical repair knowledge on board, but to avoid costly repair bills, lease your unit.
• •  Refurbished wide format scanners are a great investment for those with the technical repair knowledge on board, but to avoid costly repair bills, lease your unit.

Large format scanners are becoming increasing popular in engineering and architectural firms. Large format scanners allow firms to scan engineering drawings, blueprints and plot into a digital format that they can archive or in terms of active projects, reference from ones desktop without having to leave their office. Benefits of electronic scanning include the preservation of documents, the elimination of staff misfiling or misplacing drawings and freeing up office space since file drawers and other archival storage devices are no longer necessary since documents will be stored in a digital library.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Reprography

Reprography is the process of reproducing documents utilizing wide format scanners, printers or photographic equipment into an electronic or hard copy format. Examples of documents that sent to reprographers include maps, engineering drawings, blueprints, and pictures.

I recommend: Refer to the International Reprographic Association website to read more about reprography and the future direction of this industry.

Flatbed scanners

A flatbed, or desktop, scanner is one in which the user places the document directly onto the glass window, where it is then scanned and converted into a digital image. The quality of the digital image is dependent on the color or bit depth (the number of bits used for each pixel), resolution and density range of the scanner.

I recommend: Refer to How Stuff Works for an illustrative explanation on how flatbed scanners work.

Large format scanners

A large format scanner can scan hard copy engineering and architectural drawings into an electronic format. Depending on the type of scanner, users may be able to process documents as large as 40 inches and as thick as half an inch. Engineering and architectural firms receive great benefit from large format scanners for it allows them to scan plans and other documents and store them on storage devices for archival purposes without taking up valuable office space.

I recommend: The reviews at Scanners4CAD describe how wide format scanners work in addition to features found on the machine.

Sheet fed scanners

A sheet fed scanner can only process paper and pictures instead of book and other thick documents. Depending on the model, sheet fed scanners can be portable. Sheet fed scanners differ from flatbed scanners in that it operates by moving the document across a stationary scan head versus the scan head moving across a stationary document.

I recommend: Reviews found at CNET describe features found on sheet fed scanners as well as tips on deciding which sheet fed scanner model to purchase.

Optical character recognition

Optical character recognition, more commonly known as OCR, is the process by which a scanner utilizing pattern recognition converts handwritten or typed text into a format that one can edit.

I recommend: For more information on optical character recognition, refer to Microsoft Office Online.

Digital library

A digital library is an organized storage of architectural and engineering drawings, documents and photographs electronically instead of in a hardcopy (paper) format that one may access from a computer. Images and documents contained in a digital library may be stored and accessed locally on a computer or remotely via the computer network.

I recommend: PubMed Central provides information on digital libraries including how to manage your digital data.