Comparative
review, information, on the Linoscan 2400 flatbed scanner with LinoColor
scanner software from Heidelberg.
The
Heidelberg LinoScan flatbed scanners have the advantage that you
can scan 3-D objects and any object with relief such as basketry,
thick hand-woven rugs, things like indigenous Maya textiles, and
all kinds of neat objects.
"If
the scanner you are thinking of buying is sold at CompUSA or Wal-Mart
then it definitely is not for serious prepress use." This means
that you have to make the effort to find a place that sells Heidelberg
scanners.
Scanners
from Microtek
are okay for home use but most models are not used in many serious
prepress shops. Low-end Agfa scanners are just Microtek scanners
with Agfa label and Agfa software (SilverFast scanner software is
much much better).
Whereas
the entry level Heidelberg scanners are made by Umax the Linoscan
2400 is evidently not the same as the Umax Mirage. The Heidelberg
scanner is newer and evidently made by another company. At the high
end, the Nexscan, there is not really any Umax equivalent. The Heidelberg
Nexscan
is to be compared with the EverSmart Pro II of the CreoScitex
EverSmart series.
The
Heidelberg Linoscan 2400 has become very popular in our office.
The quality of the resultant scans is great. Everything was easy
to learn, indeed part of the test is to take a person who has never
used this scanner before, and see if he can produce a professional
scan. The requirement is that the scan must come out so good that
you don't even need to send it through Photoshop for any improvement.
The Heidelberg LinoColor
software and hardware passed this test easily.
Since
the Heidelberg and Linoscan brands are no longer available in scanners,
be wary about buying them used. No more support; no guarantee of
spare parts, and the software will no longer be upgraded. But you
can get SilverFast software and it is upgraded every year or so.
Our
suggestions for what scanners to select (now that both Agfa and
Heidelberg have all dropped out of the market and no longer offer
scanners) are contined in the FLAAR Reports. All these reports on
scanners are pictured and described on www.wide-format-printers.NET
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