Computer
Be
sure to have enough extra Memory (RAM) to handle large
scans. We use 800 MB RAM in our Macintosh.
Cables
to connect everything to your scanner (Cables-to-Go)
Uninterruptible
Power Supply (American Power Conversion)
Monitor,
dual 21" is best (ViewSonic
21" PT815)
Storage
Sharing
your files with others (Zip, Jaz and CD-R)
Storing
your files/ backup storage (CD-R burner; DVD-RAM, DAT;
DLT)
Hard
Disk Storage within Computer to handle digital files
(Quantum Snap)
Hard
Disk Storage within Dicomed and Better Light (Quantum
now has larger drives available)
On
line storage while working active files, RAID
solution (FWB, DPT, Snap)
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Software
Scanning
software (LinoColor)
Digital
Imaging Software (Adobe Photoshop)
DTP
software (Adobe PageMaker and Adobe InDesign)
Additional
useful items (Extensis Fetch, Extensis Page Tools)
Printing
your final results
Dye
sublimation (Alps 2300 or 1300)
Color
laser (Lexmark,Optra
SC 1275n)
Color
Ink Jet (avoid all Epson printers, use Alps
MD-1300) or color laser)
Color
Ink Jet, large format (Epson, the model 1520 causes banding,
excessive ink use. avoid. Use QMS, Lexmark,
Xerox, Savin, Minolta, or Canon color copiers if you need
professional quality color in 11x17" size)
Black
and white laser, large format (Lexmark,
QMS,
Xante, GCC, Lexmark, HP)
Color
wide format ink-jet (Hewlett-Packard DesignJet large format
rinters; Encad NovaJet Pro and other ENCAD
printers)
Hardware
RIP (EFI, Electronics for Imaging)
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Computer
If
you are doing digital images a PC will not generate thumbnail
pictures automatically. For that reason a Macintosh is
far superior. We tried doing digital imaging on a PC (Dell
Pentium Pro) and it was slow, slow, slow, and could not
generate thumbnail images automatically even with HiJack
Pro.
Memory
(RAM)
Since
a scan with a good flatbed scanner can be over 150 MB,
per photo, you better select a Mac which can hold lots
of RAM. Our Mac 9600 is loaded with 800 MB.
Cables
You
will very quickly develop a lengthy SCSI chain as you
pile up disk drives and other peripherals. These will
need special cables.
where
and how to store your digital images? RAID,
DVD,
or CD-R
?
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Downloading
your files requires massive storage
5.2
GB storage is coming on line this summer. Units are being
advertised now. It is always best not to jump into any
new technology. Wait until the second generation has gotten
rid of the problems of the original units. Best place
to get answers to your digital storage questions is MegaHaus
Regular
2.6 MB MO may be more dependible (the Nikon was more advanced,
with direct overwrite but the two we tried out did not
work well). An even more impressive storage technology
is the 5.2 GB technology of DVD-RAM.
Sending
your files to service bureaus
A
Zip drive can transfer a single image (non-rollout) or
of course you can lower any image down to 100 MB for a
sample, even a panorama.
Jaz
drives tried to become the international standard for
sending files up to 1 GB in size. A Jaz drive will hold
an entire panorama photograph (presuming you set the file
size to just under 1 GB).
But
today Jaz and Zip are no longer the standards. Today it
is easier just to burn your own CD-R. The 8x and 12x CD-R
burners are relatively fast.
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