Selecting A Flatbed Scanner

High-end Flatbed Scanners

High-end models range from around $15,000 to upwards of $50,000, though scanners between $15,000 and $25,000 can hardly be expected to compare favorably with those coming in at $50,000. Until the mid 1990s, this category was occupied exclusively by rotary drum machines.

The high-end flatbed challenge began with the Linotype-Hell Topaz and the Scitex Smart line of scanners, which have been superseded by the Heidelberg NexScan ($37,500 to $43,000) and the CreoScitex EverSmart Pro ($40,000) respectively. The latter models utilize the new X-Y image capture technology, which is exclusive to the high end. They also benefit from other innovations, such as advancements in CCD arrays and editing software, enhanced dynamic range, dynamic thermoelectric cooling systems for noise reduction, multiple pixel sampling, and improved color management.