Large Size Scanners

[Kellogg]

Hi all,

When I met with Level Head and Mako at the Space Frontier
conference, a lot of things got talked about.

Anyway, the subject of improving my artwork got kicked
around, (something I'm always keen on!) And it really reinforced
a thought I've had for some time. My comic is drawn on 8.5X11
paper because that's the size of my scanner. I think I draw
better when I've got a bigger canvas to work on. I hate to
break it up into individual pages to do the panels on though,
because then I can't *see* the whole thing.

I'm therefore starting to look for a larger scanner.
Once upon a time, someone said there were 11X17 inch
scanners to be had, and I wondered if anyone here had one
and had opinions on the matter.

Maybe there are even larger ones?

Thanks,

Scott

[LaserBeams]

11x17 scanners do exist. They are usually called document scanners.

Unfortunately, their prices usually start at around $1000.
Though... some with prices down to $773 are available here:
http://www.scantastik.com/document-scanners.htm

I'm sure if you set up a donation link through paypal or something, readers from all over would pitch in. I would!

[Kellogg]

Yipe!

I had been under the impression that 11X17 scanners started at around $400. I think this would be a lot more expensive than I thought.
LaserBeams is right. The $773 scanner seems to be the cheapest
one I've seen.

Some folks have suggested using a photocopier to reduce the size of
the image to the standard 8.5X11, others have suggested scanning
a large image in sections and stitching it together in photoshop.

I think I'll have to try those techniques out before I start plunking
money at this.

Scott

[LaserBeams]

Actually, I have a utility that came with my Canon digital camera that is designed to stitch together multiple scans. It's quite cool, and almost automatic.

You can, according to this website, order the disk for a small price:
http://www.digitaltao.ca/vr/panoramatut ... getit.html

There's also some other stitching software out there:
http://www.digitaltao.ca/vr/panoramatut ... ftwar.html

That way you could scan your 11x17 in two or three parts, and just run them together. Much cheaper.

[Kellogg]

Hmm! It would be pretty cool if the software would automatically
recognize overlapping bits and stitch them together.

We'll see. Today I bought myself an 11X14 sketchbook to experiment
with.

(I also got a couple plastic models for fun. *sigh* I haven't had much
time to build kits lately, but these were too appealing: The Seaview
from "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", and the Spindrift spacecraft
from "Land of the Giraff... err... Giants."

Scott

[Mako]

I'm therefore starting to look for a larger scanner.
Once upon a time, someone said there were 11X17 inch
scanners to be had, and I wondered if anyone here had one
and had opinions on the matter.

Maybe there are even larger ones?

Thanks,

Scott

Ok, I got a possible solution for you here, for under $200 bones too, but it will change the way you work a bit.

I once saw a photo of a fella you might have heard of - Charles Shulz, at work at his drafting table. His work in progress in the photo was drawn on a long strip of paper, perhaps 5"x20" long, or whatever the proportions that the process cameras of the day required the ratio to be (1:5, 1:4 ???).

Sooo... think out of the box and ditch the flatbed scanner concept entirely. Draw the strips on long paper instead a'la Sparky and scan them into a sheetfed scanner like<b> <a href="http://www.visioneer.com/products/sheetfed/pro/">this one</a></b>. This particular model will scan up to 8.5x30" in one pass, enough for two vertical frames of generous size if youdraw horizontally. or draw it like kanji in a vertical format, two side by side frames marching down the long edge of the paper... Or...???

So if your willing to give up working in a sketch book and drawing on long paper strips instead, you can pretty much go nuts. The down side is I can't hang out in the hotel and read through all the strips in your book if you change media types,

Sorry it took me so long to figure this out, I knew I had an answer rattling around in my head somewhere, it took me finally remembering that photo of Shulz I saw years ago to jump start me.

Check out http://www.cnet.com for prices and check the usual on line coupon places too...

CYa!
Mako[/url]

[Kellogg]

Hmm... That's an idea...

Though, I'd be worried: I'd still be limited to the 8.5" minimum
dimension. And the nice thing about a sketchbook is not only
can I take it to hotel rooms, I can haul it out to cafes and places
and draw there, instead of being restricted to a drawing board.

Anyway, we'll see how the 11X14 sketchbook works out first.

Thanks!

Scott

[Quill]

I did a quick look 'round, and found a few options--the last two links are sales of scanners whose companies have gone out of business, but they are very cheap as these things seem to go...they might be worth a look.

http://www.scantastik.com/hardware/visi ... canner.htm

http://www.balloontales.com/tips/elc/scanning/

http://www.scanneroutlet.com/

http://www.image-land.com/order.htm

[CPOK]

I think my printer can take that size for scans. (scanner catrige extra)

If you want to look into it, it is a Canon BJC 6500.

Which reminds me, I gotta buy said cartridge cause my normal scanner died.

[Docabsinthe]

Another solution might be to find someone with a copy stand and do it with either a film camera or digital camera. Some photo speciality stores have them. Where I worked we commonly copied photos and art up to 2'x3'. Having someone else do it would get expensive. You might be able to get a used one cheap and then you have an excuse to get a new camera. I've been thinking of going this route myself. --doc

[Edward Sanhusky]

Hi, Scott! Yes, I'm the same Ed Sanhusky that's been haunting the Freefall forum. I decided to give this thread the dubious honor (or forgettable occurance) of getting my first post to KeenSpace because I actually have something relevant (and, strangely enough, on topic) to contribute. The Relisys Reli 2412 is an 8.5X17 scanner. I got mine from a friend who runs a small printing shop and only quit using it becausse he ran out of space at his computer workstation and replaced it, his printer and fax with an All-in-One.

Quality is excellent; as I recall, it even OCR'd well enough that he could scan old resumes into his system and not spend all day fixing read errors.

The only "problem" is that it's an older scanner and uses a SCSI interface, but if you have the extra slot in your computer, you may be able to find a used one somewhere for a cheap experiment

[Kellogg]

Welcome aboard!

8.5X17? Wow!

At the moment, I'm experimenting with stitching scans together.
Today's is a first trial, but only by accident. I really screwed up
the bottom row and redrew it on another page. Stitching the
shots together really wasn't as bad as I thought.

Scot

[ZOMBIE USER 6611]

Hi, Scott! Yes, I'm the same Ed Sanhusky that's been haunting the Freefall forum. I decided to give this thread the dubious honor (or forgettable occurance) of getting my first post to KeenSpace because I actually have something relevant (and, strangely enough, on topic) to contribute.

Welcome, Edward! I was just writing about you, in a different context.

[Edward Sanhusky]

Welcome, Edward! I was just writing about you, in a different context.

I'm not sure whether I should be scared, indifferent or elated
My thanks for the welcomes hopefully not belated
Ummm...something, something, something ending in -ated
Yes, I'll definately leave the poetry to those more adept-ated

[ZOMBIE USER 6611]

Welcome, Edward! I was just writing about you, in a different context.

I'm not sure whether I should be scared, indifferent or elated
My thanks for the welcomes hopefully not belated
Ummm...something, something, something ending in -ated
Yes, I'll definately leave the poetry to those more adept-ated

Oho! I seem to have that reputation.
But my intent's benign. Perhaps elation
Is what you'll get from this on publication.
If not, I'm sure that you'll give me a ration.

[Edward Sanhusky]

Welcome, Edward! I was just writing about you, in a different context.

I'm not sure whether I should be scared, indifferent or elated
My thanks for the welcomes hopefully not belated
Ummm...something, something, something ending in -ated
Yes, I'll definately leave the poetry to those more adept-ated

Oho! I seem to have that reputation.
But my intent's benign. Perhaps elation
Is what you'll get from this on publication.
If not, I'm sure that you'll give me a ration.

Ha! That's the kind of reputation to have in my opinion, and your ability to seemingly so easily put everything into prose makes you quite a memorable character to me. I've said it before that I'm more adept at constructive arts and the finer arts continue to elude me.