Recommendations on a New Scanner for Original Art 4 4

[alxjhnsn]

Amazon has the Epson Workforce Pro WF-7820 on sale for $180. That’s a good deal.

 

 

[Xatari]

Excellent scanner and incredible price.  If anyone is in the market, pick this one up. 

[PhilipB2k17]

Unless you are scanning them to create a super hi resolution copy to display, or for an artist's edition, there's no point in buying a standalone scanner when you can use the increasingly sophisticated mobile phone apps. And if you are doing the former with a handful of pieces (for display purposes) you can just take them to our local Kinkos or print shop and get it done. The only reason to have a scanner is for when you have a multipage document that you need to scan into digital format and want to use the automatic document feeder. I have a cheap, at home printer for that purpose, but it's too small for OA scans (except for a couple of my smaller pieces).

Just my opinion. 

Edited March 27 by PhilipB2k17

[filmboyuk]

I would also suggest using Vuescan to average out multiple passes, you end up with a much more nuanced scan than most will give you on a single pass.

[RBerman]

On 3/27/2024 at 8:39 AM, alxjhnsn said:

Amazon has the Epson Workforce Pro WF-7820 on sale for $180. That’s a good deal.

That is a good price. Epson expects to make its money on expensive ink refills, but if you use the device mainly for scanning, that doesn't cost a dime extra. It says the printer goes up to 13x19. Is the scanner that large as well?

[aaronnear]

On 3/27/2024 at 1:14 PM, RBerman said:

That is a good price. Epson expects to make its money on expensive ink refills, but if you use the device mainly for scanning, that doesn't cost a dime extra. It says the printer goes up to 13x19. Is the scanner that large as well?

It maxes out at 11x17 on the flatbed. That's a great deal - it's the model I have and I paid $120 more (and am OK with that). The thing is a tank.

[JC25427N]

On 3/27/2024 at 7:26 PM, aaronnear said:

It maxes out at 11x17 on the flatbed. That's a great deal - it's the model I have and I paid $120 more (and am OK with that). The thing is a tank.

So it won't fit anything better than 11x17 for scanning? What about DC boards that are usually a bit bigger than 11x17, closing in on 12x18?

[aaronnear]

On 3/27/2024 at 10:31 PM, JC25427N said:

So it won't fit anything better than 11x17 for scanning? What about DC boards that are usually a bit bigger than 11x17, closing in on 12x18?

You'd have to do two scans, unfortunately. It's exactly 11x17. A lot of my Marvel boards are 11x17 1/8 and they just clip over the edge of the scanning bed. Not a big deal in most cases for me as there isn't a lot of bleed outside of the general frame on the board for much of what I buy, but I could absolutely see that as being a bit frustrating if you have such bigger boards. It looks like larger dedicated scanners are 10x this device in the best circumstances from what I can see online. I know some multifunction devices go for that price as well and have larger scan beds (e.g. at work we have some copiers with what I recall being 18x24 beds), but I think they start at around $2,500.

[Dr. Balls]

I have an HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 that I bought specifically for scanning 11x17 art and reproducing it. The all-in-one works pretty well, quality is excellent when printing to heavier stock and it can print on acetate (for overlays). I did have to get VueScan to have a little more control over my scanning settings (which I prefer). Can't remember the cost, but it was very reasonable.

[Will_K]

I discovered my old Mustek A3 scanner was no longer working (I miss it).  In December 2023, I got the Epson WF 7840 which was mentioned by @Lago32 in another scanner topic.  It was on sale at Staples for $ 199.  Considering a standalone scanner actually costs more, it seemed like a good deal.  I was in a scanning mood at the time but haven't scanned so much since.  It produces nice scans at 11.69 x 16.54 .  It also prints on 13 x 19 paper but haven't tried doing that.

I avoided getting an HP because of reports that the scanning function may not work due to a lack of ink.  By design.

Edited April 2 by Will_K

[alxjhnsn]

I haven't printed 13x19, but I have printed 11x17 on my Epson WF-7710. I did that to make the template for a Walt Simonson sketch at Baltimore. Took a couple of passes, but I had fun.

[MAR1979]

On 3/27/2024 at 9:40 AM, Xatari said:

Excellent scanner and incredible price.  If anyone is in the market, pick this one up. 

Make note folks; Fine for art but worthless for comic and card slabs.

Edited March 29 by MAR1979

[Aahz]

Although I have an HP multipurpose Officejet that does 11x17 scans (and I am very happy with it), I actually really have been impressed with the Microsoft Lens app, which is free (not sure if free with 365 or just free).  This is super helpful with the larger pieces.

[JBrady]

On 3/29/2024 at 2:58 PM, MAR1979 said:

Make note folks; Fine for art but worthless for comic and card slabs.

Can you recommend a scanner that’s used solely for scanning comic slabs?

[MAR1979]

On 4/8/2024 at 6:49 AM, JBrady said:

Can you recommend a scanner that’s used solely for scanning comic slabs?

Plustek OpticPro A320E

I use for Comic, Magazine, Trading Card, slabs as well as non large Original Art.  

Most Important thing is to look for is CCD Optical tech and AVOID CIS 

[PhilipB2k17]

I know I disclaimed using a scanner vs a phone, but has anyone tried one of those overhead book scanners rather than the combo scanner/printer? They seem to be cheaper and can be brought to conventions because they can be packed up. 

[MyNameIsLegion]

On 4/10/2024 at 3:16 PM, PhilipB2k17 said:

I know I disclaimed using a scanner vs a phone, but has anyone tried one of those overhead book scanners rather than the combo scanner/printer? They seem to be cheaper and can be brought to conventions because they can be packed up. 

I have the CZUR and the quality suuuuuuuuucks. I got it for just documents and newspaper clippings and it's barely passable for that. 

[Will_K]

On 4/10/2024 at 4:16 PM, PhilipB2k17 said:

They seem to be cheaper and can be brought to conventions because they can be packed up. 

I'm not sure of the exact brand/model but I saw Jason from EssentialSequential at a show scanning sketch covers (not slabbed) with one of those handheld scanners that you roll over the item.  Definitely portable.  Maybe you can ask him. 

[PhilipB2k17]

On 4/10/2024 at 5:39 PM, MyNameIsLegion said:

I have the CZUR and the quality suuuuuuuuucks. I got it for just documents and newspaper clippings and it's barely passable for that. 

Thank you. That's helpful. As I am perusing these things, it occurred to me that the portable overhead scanners are basically just phone scanners with more setup. I found a cheap iPhone scanner system which is basically just a cardboard scaffolding on which you can place your phone, with some lighting. Seems like such a thing could be jury-rigged at home. 

[MyNameIsLegion]

On 4/11/2024 at 10:15 AM, PhilipB2k17 said:

Thank you. That's helpful. As I am perusing these things, it occurred to me that the portable overhead scanners are basically just phone scanners with more setup. I found a cheap iPhone scanner system which is basically just a cardboard scaffolding on which you can place your phone, with some lighting. Seems like such a thing could be jury-rigged at home. 

I think if you are going to rely on the phone as a camera (and nowadays most smart phones are quite good) you can forego any manual rigging and download a scanning app that will crop, rotate and fix the inevitable distortion inherent in trying to hold a camera to shoot a flat 2D object. This is the only “feature” the CZUR did do well and that’s all post imaging so any software can do it.