Somebody help me! I want a scanner to scan my 4x5 & 8x10 Transparencies and print them out on my epson 1200 for my porfolio. The two scanners that I am considering are the Epson 800Pro or the Linocolor Saphir ultra2. Will I get similar results from either one? or is the linocolor better because of the software? The epson is less $$ and has from what I heard good support. I dont know about linocolor Any Suggestions? or should I just toss

-- g.heck (levy1@TheRamp.net), February 03, 2000

Answers

If you're only going to use the scanner for your portfolio, it's probably going to be far more economical to buy time on a drum scanner, and have the scans burned to CD. That way there's no uncertainty as to the quality.

If you forsee heavier usage, go for a scanner that offers the full 36 bit colour depth output to the computer, it'll give you the opportunity to get much subtler colour. The Epson does, I don't know about the Linocolor, despite its much higher spec.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), February 04, 2000.

No flatbed scanner will do a good enough job for a portfolio. This is, after all, the work you're showing to people in an attempt to part them from their money. I use drum scanned images for my portfolio. If I show my work to someone and you show flatbed scanned images who do you think will get the job?

Both scanners are fine for proofing your work and putting stuff on the web. I prefer the Linocolor because of its superior software, but if I were spending my money I'd go the cheap route and get the Epson 1200U, then use the money I saved for more time on the Tango.

-- Darron Spohn (dspohn@photobitstream.com), February 07, 2000.

Linocolor software is an excellent choice when considering what scanner/software bundle to purchase. I have used both Linicolor and Epson scanners and their software respectively. You will find drum scanning produces superior imaging but if a flatbed is used well, a drumscanner is not necessary. As for a portfolio...if I were to show mine compared to a drumscanned folio I'm positive you'd never notice the difference. Afterall, its a portfolio piece I'm scanning and not an image for a billboard. Linocolor is my choice in this case.

-- Jose X (puppet_design@hotmail.com), May 04, 2003.