Scanning
There are many inexpensive scanners on the market
and they are becoming less expensive and getting better. For small
prints many of these scanners are sufficient to make an 8 ×10
or 11 ×14 color print. To get the quality needed for a 16 ×20
or 20 ×24, let alone a 30 ×40 or 48 ×96 print, much more–and better–data
needs to be captured. Scanners must capture all of the detail
in the darkest shadow and the brightest highlight. Files can easily
be 100 to 300 MB (RGB) in size. To work on files this size requires
computer power and time, but the results are outstanding.
Most scanners are designed to work into prepress
graphic arts and Web design, where 99% of all work is never enlarged
over 11 ×17 (a two-page spread). These scanners were never designed
for enlarging transparencies to 20×24 or larger. It takes a very
good scanner to capture the quality of digital file needed for
making large photographic prints. The scanners used must be of
very high quality with extreme sharpness and large dynamic range
to capture the image detail necessary. There are many so-called
high-end scanners, some costing up to $60,000, but none compare
to the quality of the Heidelberg Tango/Primescan PMT scanners.
Hell scanners were the standard of the graphic arts
industry. Bill Nordstrom began working on Hell scanners in the
early 1970s. Heidelberg bought Hell Graphic Systems, and their
scanners continue to be the best that are made. They have the
highest dynamic range of any scanner (with a shadow density of
over 4.2) and their sharpness is unsurpassed.The Tango/Primescan
can capture 11,000 lines per inch from the original transparency
to make any size print you might want.
