Re: [ARSCLIST] Scanners for album covers?

[Eric Jacobs <ericj@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The only scanner I've found that handles large scans is the Epson
Expression 10000XL (12.2" width), and uses a CCD sensor for good
color accuracy.

When scanning, you might consider a GretagMacbeth Digital
ColorChecker SG chart - this will allow you to exactly match the
scan to the actual record jacket/sleeve in Photoshop.  From there,
you can enhance the colors as needed to account for fade.

The GretagMacbeth chart is also handy for setting up ICC profiles
on output devices (printers or print services) so that if you
print the image, the printed colors will match what you were
expecting.

This, of course, assumes you are using a color calibrated monitor.

Color management is actually quite sophisticated work if you want
to do it correctly.  There are entire books written on color
management.  At a minimum, I would recommend including the
GretagMacbeth chart in your scans, and this will allow you or
someone with color management expertise to make the needed image
manipulations later.

Eric Jacobs
The Audio Archive


---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 17 Sep 2004 12:11:54 -0700
>From: Mike Richter <mrichter@xxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Scanners for album covers?
>To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>At 02:20 PM 9/17/2004 -0400, Jonathan Wise wrote:
>>Colleagues,
>>
>>Can anyone recommend a flatbed scanner that would be suitable for scanning
>>33.3rpm album covers (~12.4" x 12.4")? Any experience with scanning album
>>covers would be appreciated.
>
>The suggestions will depend on your application, volume and funds.
>
>For most purposes, 300 dpi is ample - and that is available on virtually
>any scanner you might consider. Registration is a key issue and that can be
>judged from reviews and samples, but will exclude the toys. Color fidelity
>is not usually significant since minor corrections are straightforward and
>often one is dealing with fading or imprecise colors to begin with.
>Integral descreening is highly desirable unless you are planning on
>painfully high resolution, at least 1200 dpi, to resolve individual dots
>using a limited palette (essentially, one color per ink).
>
>The major issue is the bed size. Even tabloid (11x17) will not handle your
>need, so if the volume is low and cost is a factor, you might consider a
>legal-size scanner, planning to stitch two scans in your graphics
>application. Unfortunately, most large-bed scanners are flying-spot, which
>won't serve your purposes at all.
>
>Since I scan an album cover only rarely, I use a Microtek ScanMaker 8700
>(8.5x14 bed) and stitch the two partial scans. Its registration,
>flexibility and initial editing (including descreening) are very fine;
>price around $900. For image editing, including stitching, I plan to switch
>to PhotoShop when I have time to learn it; until then, I use an 'ancient',
>discontinued program, Microgafx Picture Publisher in XP SP2.
>
>
>Mike
>--
>mrichter@xxxxxxx
>http://www.mrichter.com/