Convenient of having large format printers
Large format printers are a very convenient and often indispensable tool in producing hard copies of digitalized images such as technical drawings, paintings, maps, and office documents. It is an important part of electronic document management, in which the first step is scanning. So it is, in many cases, desirable to have printers with scanning capabilities.
Large format scanners are commercially available in a wide range of prices from very low to very high, depending on the quality, speed, resolution, format width, imaging technology, manufacturer, and so on. Color scanners are much more expensive than black and white scanners.
It should, however, be noted that the cheaper is not always the better choice. A scanner meeting the requirements of the application in hand should be chosen so as to strike a balance between long life and low cost.
Though flatbed scanners are more popular, drum-type scanner or plotters are also in great demand due to the virtually unlimited length of medium they can handle. The plotter is usually of ink-jet type. They have an excellent resolution and can reproduce a very wide range of colors on paper.
Cartographers and city planners have great use for scanner or plotter with good optical resolution. The resolution of both the scanner and the plotter are usually chosen where enlargement is required.
Large format scanners are commercially available in a wide range of prices from very low to very high, depending on the quality, speed, resolution, format width, imaging technology, manufacturer, and so on. Color scanners are much more expensive than black and white scanners.
It should, however, be noted that the cheaper is not always the better choice. A scanner meeting the requirements of the application in hand should be chosen so as to strike a balance between long life and low cost.
Though flatbed scanners are more popular, drum-type scanner or plotters are also in great demand due to the virtually unlimited length of medium they can handle. The plotter is usually of ink-jet type. They have an excellent resolution and can reproduce a very wide range of colors on paper.
Cartographers and city planners have great use for scanner or plotter with good optical resolution. The resolution of both the scanner and the plotter are usually chosen where enlargement is required.
large format printing - first step to scanning
Large format printing is an important part of electronic document management,in which the first step is scanning. So it is, in many cases, desirable to have printers with scanning capabilities. This need is all the more evident when it is required to produce enlarged images from drawings stored on microfilm.
Document scanning is the first step in upgrading to electronic document management.
Large format document scanners come in a wide variety, and choosing from them according to your need is as demanding yet worthwhile task. Most document scanners are of flatbed type. Some of the newer scanners are equipped with the revolutionary iJet technology, which allows the user to take printouts from a large format printer connected directly to the scanner.
.
Document scanning is the first step in upgrading to electronic document management.
Large format document scanners come in a wide variety, and choosing from them according to your need is as demanding yet worthwhile task. Most document scanners are of flatbed type. Some of the newer scanners are equipped with the revolutionary iJet technology, which allows the user to take printouts from a large format printer connected directly to the scanner.
.
large format printing : Fun Photo Projects For Children
If you're a teacher or parent, you may be interested in creating some fun digital photography related projects for children. I sometimes plan fun and interesting photo projects for my son so that he can learn about photography and have a whale of a time too.
In this article, we'll explore 3 interesting photo project ideas we can prepare for children, so read on!
Idea 1: Make a Photo Journal
One interesting photo project is to let the child create a personal photo journal. Ask the child to hang on to the digital camera for a few days, snapping anything that captures his or her fancy.
At the end of that period, help him or her to upload the pictures to a computer, then add some good captions or funny quotes. A simple, easy activity to do, which is also rewarding for the family too.
You can use a program like Microsoft Powerpoint to maintain the photo album or print the pictures and bind them into a hardcover book.
Idea 2: Create a Nice Jigsaw Puzzle
Here's a good project to undertake if your child likes jigsaw puzzles. Print out a nice, large format picture, then stick it onto a large cardboard. Next, cut up the cardboard into small curved pieces anf voila, we have a homemade jigsaw puzzle.
Another way to do this is to use a cool software I found called Brainsbreaker. This program allows you to turn any digital photo into a jigsaw puzzel which you can solve on the computer. Neat, huh?
Idea 3: What Could This Be? Another interesting photo project is to snap a picture of a common, everyday object - using a very odd angle or close-up view.
Entrust the digital camera to the kids, then ask them to sniff out ordinary objects to take photos of. Ask them to take the photos at weird, unusual, and otherworldly angles.
When they're done, upload the pictures to the PC and start playing a guessing game. Ask the kids to guess what subject is being photographed in each mystery photo. You'll be amazed at the answers you get! Snap a whole slew of such pictures and you'll occupy the kids for the whole afternoon!
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many fun-filled photo projects you can create for kids. Take note of some of these ideas the next time you're cracking your brains and thinking about how to occupy the children.
By Gary Hendricks
In this article, we'll explore 3 interesting photo project ideas we can prepare for children, so read on!
Idea 1: Make a Photo Journal
One interesting photo project is to let the child create a personal photo journal. Ask the child to hang on to the digital camera for a few days, snapping anything that captures his or her fancy.
At the end of that period, help him or her to upload the pictures to a computer, then add some good captions or funny quotes. A simple, easy activity to do, which is also rewarding for the family too.
You can use a program like Microsoft Powerpoint to maintain the photo album or print the pictures and bind them into a hardcover book.
Idea 2: Create a Nice Jigsaw Puzzle
Here's a good project to undertake if your child likes jigsaw puzzles. Print out a nice, large format picture, then stick it onto a large cardboard. Next, cut up the cardboard into small curved pieces anf voila, we have a homemade jigsaw puzzle.
Another way to do this is to use a cool software I found called Brainsbreaker. This program allows you to turn any digital photo into a jigsaw puzzel which you can solve on the computer. Neat, huh?
Idea 3: What Could This Be? Another interesting photo project is to snap a picture of a common, everyday object - using a very odd angle or close-up view.
Entrust the digital camera to the kids, then ask them to sniff out ordinary objects to take photos of. Ask them to take the photos at weird, unusual, and otherworldly angles.
When they're done, upload the pictures to the PC and start playing a guessing game. Ask the kids to guess what subject is being photographed in each mystery photo. You'll be amazed at the answers you get! Snap a whole slew of such pictures and you'll occupy the kids for the whole afternoon!
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many fun-filled photo projects you can create for kids. Take note of some of these ideas the next time you're cracking your brains and thinking about how to occupy the children.
By Gary Hendricks
large format printing : Branding Your Business To Make More Money
Branding your comapny should be the first thing a company does. You have to convince potential customers to buy from you. Very few people have a monopoly like Microsoft or Ebay, Everyone else need to steer business to their company or product. When people think about your company, what is their impression. For my company, Solutions Ink, I wanted to portray a fresh, professional, ease of use type of company whoose product meets their quality needs while helping their business. I wanted to portray Solutions Ink as always on the fore front of the printing and promotional product industry's.
To achieve this I needed to tell potential customers of new and innovative products for the printing industry. Variable data, large format digital printing, digital printing with pantone colors, label and form combinations, magnet and form combinations and e-commerce ordering systems. How best to show customers then actually devise a campaign where the product you are trying to educate your customers about is sent out to them to give them ideas how to use this product to help their businesses. One campaign I organised was to compile a list of fashion retailers whoose logo's were specific pantone colors that are not reproduced well in 4 color process printing. Today with 6,8 and 10 color presses you can print in 4 color process and 2 pantone colors quite easily. This keeps the integrity of the company's logo intact in their big marketing or flyer campaigns. This is OK for large run printing jobs. The problem is that even for large chains, you tend to have regional sales in a small amount of stores. In store displays usually are done in small numbers and are printed digitally. Today there are certain digital presses that can insert pantone colors on top of the 4 color process printing. After devising a mock up campaign and targetting by variable data the buyers of these retail fashion chains, I was able to secure 2 large accounts for present and future business.
This technique can be applied to any industry. The key is to really now your product and the strengths of your company. The next step is to educate your customers on your company's merits. Then you must reinforce your image constantly to stay in your existing customers mind, as well as peak the curiousity of potential new customers.
Once you have achieved this, giving out promotional products is a useful way of staying on their minds. The trick is to find a great promotional product, that fits you budget, is useful to the end user and doesn't shout your name too boldly. Humour is a great way to have your customers keep your stuff. The items seen most times for an office person are calendars and coffee mugs. To be different in the Montreal Promotional Product market, Solutions Ink sent out to all existing customers a 14 ounze special mug which was imprinted with thermochromic ink. The ink is heat sensitive and evaporates on heat and returns on cold. With this you can print something underneath the thermochromic ink which is revealed when cold. On the outside we simply put the word STRESS in red over a black background. Most people who work know about stress. The humour side was that when you poured your hot coffee the message turned into stress free at Solutions Ink. A simple inexpensive idea that our customers really enjoyed and every time I stop at one of their offices I readily spot our mugs. On top of this I received 4 orders from these customers for these mugs with a different message for their customers.
Another great way for your company to be branded positively is to become associated with a worth while charity. Today we must give back to those less fortunate. Sponsering an event gives your company great exposure but the real treat is in knowing that you've helped others. Money is not the end all, all the time. A funny thing, helping others usually rewards yourself if not immediately some time in the future.
By Steven Schneidman
To achieve this I needed to tell potential customers of new and innovative products for the printing industry. Variable data, large format digital printing, digital printing with pantone colors, label and form combinations, magnet and form combinations and e-commerce ordering systems. How best to show customers then actually devise a campaign where the product you are trying to educate your customers about is sent out to them to give them ideas how to use this product to help their businesses. One campaign I organised was to compile a list of fashion retailers whoose logo's were specific pantone colors that are not reproduced well in 4 color process printing. Today with 6,8 and 10 color presses you can print in 4 color process and 2 pantone colors quite easily. This keeps the integrity of the company's logo intact in their big marketing or flyer campaigns. This is OK for large run printing jobs. The problem is that even for large chains, you tend to have regional sales in a small amount of stores. In store displays usually are done in small numbers and are printed digitally. Today there are certain digital presses that can insert pantone colors on top of the 4 color process printing. After devising a mock up campaign and targetting by variable data the buyers of these retail fashion chains, I was able to secure 2 large accounts for present and future business.
This technique can be applied to any industry. The key is to really now your product and the strengths of your company. The next step is to educate your customers on your company's merits. Then you must reinforce your image constantly to stay in your existing customers mind, as well as peak the curiousity of potential new customers.
Once you have achieved this, giving out promotional products is a useful way of staying on their minds. The trick is to find a great promotional product, that fits you budget, is useful to the end user and doesn't shout your name too boldly. Humour is a great way to have your customers keep your stuff. The items seen most times for an office person are calendars and coffee mugs. To be different in the Montreal Promotional Product market, Solutions Ink sent out to all existing customers a 14 ounze special mug which was imprinted with thermochromic ink. The ink is heat sensitive and evaporates on heat and returns on cold. With this you can print something underneath the thermochromic ink which is revealed when cold. On the outside we simply put the word STRESS in red over a black background. Most people who work know about stress. The humour side was that when you poured your hot coffee the message turned into stress free at Solutions Ink. A simple inexpensive idea that our customers really enjoyed and every time I stop at one of their offices I readily spot our mugs. On top of this I received 4 orders from these customers for these mugs with a different message for their customers.
Another great way for your company to be branded positively is to become associated with a worth while charity. Today we must give back to those less fortunate. Sponsering an event gives your company great exposure but the real treat is in knowing that you've helped others. Money is not the end all, all the time. A funny thing, helping others usually rewards yourself if not immediately some time in the future.
By Steven Schneidman
large format printing : Used Large Format Scanners
For many who want to install a large format scanner, a used one will do as satisfactorily as a brand new one and at a much lower cost. Consider an engineering firm that does all its design in CAD. It might still want to convert some of the older drawings, or those obtained from other sources, to digital form. A used scanner obtained from an authorized dealer with a warranty and maintenance contract would fulfill this need much more economically than a new scanner, since the application does not require the latest models. But an art museum, library or a reprographic center may opt for a new machine with the best resolution and image quality.
When going for a pre-owned scanner, care must be taken to ensure that the machine is compatible with computers and operating systems that are used today. For example, some of the old Contex DOS-based scanners use a proprietary interface card that is no longer available. Some of the old models will need frequent repairs, and the parts for it will no longer be available. So it is always good to opt for scanners with a maintenance contract also included in the buying price. If the scanner is for temporary use, then the re-sale value should also be considered when making a choice.
The major attraction in buying a used scanner is the lower cost involved; but this should not be at the expense of quality. Buying from reliable vendors who are authorized by the manufacturers themselves ensures quality. Contex, Vidar, Graphtec and ACTion Imaging are some manufacturers who facilitate the re-sale of their used scanners. Re-sale involves repairing the old scanner and making required modifications to suit the present need. Standard accessories are also made available. When buying used scanners, it is always advisable to buy it from a dealer near you, since that will make the repair and maintenance easy, whenever necessary.
By Damian Sofsian
When going for a pre-owned scanner, care must be taken to ensure that the machine is compatible with computers and operating systems that are used today. For example, some of the old Contex DOS-based scanners use a proprietary interface card that is no longer available. Some of the old models will need frequent repairs, and the parts for it will no longer be available. So it is always good to opt for scanners with a maintenance contract also included in the buying price. If the scanner is for temporary use, then the re-sale value should also be considered when making a choice.
The major attraction in buying a used scanner is the lower cost involved; but this should not be at the expense of quality. Buying from reliable vendors who are authorized by the manufacturers themselves ensures quality. Contex, Vidar, Graphtec and ACTion Imaging are some manufacturers who facilitate the re-sale of their used scanners. Re-sale involves repairing the old scanner and making required modifications to suit the present need. Standard accessories are also made available. When buying used scanners, it is always advisable to buy it from a dealer near you, since that will make the repair and maintenance easy, whenever necessary.
By Damian Sofsian
large format printing : Large Format Scanner Prices
Large format scanners are commercially available in a wide range of prices from very low to very high, depending on the quality, speed, resolution, format width, imaging technology, manufacturer, and so on. Color scanners are much more expensive than black and white scanners. For example, while Calcomp offers basic black and white and gray scale scanners at $9,900, their color scanners start only at $12,000 and the higher end models are very expensive (above $30,000). Some of the high-quality scanners, like the Cruse reprographic scanner, are intended for use in libraries and museums only.
Fujitsu offers large format gray scale duplex scanners with 400dpi optical resolution for document scanning, at around $17,500. Excellent quality, large format color scanners usually cost above $15,000, though monochrome or gray scale scanners are available for even $10,000 and more. Chameleon Tx 36” color scanners from Contex, however, cost only $11,900. Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL large format scanners are available at relatively low prices. Colortrac also makes large format color scanners at prices lower than $10,000.
It should, however, be noted that the cheaper is not always the better choice. A scanner meeting the requirements of the application in hand should be chosen so as to strike a balance between long life and low cost. While choosing document scanners, their duty cycle should also be considered to achieve maximum economy. It is often better to pay a little higher price for trusted brands of scanners with good record of after-sales service, than to go for relatively obscure manufacturers and run the risk of pre-mature break down.
Used large format scanners of good quality can be obtained from authorized dealers at costs that are as much as 20% less than that of new ones. Used Contex Chroma Tx 40 scanners costing $19,900 are obtainable with all the standard accessories for $15,920 from IDEAL. The same dealer offers many other Contex scanners at reduced prices, with limited a warranty and maintenance contract.
By Damian Sofsian
Fujitsu offers large format gray scale duplex scanners with 400dpi optical resolution for document scanning, at around $17,500. Excellent quality, large format color scanners usually cost above $15,000, though monochrome or gray scale scanners are available for even $10,000 and more. Chameleon Tx 36” color scanners from Contex, however, cost only $11,900. Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL large format scanners are available at relatively low prices. Colortrac also makes large format color scanners at prices lower than $10,000.
It should, however, be noted that the cheaper is not always the better choice. A scanner meeting the requirements of the application in hand should be chosen so as to strike a balance between long life and low cost. While choosing document scanners, their duty cycle should also be considered to achieve maximum economy. It is often better to pay a little higher price for trusted brands of scanners with good record of after-sales service, than to go for relatively obscure manufacturers and run the risk of pre-mature break down.
Used large format scanners of good quality can be obtained from authorized dealers at costs that are as much as 20% less than that of new ones. Used Contex Chroma Tx 40 scanners costing $19,900 are obtainable with all the standard accessories for $15,920 from IDEAL. The same dealer offers many other Contex scanners at reduced prices, with limited a warranty and maintenance contract.
By Damian Sofsian
