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Top 16 Best Scanners For Animation Cels Features, Reviews, and FAQs

Brandon Forder
  Mar 28, 2024 9:08 AM

Our list of the top scanners on the market for artists includes options for those who want to scan in linework as well as those who want to capture full-blown graphics.

An interesting conflict zone exists between conventional and digital art forms at the present time due to the scanner's practicality. Some artists and designers prefer to use tablet computers for linework, but others insist on drawing with ink first and then scanning it onto a computer for digital coloring.

 

As a designer, you know that the capture from a scanner will always be more true than that from the shutter of a camera, so you can use it to add images, illustrations, and type to vectorise for a digital piece. You can expect an inaccurate imitation to be produced if the lighting was poor during the original shot, although this would never happen with a scan.

 

A magazine or book may have a particular color that has inspired you, and you may choose to scan that page in order to use that color in your digital work. Depending on your budget, you could get a portable Pantone Capsure; however, a good scanner is often less than half the price of this type of color capture gear.

If that's the case, keep reading for a rundown of the features and recommendations you'll need when searching for your first or next scanner, as well as an overview of the best scanners now available and how much they'll set you back


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Buying Guide

High-Quality Scanning 

Superior image quality at the highest achievable resolution is always guaranteed when using the top art scanner. Scanned images in this situation must be spotless. Further, a large format scanner would be required to scan paintings or other artworks of a very big size.

Remember it, and think about it when you shop. Because of this, it is important to check the dimensions of any flatbed scanner you are considering purchasing. In addition, the scanning area of some scanners may be expanded with an extension arm, allowing you to preserve and scan even thicker volumes and pages.

Scan Speed 

There is a need for caution in regards to scanning speed if you intend to scan several photographs and documents. The number of pages a scanner can scan in one minute is a good indicator of its speed.

The typical document scanning program can process 30 pages per minute. On the other hand, this is not always the case when scanning higher-resolution paintings. In order to get good results while scanning classic works of art, you need to focus on areas with rich color detail and three-dimensional depth. These might slow down the machine, but that's fine. After all, you should only ever use the most perfect replicas of the first photos.

Since there will be so many papers to scan, it's important to keep in mind that professional scanners require a scanning speed of 30 pages or more. You don't need lightning fast performance if you're going to be using the scanner solely for home use and scanning documents.

Scan Resolution 

When scanning an image, only the best scanners will guarantee that the quality of the image is not diminished. In order to fully appreciate the depth of color, texture, tones, and shading, painters require a high resolution.

If you want your scans to look their best, aim for a resolution of around 600 dpi. One possible maximum resolution for printing text documents, albeit it's not required. When creating art, however, scan resolution is crucial because it determines how detailed the final product will be.

Connectivity

The majority of art scanners only require a single USB cable to link to your computer. However, some models may call for the acquisition of extra cables or adapters, which can add expense and complexity. Wireless networking is a basic feature on some of the top art scanners, enabling for instantaneous hookup to your home or office Wi-Fi system.

Price

An art scanner is not a cheap purchase because most models cost approximately $300. If you put in the time and effort to do your homework, though, you can find several viable solutions within your budget. The Epson Perfection V850 Pro is a high-end machine worth considering if you have the funds. With its sophisticated automated lens system, this fast scanner may be utilized to digitize small sections of artwork.

Instructions And Customer Service 

Detailed instructions can be helpful if this is your first time operating a scanner. The job should go more smoothly if you follow the directions in the manual.

If you cannot locate a manual, please contact customer service. The manual should be available in digital format, which they should be able to deliver


FAQS

Is it better to scan or photograph artwork?

Scanners are much more convenient than cameras, thus scanning is the method of choice. A photo is only an image, and pictures might be blurry, overexposed, or underexposed.

Today's scanners have sophisticated sensors and editing software, allowing you to improve your photographs with higher resolution (up to 300ppi), more accurate color depth, and minute adjustments.

If you're interested in honing your photography abilities, you should check out Robyn's Photography Academy.

How do professionals scan artwork?

Professional artists today often scan their work with cutting-edge scanners to guarantee flawless results. You may rest assured that your creative work will be safely stored and easily shared with others if you follow these steps.

Don't scanners capture 'dirt' on an image?

Most scanners, including Epson machines, include software like Digital ICE that may identify flaws in the emulsion of the original.

Are latest scanner models always better?

Be wary of assuming that something released a year ago is more advanced than something released today; scanner models are not routinely upgraded on an annual basis.

However, scanner technology is not a subject that sees regular advancement, so a machine from even five years ago may be more than sufficient to handle your creative demands.

Are Art Scanners Portable ? 

There are lightweight and tiny scanners available for portability. These are often a bit more compact, but their extending arm means they can handle printing even A3-sized pages with ease.

However, some scanners, notably big format scanners, are somewhat cumbersome. Not intended for regular relocation.

What Is The Ideal Bit Depth ? 

Bit depth refers to the number of bytes used to represent a single pixel's color. The scanner would have more information to analyze if the depth was increased. Simultaneously, a lower color depth will result in fewer specifics.

While 32 bits is currently the standard, 16 bits can still be used. But a higher bit depth is recommended for scanning artwork.


Conclusion

A high-resolution, high-quality art scanner is what you want. Auto-scanning devices are our top choice because they streamline the scanning and digital storage process.

The artwork can then be printed out on a high-quality printer. At this point, our guidance has run its course, and we must part ways.


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