Best Scanners For Color Prints Of 2024
Brandon Forder Apr 26, 2024 5:55 AM
Here is our list of the top rated image scanners. Even though most of us snap our pictures with our phones or digital cameras, many of us still have precious physical photographs that should be backed up in case anything ever happened to them.
Photo scanners are ideal for this purpose. With their help, you may convert your analog photo albums into digital files, which you can then save on a hard drive (either an internal one in your computer, or better yet, an external one connected to a network attached storage device). It's good to know that you have a digital backup in case the original images are lost or destroyed.
After that, you may get more copies made, have them printed on canvas, reproduced in picture albums, and more by using one of the best photo printers yourself or by hiring a service.
The greatest picture scanners, in contrast to general purpose scanners, are intended for use with photographs; this means they have exceptionally high resolutions, catch every detail, and provide a straightforward and easy method for converting your analog photographs into digital files.
We've examined these photo scanners across a range of criteria, from physical dimensions and processing times to scan quality and extra features. We made sure that they offered batch scanning of photographs and that the prices were reasonable.
Check out our best external hard drive, best NAS device, and best cloud storage guides if you plan on using one of our recommended photo scanners to archive your photo collection.
After all, you should save your photo backups in a secure location, and not merely on your computer's hard disk.
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Interface
You may hook up a scanner through USB, and some even feature wireless networking. Be sure to verify the scanner's compatibility with your preferred wireless connection method if that's a must-have feature for you.
Software
Photo scanners typically include software that lets you examine, edit, and save your scanned images. Some models even have a retouching tool for eliminating digital blemishes like scratches.
Resolution
Depending on your desired outcomes, a certain photo scanner type may be required. Select a scanner with a high resolution if you're after the highest possible image quality and level of detail. Most of the scanners on our list have a maximum resolution of 600 dots per inch (DPI), but the two Epson Perfection scanners can achieve an incredible 6400 DPI.
Supported Scanning Media
Numerous media types can be scanned through a variety of scan gateway sizes. Common document scanners, for instance, may only support a limited range of paper sizes.
Since letter and legal are the most common paper sizes in the United States, a scanner that can scan both would be ideal.
In this piece, we'll focus on scanners that can handle standard office paper sizes (A4, A5, B5, L4, L6, and DL) as well as specialty sizes (such as ID cards and business cards).
Scanning Speed
The speed at which a scanner can scan a piece of paper or other media is known as its scanning speed. In most cases, a faster scanning speed is preferable for business use, as companies value efficient document processing.
Scan rates are expressed in PPM (Pages Per Minute). You should aim for a scanning speed of at least 30 pages per minute (PPM). However, scanning times may vary because scanning at a similar resolution from a higher resolution document takes more time.
Today's piece will focus on scanners that can scan at speeds from 10 PPM to 40 PPM.
Connection Interfaces
A scanner's connection interface is its interface for connecting to external devices. Because you may occasionally need to import documents from other devices, connection interfaces are crucial.
A USB port is the preferred interface for connecting scanners because it is used by the vast majority of modern electronic devices. Wireless connectivity is offered by certain scanners, however it is expensive and often unnecessary. A scanner, then, need to be able to connect through USB at the very least.
Scanners with various interfaces, including USB 2.0, USB 3, and wireless, will be discussed in this article.
Is it better to scan or photograph old photos?
Taking a picture of an old photograph with a smartphone or digital camera is a common way for people to convert their analog collections into digital ones. The portability of a smartphone makes it a viable alternative to a scanner, while the quality of the top camera phones(opens in new tab) allows for instant uploads to social media. However, if you can purchase one of the best picture scanners, it is the ideal option because the quality of the scan will be higher and the resulting prints or reproductions will be more suitable for display.
Does scanning a photo damage it?
Scanning should not harm the vast majority of images in any way. Flattening the images for the scanning may cause some cracks or other damage if they are particularly old or curled, but this is highly rare. If you have exceptionally old or priceless images, you may wish to consult a professional digitizing or archiving agency.
Is the Scanner on an All-in-One Printer Good Enough?
Nearly all multifunction printers (MFPs), also known as all-in-ones (AIOs), feature a flatbed that can scan photo prints and other material; nevertheless, most people who scan a lot of images will desire a single-function scanner. The quality of their photo scanning varies greatly, depending on the gear and software involved. In comparison to dedicated picture scanners, most multi-function devices just can't compare in terms of scan quality or other photo-centric capabilities. (Check out the all-in-one printers we recommend.)
While most multifunction printers (MFPs) can only print, copy, and sometimes fax, there are a few models that can scan slides and negatives in addition to prints, providing a wide range of services tailored specifically to photographers. If you're a scrapbooker or photography enthusiast in need of a scanner that can print and copy, they are a great option to explore. To locate these machines, search for the manufacturer's all-in-one printers under the photo heading. There's no doubting that an AIO is a space-saver compared to having a printer and flatbed scanner on your desk separately.
After looking at hundreds of different scanners, we feel confident in recommending anything on this list. Each one is superbly designed for its own function.
We wish you the best of luck in locating high-quality color print scanners.
Thank you for reading.
