Which Scanner For Artwork??

I use an old V500 and it's more than adequate for scanning artwork. You don't need the high dpi, that's more for scanning slides. You'll also need stitching software if your artwork is over 8x10 or so. (they say the bed is 9x12 but the whole 9x12 isn't usable.) I use Microsoft ICE which is great software but they discontinued it for some reason, maybe you can find a copy through another source somewhere on the net. Also if you are scanning larger artwork you'll need a piece of glass to put over the bed because the bed housing has a bevel.

I have an epson v600 which does slides in a narrow strip. You want to look up scanography, they will list you out scanners that have a good depth of field, because not all of them do. Some are very shallow.

The extra dpi lets you scan things really big. So if you made a postcard sized image, you could make a billboard out of it scanned at a high dpi.


----Mike Savad

Mike, I'm not sure a postcard sized original art work should be blown up billboard sized. Not finding anything about scanners with depth of field by searching scanography. Plus I saw you mentioned that in a post a yearish ago so I'd already looked that up, lol.

Somebody please just give me an example...let's say I scan an 8x10 image...how big will that image print, how many pixels will it be for each of these two options?
8x10 scanned at 6400dpi = what?
8x10 scanned at 4800dpi = what?

I don't offhand remember my settings, but a cross section of a daisy, is 20,439x10,371 pixels. So it can be pretty huge.

It depends on the original image, an 8x10 will be gigantic. Each 300dpi is x1. 600dpi is twice the size and so on. It basically becomes a weird microscope. I think it yields like 100-200 megapixel images at the largest sizes.


----Mike Savad

At a quick glance I found this:

https://www.architecturelab.net/best-scanners-for-artwork/

seems scanography isn't as popular as it once was, weird.

Https://www.silverfast.com/show/application-scanography-tudor/en.html this one has some modern info in it.


----Mike Savad

"Somebody please just give me an example...let's say I scan an 8x10 image...how big will that image print, how many pixels will it be for each of these two options?
8x10 scanned at 6400dpi = what?
8x10 scanned at 4800dpi = what?"


No need to scan at anything near that high of a resolution. I scan at 400dpi, take a look at my portfolio and judge for yourself, all of the art on this account was scanned with my V500.

Generally for an 8x10 you would scan at like 1600dpi and it would be plenty large. The file would be huge anyway. A 16bit version, i can only imagine how big a file that would be. But that would be the best way to archive it, a tif at 16bit. Really depends on the size you want to start with - and the texture of the paper and canvas. Because it will blow that up too.

Also make sure the glass is clean before you begin.

----Mike Savad

Guys, I'm using those examples because that's what the two scanners say they do...? Is that not what they do?

One has a better resolution than the other, that's the main thing. Its like saying one camera is 12mp, and the other is 24mp - something like that. They both will work, it just depends how high a resolution you need to go. The v600 is designed to also do slides, which is why it can go higher up.


----Mike Savad

"Guys, I'm using those examples because that's what the two scanners say they do...? Is that not what they do?"

There is no advantage to scanning at those crazy high resolutions for posting to FAA. It doesn't matter whether they can or cannot scan that high because you don't need them to, you'll be scanning at much lower resolutions because that's all you need. Nearly any photo scanner is going to be just fine for scanning art. You are overthinking this.

Lol, I'm just really trying to understand the technical points so I can make an informed decision. I don't want to spend $99 on one and discover it doesn't do a good job and then need to spend more later, thus costing me an extra $100. I don't want to spend $249 on the other option when I don't need to scan negatives, slides etc and it's resolution amount is wasted.
If I have around an 8x10 or 9x12 ish size work, I'd like it to be scanned and print well, with great detail, up to around 30'' x 40'' as a maximum size.

I don't think obsessing about specs is going to help you much in selecting a scanner, I'd look for reviews, hopefully you can find reviews that cover scanning art or something similar. I can only tell you that my V500 works great, I don't know about any other scanners.

At 1:1 either one will be fine. To print really huge (you may print this 40 years from now on MarsArtAmerica, a subsidiary of this site, where they allow bigger prints. And you'll have the giant version.

What I can say is, other than the flimsy software it comes with, the v600 hasn't failed me yet, and both my parents have one as well. I don't know what the v39 is exactly. I would do a bit more research until you are certain. Maybe another site mentions the scanner they use. Maybe deviant art. I think I can say that here, not sure if its a bad word or not, don't think they are a pod.


----Mike Savad

I've been taking larger pieces to Kinko's. It costs 1.50 a scan. If there is one close to you, or Staples.

I am using Epson v370 for my watercolors since 2016, and it is squeaking now like hell so it will die soon.
it is good and do the job, also have totally openable lid, but I have issues by stitching with the ICE mainly when it is a smooth sky without nothing, because whatever I do, the colors of the two scanned sides are not the same, and I can see difference, and a line in the middle..
So I prefer to paint skies with clouds, because then I know I wont suffer to make the stitch seamless. I like that look of the very simple watercolors, but if I make in 16 inch and need to stitch, I just cannot and hate the hassle, so I prefer complicated skies lol ..

When the sky is smooth even if I could do with two scans, I sometimes scan a stitch 4 parts, so that difference shouldn't be visible. anyhow it is not very visible, but yes for me, when I push down my laptop screen totally, I can see it.

I would love to have the same scanner quality as Epson v370, but in A3 size, 16 inch, but that size is very expensive at least I didnt find one which good for art..
if someone knows, let me know please

Hi Melissa . I have an Epson WF 7720.
My preference was the model before this one ( 7710 I guess ) but this model works well.
I just have a bit of an issue adjusting some colours , but they never will be exact anyhow.
This model scans 11x 17 which is why it was high on my list for choices.
If I paint a 12 x 16 I do lose an inch but can work around that. Stitching didn't sound like something that I wanted to fuss with.
A few years old by now , was purchased on sale so I don't know what they are running right now for price.

I don't care for how this one prints - never managed to get it acceptable for me ( the older model printed great ) that was a major disappointment for gift giving.

Following this! :))

I shrunk this down quite a bit (not sure why actually), but this thing started as the size of an index card. I can easily scan this larger. That's where the dpi comes in.


----Mike Savad

As to your questions:
8x10 scanned at 6400dpi = what?
8x10 scanned at 4800dpi = what?

Either one will suffice for the largest prints you can order from this site. Some of the larger prints here are printed at 200dpi.

Something I've run up against that you may want to consider - check to see that the manufacturer still updates the driver software so that it is compatible with the latest operating systems for your computer. I looked up the Epson V39 at B&H Photo, and this was a concern in the Q&A section for the product.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll need to save up to buy something.

It's not just a question of DPI. It's also a question of the difference between a CCD (charge-coupled device), and a CIS (contact-image sensor) scanner.

With a CIS scanner the piece of paper placed on the scanning bed has to be flat. If it isn't you'll end up with areas on the scan that are gray where the paper didn't touch the glass. The Epson V39 and its little brother, the V19, are CIS scanners.

A CCD scanner contains a lense, so it works more like a camera. So if you're scanning a watercolor painting and the paper is warped you'll get a an even scan with no areas of gray. The V600 is a CCD scanner.

I'm a watercolor artist and I scan my artwork with an Epson V19. The specs are identical to those of the V39. The only difference is that with the V39, Epson provides a bit of extra software for scanning documents. That's it. I don't think it's worth paying more for the V39 to get software you don't need. I don't scan higher than 600 dpi, because any higher than that every little flaw is magnified like crazy, which makes my artwork look horrible. If the painting is warped I tape it to the scanning bed.

The image below is a 9x12 painting I scanned at 600 dpi. I had to do it in two parts and then stitch it together in my image editor. By the time I did that and trimmed off the border it ended up measuring 6702x4899 pixels, which allows for a maximum size for prints of 60x44 inches. It's also big enough for a shower curtain, duvet cover, fleece blanket or tapestry.

The only thing I find lacking with the V19 is that you can't color calibrate it. I have a painting with a reddish brown background I'd like to upload, but when I scan it the background ends up being a bright orange-red colour that is nasty. I have another one that has a lot of red in it that scans horribly as well. Unfortunately, I'm not proficient enough at digital image editing to be able to colour correct them.