Table of Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Conclusions and Recommendations
Canoscan 5000F
HP ScanJet 5550c
Microtek Scanmaker
6800

Epson Perfection 3200
Works Cited

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Epson Perfection 3200 PHOTO Color

In this section I will discuss the features of the Epson Perfection 3200 PHOTO Color (see Figure 6).

FIGURE 6

EPSON Perfection 3200 PHOTO Color Scanner

Image source: (http://www.epson.com)

Features include:

  • 4” x 9” built-in transparency adapter
  • Resolution: 3200x6400 dpi
  • Max document size of 8.5” x 11.7”
  • Interface: USB Hi-speed or FireWire
  • EPSON scanning software, Productivity software, Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, LaserSoft SilverFast SE 6
  • Estimated street price: $399

This scanner has the highest resolution of all the scanners I researched. Having such a high resolution allows the images it scans to be enlarged more than 2400 dpi scanners. “Imagine blowing up a postage stamp to fill the front of a sweatshirt, and you'll have an idea of what this scanner can do” (Jantz, “Epson”). It also comes with photo editing software for beginning users, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and software for more advanced users, LaserSoft SilverFast SE 6.

The image quality from this scanner is very good. It showed high color accuracy as well as strong details in highlights and in shadows. However, “… a scan made at the maximum resolution of 3200 dpi didn't display noticeably finer details than those made by 2400-dpi units… Our judges expected to see more-dramatic differences between this model and lower-resolution competitors on high-resolution scans” (Jantz, “Epson”).

One of the downsides to this scanner is that even though it has the capability to use FireWire, it does not come with a card and a cable. These can be purchased separately for approximately $60, however the Microtek ScanMaker 6800 comes with a card and a cable and costs about the same.

This scanner was given 4 stars out of 5. It has high resolution, but scan tests showed the scans didn’t look all that improved from 2400 dpi scanners. See Table 5 for the results of the scan test.

TABLE 5

Epson Perfection 3200 PC World Scan Test Results

Scan quality (color/monochrome)

Very Good/Very Good

Performance

Very Good

 

Average 1200-dpi color scan speed

52 seconds per document

 

Average 300-dpi monochrome scan speed

15 seconds per document

Overall ease of use

Very Good

 

Installation

Outstanding

 

Design

Very Good

 

Documentation

Good


 
   
Copyright © 1996-2005 Jennifer Haynes