Best scanners for illustrators
Are you a illustrator wanting to begin your adventure in converting your art into digital form? Finding the right scanner can be tricky for any illustrator or artist. Scanners need to be capable of showing the artist’s work in its best light therefore the output should have rich color depth, crisp edging, and accuracy for details. Therefore whether as an artist you use watercolors, inks, or paint you will need to choose a scanner carefully. All illustrators want to get a professional, clean, and impressive digital scan of their artwork so the choosing the right scanner is essential. So what is the best scanner for illustrators or artists? Read on and we will try to help you decide.
What a illustrator should look for in a scanner:
When shopping for a reliable scanner, here are some things you’ll need to think about.
Resolution
Probably the most important thing to look at in a scanner for artwork is the resolution. SPI is the standard measurement for scanner resolution. SPI stands for “samples per inch” but is usually mislabeled as DPI (Dots per inch) on most scanners on the market (which more specifically refers to printer output). The higher the number, the higher the resolution, and the more detailed the scan will be. Most scans should be at a minimum 600 dpi. Remember it’s always best to scan at a higher resolution since you can easily reduce size. If you try to increase size it will leave you with a blurry or distorted image.
The resolution of a scanner is normally written as two numbers (1200 x 2400 for example). Therefore you only need to pay attention to the ‘optical’ resolution of your scanner and should focus on the first number only. If you are unsure about what resolution to use get some advice from similar artists on artist forums to see how they get the best results.
Color Depth
The ability to reproduce the color in a scan of their artwork is essential for artists. Therefore you want to look for a scanner that has a high bit count. To get smooth color without pixilation you want a scanner with at least 16-bits at the bare minimum. 48-bits is what is suggested and is considered the gold standard.
For sketchers are artists that use no color most scanners usually offer different options for grayscale. So depending on your art style and needs, you may therefore want to consider the bit count for grayscale also.
CCD vs CID
If even a modest amount of depth of field is required try to find a scanner with CCD (Charge Coupled Device) . A CCD scanner has greater depth to help retain sharpness in anything that isn’t perfectly flush with the glass which can be an issue with watercolor papers. Most scanners are CID (Contact Image Sensor) though and both have advantages and disadvantages to each.
The main advantages of a CID scanner are that they are usually cheaper and thinner than a CCD scanner. The main disadvantage of a CID scanner is there is little depth of field. Therefore scanning creased paper, text into book spines, and 3D objects all have issues.
CCD scanners are usually more expensive and bulkier than CID scanners which is their main disadvantage. The advantage is that they can often output twice the dpi of a CID scanner therefore having more usable depth of field. Read more about CCD vs CID at this website.
Extra Considerations
It’s useful to know exactly what you’ll be scanning before you shop for a designated scanner, so you can check it has all the features you may need. Here are some other things to keep in mind when looking for that perfect scanner for your illustrations or artwork.
- Price – probably the most important consideration for most people. Consider what type of artwork you produce or will produce in the future. Then choose the scanner which comes closest to meeting your needs.
- Speed – Speed is important for those who need to scan frequently. Especially if the scanner is shared or if you have a ton of scans to do.
- Size – how big is the piece of artwork you are scanning? If it’s too big you may have to use a camera with lighting or even take it even to a business who has huge expensive scanners.
- Software – if you don’t use professional software such as adobe photoshop you may want to take into consideration the software that comes with the scanner. Some scanners software will provide what is needed but this is definitely could be a consideration .
Scanners we recommend that work best for illustrators
Best Scanner for illustrators on a budget
Canon CanoScan LiDE220
The Canon CanoScan LiDE220 is a lightweight flatbed scanner with lid that can be adjusted to scan thick books. Additionally, it also provides the ability to capture high-resolution artwork, photos, and documents with the option to send them directly to your cloud services.
Illustrators will love that it scans at a max resolution of 4800 x 4800 dpi with its CIS sensor. Therefore it can even pick up the grain texture of the paper. Color accuracy is very good thanks to 48-bit internal color and depth. Grayscale depth is 16-bit.
The Canon Cano Scan can quickly scan and send high-quality documents and detailed photos to services such as Evernote and Dropbox. The device can output 300 dpi A4 color at around just ten seconds.
This scanner does have one major downside relating to the CIS scanning technology it uses. If the paper is not in contact with the glass the image will blur. For example say you have a drawing on cheap paper that is warped and some places have curls. When you scan this artwork the image will therefore appear blurred where there is no contact with the glass
Overall, this is a good budget scanner. The scanner is simple, unique, and you can control it easily with its one touch buttons. Has auto scan button that recognizes item and optimizes the settings to match.
Pros:
- Price: can usually find for under $100
- High max resolution of 4800 x 4800 dpi
- Fast scans on lower resolution settings
Cons
- CIS sensor means there could be blurring when paper doesn’t make contact with the glass on the scanner.
- Some customers complain about drivers that come with the unit. They have to go to manufacturers website and download latest drivers.
Best mid-tier Scanner for illustrators
Epson Perfection V600
The Epson V600 is a mid-range priced scanner that’s not too terribly expensive. The scanners lid is quite thick because it has a built-in transparency unit for scanning slides, negatives and medium-format panoramic film.
This device can scan up to 6400 x 9600 dpi which is a really high resolution therefore giving more flexibility when editing. The Color accuracy is very good thanks to 48-bit internal color and depth. Grayscale depth is 16-bit. Also uses a CCD sensor so it’s easier to scan say artwork from a spiral notebook or something that has creased uneven paper. One nice feature it has is the ability to fix tears and creases, dust and scratches from photographs.
Although most of the show stopping features of the Epson Perfection V600 are aimed at photographers, it does include some features that could be very beneficial to an artist or illustrator. First there is a texture setting, which can be nice for painters and other artists looking to capture the texture of their paper or their work (including 3D objects). Another plus is that the artwork work does not need to touch the screen in order to get a good scan therefore it’s good for sketch artists who like to doodle in a spiral notebook.
For some artists, it’s probably good enough to get the Canon CanoScan LiDE220 and save some money because some of the extra features are meant for photographers. But while the price of the Epson Perfection V600 is a bit higher the high resolution, CCD scanner, and the multitude of useful features can make the extra cost worth it.
PROS:
- High max 6400 x 9600 dpi resolution
- CCD sensor so you have improved scans with items that don’t touch the glass.
- Can scan a wide variety of items
- Fast scans on lower resolutions
CONS:
- Some features that set this device apart from cheaper units are for photographers rather than artists
- Some customers complain about driver issues with their MACs
Best high-end Scanner for illustrators
Epson E11000XL-GA
The Epson E11000XL-GA maybe heavily priced but it’s probably the best flatbed scanner for artwork and professional artists swear by it. You cannot go wrong with this unit if you are scanning large art pieces or images.
This device scans at a max resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi and can scan up to 12.2 by 17.2 inches, which is slightly larger than A3. Color depth when scanning is 48-bit for color and grayscale is 16-bit. Also comes with a Color Epson Matrix CCD line sensor as well.
This scanner basically has all the high-end specifications and features of the smaller scanners except it can scan A3 sizes and has better CCD line sensor as well. Can recommend for established artists but cost will prevent most from purchasing this unit. Reviews on Amazon are mostly positive and many customers have provided scan samples if you still have doubts.
PROS:
- Best consumer flatbed scanner on the market
- High max resolution of 2400 x 4800 dpi
- High-end Color Epson Matrix CCD line sensor
- Ability to scan up 12.2 by 17.2 inches (A3 size)
- One-touch color restoration to adjust the faded photos
CONS:
- Very pricey
- Does not come with any photo editing software
Common Problems encountered when scanning artwork
When illustrators or artists scan their designs,drawings, or artwork through scanners, the outcomes can often be frustrating. Common problems of scanning illustrations include:
- The fading of colors, colors looking ‘washed out’ therefore requiring extra Photoshop adjustments later on.
- Blurry or grainy output
- Lens curvature causing a ‘warping’ of the picture, or unwanted shadowing (CIS vs CCD sensors)
- Ability to see textures on artwork
Therefore it’s important to use a scanner that can accommodate all your needs. While a all-in-one scanner/printers are getting more adept at covering all purposes, it’s probably still best to get a dedicated scanner for art and illustration so you can be sure its features will enhance your work. We hope this guide has been useful and we would love to hear your comments below.