"There are a number of interesting market trends that are affecting printing in the GIS community," says the owner of HP distributor, Aisel Systems, Erna Liebenberg. "GIS users are showing an increasing need for the use of colour. Not only does colour provide information, it gives better quality and helps share results.

"GIS users are also converting from the provision of analog hard copies to that of digital scans, prints and copies as part of a range of many other digital and Web-based services," she continues. "Furthermore, in-house services are providing the opportunity to reduce outsourcing costs, increase productivity and improve the quality of the output."

Liebenberg points out that some of the typical applications include:

* Produce on-demand, large-format colour prints, copies and scans for the most common GIS applications, such as line drawings, map, cartography, aerial pictures, etc.

* Digitising fieldwork drawings as part of the data-capture process.

* Expansion of internal databases and improving customer service by scanning existing hard-copy originals.

* Digitising or copying originals that users continue to receive in hardcopy from partners and suppliers.

* Scanning and copying thick and rigid materials like cardboard and mounted originals.

* Enlarging, reducing and even enhancing original content using the various colour management options and the latest image-processing technologies.

* Sharing scanned originals by saving files in the most commonly used formats (PDF, TIFF, JPEG, CALS-G4) to hard disk, network or CD-ROM.

* Scanning to print over networks.

In keeping with these market trends, authorised HP distributor, Aisel Systems, offers self-contained multifunction and scanning solutions that require no integration of external hardware or software from third-party manufacturers. The HP Designjet 815 mfp and HP Designjet Scanner 4200 boast an integrated design, with a reduced footprint to save on workspace.

"The solutions are compatible with HP Designjet 500, 800, 1000 and 5000 series printers to form a complete network-based, large-format set-up," says Liebenberg. "All this comes with HP quality and reliability. A complete set-up that is entirely from HP is a safe buy as it provides a smooth workflow from beginning to end, with quality ensured."

Users have the flexibility to use a wide range of input and output media types, up to 1,06 m (42-in) wide. The solution offers high resolution reproduction (up to 2400 dpi) and closed-loop colour calibration produces professional image quality and allows versatility in applications from technical to graphics. Colour scanning occurs at 3,8 cm/sec with 7,6 cm/sec (3,0 in/sec) for black-and-white scanning.

"Several variables have to be taken into account when calculating the return on investment of a new system," concludes Liebenberg. These are:

1. Cost of outsourcing: This is the price you are charged for outsourcing large-format scan, copy or print jobs. It may depend on volume and geography, but you can calculate an average selling price (ASP) from the total bill you pay and the number of jobs done. The higher your ASP, the faster your return on investment.

2. Price of equipment: Although for very expensive systems you may want to consider financing tools and depreciation periods, for this example we have estimated the volume of work required to return the initial acquisition cost, including a 3-year warranty extension. Figures may vary according to differences in end-user prices.

3. Cost per copy: This is the cost to produce one job. Data varies a lot with application, being lower for CAD applications and higher for full-coverage graphics applications.

For more information contact Erna Liebenberg, Aisel Systems, 012 663 2054, erna@aisel.co.za, www.aisel.co.za