Graphtec recently released its new series of 'camera-less' scanners. Currently available in two different models - CS300 and CS400 - these scanners are true 600 dpi contact image sensor technology scanners. This means that they do not use the conventional camera devices to capture information.

Instead they use light emitting diode (LED) technology to both provide light and also to distinguish varying dark areas of information on paper.

There are numerous advantages of this technology, such as no warm-up time required. You literally switch the scanner on, take a seat and are ready to scan. But be forewarned... you should be ready for action, since scanning with the Graphtec scanner in express mode you can achieve speeds of 228,6 mm per second at 400 dpi!

Other advantages of this technology include reduced maintenance costs since there are no cameras to align, and with the contact image sensor (CIS) being a totally enclosed system there is no chance of dust interfering with the quality of the scanned images. The manufacturers advise that staples and other metal items, which may cause damage to the glass plate, be removed. Should the glass be scratched, however, it too does not have a big impact on the scanning quality as the CIS system is focused beyond the glass and not to the glass. Having entered the market more recently than other manufacturers, Graphtec is able to produce this CIS technology from the off-set. The reduction in capital expenditure related to its scanning technology means that the company is able to market the scanners at a far more competitive price.

The software provided with the Graphtec scanners offers many features for the scanning operator to control the result of his scan, including a Rocker mode which enables settings to be fine tuned to suit a specific area of the drawing. Previous models support USB1 and Firewire, while the CS300 and CS400 models support the high-speed USB2 and Firewire. When working with the scanned images it is advisable to opt for a raster technology solution to enable you to make changes to the scanned (raster) image. This eliminates the process of conversion to vectors and then changes needing to be done in CAD.

For more information contact Samantha Seymour, Kinetic Distribution, 031 266 7027, www.kinetic.co.za