Message-Id: <mailto:199608031643.LAA17308@library.wustl.edu> Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 12:40:58 -0400 From: Joel Wolfson <mailto:DigiWolf@AOL.COM> Subject: PowerLook 2000 vs other scanners and sw To: Multiple recipients of list IMAGELIB
On August 2 Helen Page wrote:>From: Helen Page <mailto:HPAGE@NEWVENUS.SLV.VIC.GOV.AU>
>Subject: Umax Powerlook 2000
>
>Hi again
>
>I'm sending this more specific request under a separate message.
>
>Has anyone any opinions of the Umax Powerlook 2000 flat bed scanner
>compared to other scanners on the market. I'm looking at a flat bed
>scanner for the more straight forward material in the collections and
>have been told that this one is very good for documents, photographs
>and transparencies.
>
>Also, it comes bundled with binuscan ColorPro software rather than
>Photoshop. I've had a brief demonstration of both with the scanner.
>Although binuscan's algorithms seem to give better colour
>translations without as much hassle as Photoshop, it seemed to have
>constraints (as in 1:1 scanning, a bit restricting with photographs
>ranging from 4cm x 3cm up to 40cm x 30 cm). Any one any opinions on
>binuscan?
>
>Thanks
>Helen
The PowerLook 2000 is a fairly new scanner aimed at competing with Agfa's Duo-Scan. I don't think it would be a mistake to buy one but I would seriously consider the Duo-Scan. I must admit no hands on experience with the 2000 but I have used and compared other UMax's against comparable Agfa scanners (eg. PowerLook II vs Arcus II). I think UMax has Agfa beat on the low end and the reverse is true of the mid range and high end. This makes sense since UMax's roots are in the mass market and Agfa's in high end pre-press and publishing.
The Duo Scan is an amazing scanner, both in terms of quality, and versatility. You can be scanning flat art on the top bed while you're loading transparencies on the bottom bed. I've always liked Agfa's extensive and consistent scanning software.
If you want a very easy way to do scanning and file preparation, look at ScanPrep Pro (for any scanner). It uses Photoshop as a scan prep engine but has it's own LUT's for better color than with Photoshop and it's much easier than anything I've seen. The Pro version isn't cheap, but it's a drop in the bucket when considering time saved. West Photo's web site has a demo version you can download <http://www.westphoto.com/dpi/>. An alternate site is <http://www.cytopia.com/scnprep.html>.
Hope this helps.
Joel Wolfson Imaging Consulting & Services 3610 N. Stone Crest Street Flagstaff, AZ 86004-6811 Phone: (520) 526-3726 E-mail: mailto:digiwolf@infomagic.com