Comments on the Heidelberg Nexscan F 4200 scanner

I had an opportunity to see early versions of the Heidelberg Nexscan 4200 at Seybold then working models at CeBIT computer trade show in Germany. Since these scanners are made for prepress use it is perhaps understandable that their slide holders are not designed for mass-production scanning of entire archives of 35mm color slides.

If you need to scan 40 slides in auto-holders or 48 slides directly on the glass, check out the Creo EverSmart series of flatbed scanners or the new series of scanners by Fujifilm Electronic Imaging.

The Heidelberg Topaz flatbed scanner was popular and highly regarded. This Heidelberg prepress scanner has been upgraded and the new high-end model from Heidelberg is the Nexscan F 4100 and F 4200 series.

LinoColor and NewColor 7000 scanning and image enhancement software is world renowned for its Heidelberg name but since Creo provided training on their Creo software (1 day training at Creo -Europe headquarters outside Brussels then one day on-site training in the FLAAR studio in Germany) we know a lot more about the inner workings of the multi-talented Creo scanner software. The scanner software is very very impressive. I was able to teach myself the basics and then the training course helped me understand some of the more sophisticated aspects.

Since we do know the Creo solution, both hardware and software, we can wholeheartedly recommend this for flatwork. If you need more information (if you are a museum, a photo lab, archive, prepress, or other comparable company), or a sophisticated individual who recognizes that there is more to digital imaging than a scanner from Home Depot, contact Parrot Digigraphic. Parrot specializes in professional digital imaging and color management equipment. Contact Dan Hunt, jlorusso@parrotcolor.com.

If you need to scan objects with relief texture or 3-dimsional objects, then you need a scanner from Fujifilm Electronic Imaging.

Several well-made professional prepress flatbed scanners are available for people who prefer to avoid the cost and maintenance expenses of a drum scanner. Creo, Cruse, Fuji and Screen are the four I know the best.