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Scanning: ALL ABOUT OUR CRUSE SCANNER
Our scanner is the largest format, highest resolution scanner in the world today. If you desire the absolute best in quality and reproduction capability, then there is no other choice than our scanner.
Our particular scanner was built and designed by Herman Cruse himself. Mr. Cruse realized the need for a scanner of this size existed and set about designing the "Cruse Scanner". He wanted to design a scanner that could be applied to almost every need, while doing so in a quality that many had not even contemplated could be achievable. The Cruse Scaner can scan images up to 48" wide by 96" long, all at the highest resolutions possible. Images can be up to 32" high and can weigh up to 500 lbs. To our knowledge, this is the finest and most versatile fine art scanning instrument on the planet today.
QUESTION: What advantages does the Cruse have over digital camera backs and studio lights?
ANSWER: While today's digital camera backs are capable of capturing large amounts of image data, as an integrated system the Cruse scanner offers the following significant advantages:
Focus: When using a digital camera back, focus can only be set visually on the camera's ground glass. Focus may look good in the viewfinder, but still not be optimized for the camera back's CCD sensors. Our scanner relies on a complex software algorithm to achieve extremely accurate focuses for all scanner setups./ While rarely required, focus can be optimized by the scanner operator for any particular job. Since the scanner does not utilize a focus knob or ground glass, no element of human error is introduced, ensuring maximum sharpness on all scans.
Lighting: Even illumination of any subject using portable lighting is extremely difficult. As a result, camera scans must often be digitally retouched, adding to both production time and labor costs. Our Cruse scanner uses the patented SynchronT lighting system, which provides even illumination across the surface of the original, while subjecting it to far less light exposure than other methods of illumination.
Lens Resolution: Pixels on most digital camera backs are 8 microns apart, and most standard lenses will not resolve an image this small. As a result, data is not accurately placed on each pixel, lowering the resolution of the scan. Lenses used in our scanner are ultra high resolution, and are specially modified to address our unique needs.
Squareness of Camera to Subject: When using a tripod setup, it is impossible to "square" a digital camera perfectly to a wall-mounted subject. As a result, the out of square scan can be difficult to stitch, and sharpness across the entire original setup will be compromised. Extreme care in design, manufacture and installation of our scanners ensures that our scanning head is perfectly square with our holders.
Squareness of the Digital Back: During the three-year development of the Cruse scanner, all available digital camera backs were tested for inclusion in our system. None tested was found to be perfectly square, resulting in one or more corners being out of focus. Since no "off-the-shelf" components could be used, Cruse was forced to develop their own scan head to meet our stringent requirements.
QUESTION: How does the Cruse compare against wide format, sheet fed reprographic scanners?
ANSWER: Our scanner is higher in resolution and geometric accuracy, and allow users to scan thick, mounted, delicate or three-dimensional originals.
Wide format reprographic scanners (such as those from Contex, Tangent, Widecom, etc.) are designed for fast scanning of engineering drawings. Most were designed as black and white scanners, then revised to accommodate color originals. While these scanners produce "good enough" results for copying engineering or architectural drawings, they are typically low in resolution (<600 dpi).
In addition, these scanners usually cannot handle thick or mounted originals. Fragile or valuable originals should not be scanned in these devices, as damage during transports is possible.