The 10 Best Large Format Scanners
Special Honors
Contex IQ Quattro ScanStation Pro The Contex IQ Quattro ScanStation Pro features a 21.5-inch touchscreen monitor that can show you previews of your scanned documents, and its USB interface gives you the ability to save your work to any hard drive without having to use a connected PC. contex.com
Epson DS-70000 If you need a compact option that can handle a large daily volume of outsized documents, look no further than the Epson DS-70000. Its duty cycle is good for up to 8,000 pages a day, and its automatic document feeder boasts a 200-page capacity. epson.com
Image Access WideTEK 36ART-600 Works of fine art demand the most sensitive imaging technology, and the Image Access WideTEK 36ART-600 is one of few machines offering contactless scanning for just such purposes. This model is ideal for paintings, drawings and any documents with an unusually bulky or delicate footprint, providing impeccable color and textural fidelity thanks to one of the most archivally sound interfaces on the market. imageaccess.com
Editor's Notes
December 15, 2020:
This time around, we added a few more convenient options, such as the portable Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 for those on the go, and the HP ScanJet Pro 2500 F1, a solid, everyday workhorse that gets the job done. We also felt the VIISAN 3240, a newer model with a sleek silhouette and a very approachable price tag, was a valuable addition to our list, thanks to its efficiency, high-quality imaging and versatility.
Once you pin down the perfect model for your particular scanning needs, let us be your guide to the world of large format printing.
June 28, 2019:
If you have a business that relies on high-quality scans of crucial documents, we still think you can rely on the Epson Expression 12000XL-PH and the Contex SD One+ Sheetfed. They combine dependable output with ease of use, making them handy in a wide variety of environments, from healthcare firms to photography studios. But because we know that some users out there don't have the budget for these robust solutions, we added a couple of less pricey models. These include the Xerox DocuMate 3220 Duplex and the Plustek OpticSlim 1180. Although the scans they produce aren't as crisp and don't provide exceptional color fidelity, they are more than adequate for scanning books, newspapers, and more. If it is books you need to scan, specifically, you might look at the CZUR ET16 Plus. It boasts OCR software to produce editable, searchable scans for your convenience.