Cool Tools: Wide-Format Printers and Scanners

Canon Océ PlotWave 500

The newest addition to the Océ PlotWave series offers a variety of features, including no-warm up delay, cloud integration and touch screen integration. It can print 10 D-size plots per minute at a resolution of 600 x 1200 dpi. It has web-based tools for iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices. It is also cloud enabled, so print and scan jobs can be submitted via desktop, smartphone or tablet. Available formats for scanning include TIFF, PDF/A, PDF, JPEG and CALS. Scans can be saved to a USB drive, FTP site or elsewhere with a resolution of 600 x 600. The PlotWave 500 uses the Océ software suite, which allows users to define job settings and run tasks on the multi-touch panel, driver or submission tool.

Canon Océ PlotWave 500

Colortrac SmartLF SG

Available in 36 or 44 in. widths, the SmartLF SG offers an optical resolution of 1200 dpi, LED illumination and a high-speed Ethernet and USB3 interface. It can scan at 13 in. per second and is equipped with six CCD cameras across the scan with for minimal geometric distortion. The scans are completed using 48-bit (color) and 16-bit (monochrome) to capture image data. A new simplified thick media system is now available, allowing users to raise the scanner’s lid and increase thickness to accommodate various media widths.

Users may also access additional capabilities with the SmartWorks Pro software, such as batch scanning, automatic paper size detection, file saving, name/date and time stamp and overwrite control options. The SmartLF SG is currently available in three models: monochrome, color and enhanced color.

Epson T Series

Available in both single- and dual-roll models the Epson T Series features the PrecisionCore TFP print head and UltraChrome XD pigment ink. The T-Series has accuracies up to 2880 x 1440 dpi and can print a D-size plot in as little as 25 seconds, the company says. Other features include the availability of three printer widths, the 24, 36 and 44 in. as well as a current and future-ready print language. Customizable options include a multifunction module, internal print server and the True Adobe Postscript Hardware Engine.

Epson T Series

“The next-generation of SureColor T-Series printers were designed based on direct feedback from customers who demand cost-effective, versatile and scalable printing solutions,” said Timothy Check, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America.

HP Designjet T3500 eMultifunction Printer

The HP Designjet T3500 eMultifunction 36-in. color and monochrome printer is equipped with copy capabilities and a high-productivity scanner with batch-scanning, multi-page PDF creation and scan-to-email functions. For secure printing, it is built with a self-encrypting hard drive, secure disk erase and controlled access printing. It supports a scan speed of up to 2.5 in./sec, a printing resolution of up to 2400x1200 dpi and a line accuracy of +/- 0.1%.

HP Designjet T3500 eMultifunction Printer

For media handling, the T3500 has two automatic front-loading roll feeds of up to 650 ft. of media with smart roll switching and a total ink capacity of 1,800 ml. It is equipped with drivers for Windows and Mac OSX, and is ideal for line drawings, renderings, presentations, maps and orthophotos. The Designjet T3500 is currently available; HP intends to release several more large-format printers in early 2015.

Contex HD iFLEX

Key features of the Contex HD series include one-touch scanning, USB and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and the ability to scan an A1/D-size document on an A2/C-size flatbed scanner. It has an accuracy of +/- 0.1%, an optical resolution of 600 dpi, and a scan time of four seconds.

Contex HD iFLEX

Users can access jobs on the cloud via PageDrop and scan in formats such as TIF, JPG, PDF, DWF, CALS, BMP. The HD iFLEX supports 32- and 64-bit Windows 8, 7, XP and Vista software drivers. It is also equipped with a full 48-bit data workflow and a 32-bit TWAIN application driver for use with EDM and other imaging software.

Additionally, Contex applications can create industry standard raster file formats that are suitable to use in any CAD or GIS application, according to the company.