|
Microtek has begun shipping its combined flatbed and film scanner, the ArtixScan M1, which was first announced as being under development in October 2006. The company also announced an ArtixScan M1 Pro package that will include more advanced software and an additional film holder. The scanner implements Microtek's Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology (E.D.I.T.), a glassless system for scanning film that is designed to replicate the way dedicated film scanners work.
The M1 scanner offers 4800x9600 dpi optical resolution, 48-bit (16-bit per channel) capture, 4.4 Dmax maximum optical density, multi-sampling noise reduction, and new autofocus technology. According to Microtek, the AF system makes mechanical adjustments to the optics and creates a series of scans at different focal positions. It then analyzes them to determine the position of sharpest focus and make a final scan. Microtek describes the system as faster and more precise than manual focus in a flatbed scanner. The M1 has an 8.5x14-inch print-scanning area and an 8.5x10-inch area for film. Its film holder can accommodate 35mm slides and film, 6x6 film, and 4x5 film.
The Microtek ArtixScan M1 comes with LaserSoft Imaging's SilverFast SE Plus software, and the Pro package comes with SilverFast Ai Studio, LaserSoft's top-of-the-line scanning application. SilverFast Ai Studio offers automatic calibration with standard IT8 targets for both transparencies and prints, as well as a multiexposure function that scans photos at two exposure levels to create a high-dynamic-range (HDR) image. Additional software in both ArtixScan M1 packages includes Microtek ScanWizard Pro, Microtek Scanner ICC Profiler, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and ABBYY FineReader Sprint OCR.
The Microtek ArtixScan M1 is available now for a retail price of $649.99. The Microtek ArtixScan M1 Pro package will be available by mid-December for $799.99.
|
