Since FLAAR is associated with two museums on the campus of Universidad Francisco Marroquin, we know the need for scanning large documents. Indeed Dr Hellmuth spent two years testing scanners to find which models could handle three-dimensional objects. Fuji Lanovia C-550 turned out to be among the best. Surprisingly Creo scanners were only for flat objects, could not handle scanning a pencil, or anything with deep dimensional texture.

Heidelberg scanners were good with 3D objects, but Heidelberg no longer offers any scanners today. The misleading ad claims of smaller scanners promise everything but are not of professional quality.

Cruse Scanner at Siggraph 2003 tradeshow, scanning Guatemalan textiles

Continued search for the ideal scanner for a museum

Professor Hellmuth spent several years searching at tradeshows in Germany and across the USA to find the quality of scanner that a museum ought to have. The Fuji scanners are great for anything up to A3 oversize (tabloid size in USA). But larger than that is hard to find the right scanner.

Then we tried out the Cruse reprographic scanner system. Wow, what a system. It has everything a museum or library could possible desire:

Since we have the Cruse in our large format digital imaging equipment evaluation center, and as we do not yet have the ACTion Colortrac Flatbed 24120, we can only make general observations.

1st: The Cruse can scan objects with texture, even up to several inches in depth.
2nd: The Cruse scans from above, so it can handle any size or shape up to considerable sizes. Ours is 36 x 48 inches, but larger ones exist.
3rd: The Cruse allows controlled cross-lighting. You can light from the left, or from the right, or from both sides simultaneously. You can light from above or from one side. All this lighting flexibility is invaluable in a museum.

If all you intend to scan is flat maps, then a flatbed such as the ACTion Imaging Colortrac Flatbed FB24120 is okay. But what about a book? What curator or librarian would allow their rare book to be squashed flat on top of a flatbed?

Other question is whether artists really wish their paintings to rub on the surface of a flatbed scanner? With the Cruse your object never never ever touches anything. This is because the Cruse scans from above, not from below.

Nonetheless we are curious about the Colortrac Flatbed 24120. Our university library and archives have thousands of documents that need to be digitized, so we have plenty of test materials. We can speak about the Cruse since we have had one now going on two years. An outstanding product which you can tell was “Made in Germany.”

The Cruse has the benefits of a flatbed scanner combined with the benefits of a camera. The most important for a museum or librarian photographer would be the possibility of cross-lighting to bring out texture and detail. With a flatbed scanner the lights are fixed; you do not get side lighting.

For the last three years we have used the Cruse CS 155SL 450 model scanner camera at Bowling Green State University. We have scanned paintings, art, rare maps, books, slides, and a host of other materials. The Cruse equipment has proven itself year after year.

During summer 2004 we updated to a newer Synchron Table model of the Cruse scanner. If you are interested in obtaining the same great scans that we do, consult

• Mike Lind
  (tel:) (281) 492-2714 / Fax: (281) 492-0307
  malind@msn.com