Creo's iQsmart 2 and iQsmart3 quality prepress scanners defend their turf from the invasion by Nikon, Polaroid, Microtek, and Umax at the low end and favorably compare with Fuji and Imacon at the professional level

Observations by Nicholas Hellmuth on iQsmart2 and iQsmart3 scanners from Creo, now part of Kodak.

With Agfa and Heidelberg abandoning the entry level and midrange prepress scanners, for a while Fujifilm Electronic Imaging was the only company introducing innovative new products at the professional level. But Fuji scanners are hard to find and are not the focus of that company. In distinction, Creo and Scitex before it, had an intelligent focus on producing excellent flatbed scanners.

Then Imacon introduced a new scanner, Flextight 848.'s range of EverSmart scanners were several years old; only their software had been updated.

Now Creo seems to be back in the race with their two new iQsmart 1, iQsmart 2 and iQsmart 3 scanners. These replace the Jazz and Jazz+ and to some degree the Pro, though the Select covers the turf of the former EverSmart Pro II.

Notice: Creo is part of Kodak since 2005, so the scanners are now Kodak scanners.

We have seen the iQsmart scanners at several tradeshows including at IPEX 2002 inEngland, DRUPA 2004 inGermany and several trade shows in the US such as GraphExpo 2005. As you would expect for a traditional graphic arts company, these scanners work only or primarily on a Mac.

Since FLAAR's whole reason for evaluating scanners is to figure out which make and model is best to handle digitizing its 50,000 slides of ancient art and architectural history, a mention that the scanner could handle "96 35mm slides at a time" piqued our interest. Seems physically impossible since only about 40 mounted or 48 unmounted slides will fit on the surface of a normal 11 x 17 inch flatbed scanner. So beware of misleading advertising by other brands.

If you need information on Creo scanners, contact Parrot Digigraphic, e-mail imaging@parrotcolor.com. They are experienced and capable digital imaging professionals who know Creo products from the decades when they were originally a Scitex dealer. Parrot also handles Canon cameras and Epson printers.

If you are in any country, including in continental USA, or outside the USA, and wish further information on these flatbed scanners direct from Kodak (Creo), the worldwide scanner e-mail is scanner@creo.com.

FLAAR NEWS:

Three new Creo iQsmart flatbed scanners arriving in the FLAAR testing labs at BGSU for evaluation.

The first reviews of the iQsmart models 1, 2, and 3 should be ready by late January 2005. In the meantime, our review of the other flatbed scanner is ready now (and is free, as an auto-download).

Most recently updated April 6, 2006.
Previously updated Dec. 16, 2004. First posted Aug. 1, 2002, previously updated Aug. 20, 2002. Redesigned May. 2004.


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