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.

Front view of iQsmart scanner.

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 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.

If you have general questions about Scitex, Creo or Kodak scanners, you can obtain further information from Hanan Gelbendorf hanan@2creativ.com. These are not contacts for repairs or that kind of question. These are not contacts for scanner software. These contacts are to allow you to learn and understand the differences between an average scanner and a superb scanner. Hanan is still associated with the Scitex scanners still today in 2009. He knows these scanners during their Scitex period, during the CreoScitex period and now with Kodak.

The Master Distributor for the US for Kodak scanners (so for CreoScitex EverSmart Supreme and iQsmart series) is Don Bobenhouse, Smartstuff Graphics Distribution, 155 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd (St Louis, Missouri). Office 636 532-6131, Cell 314 616-1509.

If you are outside USA, so anywhere else in the world, prime contact for information on new and used Kodak (CreoScitex) scanners is Ron Beery ron.beery@kodak.com. This contact information is valid for 2009 onward.


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