Best Scanner for Artwork: Digitize Your Watercolor Paintings Art

To showcase your designing talent, you need a scanner that will bring your artwork to life. However, as a designer or artist, we don’t expect you to know everything in depth about technology and the latest scanners in the market. We are sure, though, that you know you can’t use a regular scanner for your work.

 Best Scanner for Artists

That’s why we have compiled a list of the best scanners for artists here. It will help you make a choice based on your requirements. But, before that, let’s take a look at how to connect a scanner to your computer.

1. Canon CanoScan LiDE220 Photo and Document Scanner

Easy to use and with Send to Cloud feature, this scanner from Canon is a popular choice among artists. You can use the auto-scan mode to adjust settings while scanning so that you get the best in your hands.

Let’s take a looks at a few of its features:

1. It takes about 10 seconds to give you a letter-sized scan.
2. The auto-document fix feature lets you correct one area at a time, resulting in a beautiful scanned document.
3. You can lift it to about 1 inch when you want to scan large items such as notebooks.
4. It comes with 5 buttons that let you copy, scan, send to cloud, and create PDFs without hassle.
5. It provides 4800 x 4800 dpi maximum optical colour resolution.
6. You need to be connected to the Internet in order to install the scanner’s software
7. It is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, Vista, XP, and Mac.
8. You can scan two photos at a time too. They will be scanned into individual files.
9. The speed of the scanner depends on the resolution you need. 4800 dpi could take a few minutes while 300 dpi will take seconds.

2. Epson Perfection V39

For high-quality scanning of documents and photos, you don’t need to look beyond Epson. As the name suggests, this scanner will deliver perfection every time. Here’s why you should buy it:

1. It has an optical resolution of 4800 DPI. In other words, it delivers superb detail and clarity.
2. You can restore old family photos and make them last forever with this lovely scanner.
3. It comes with Epson Document Capture Pro, which enables you to scan to cloud services such as Google Drive with ease.
4. The scanner is perfect for artwork, documents, and oversized prints.
5. You can restore the charm and awesomeness of faded photos with just one click using the Easy Photo Fix Technology.
6. The printer is high-rise with an easily removable lid.
7. It uses the CIS technology.

3. Epson Perfection V600

This is another beauty from the Epson Perfection range. It is best used for color photo imaging, negatives, and documents. Below are a few interesting features of the same:

1. You can use it to create excellent enlargements. It has a large scan area and can accommodate 17 x 22-inch enlargements.
2. It will help you remove dust, scratches, creases, and tears from the prints.
3. The scanner comes with a  built-in transparency unit, thanks to which you can scans, negatives, and even panoramic film (medium size).
4. Using the ABBYY FineReader Sprint Plus OCR, you can take one more step further and make the scanned documents editable.
5. It has an LED light source for scanning. It takes no time to heat up and scans faster than other machines. It also saves power

4. Epson DS-50000 Large Format Document Artist Scanner

Epson DS-50000 is a large scanner for artwork that scans books, ledgers, documents, and images of up to 11.7 x 17 inches size. It comes with network scanner capabilities, which means that you can turn it into a group scanner based on your requirement.

We’ve listed out some of its features for you:

1. It is a flatbed scanner.
2. It offers Scan to Cloud feature, which means you can scan to any of the convenient cloud services.
3. You can also scan directly to Word and Excel files.
4. It comes with a 4-line CCD sensor to provide sharp text and vivid colours.
5. The TWAIN and ISIS drivers make it easy to integrate with any applications.
6. The scanner is compatible with Windows and Mac.
7. The company offers a 3-year warranty.

5. Brother ImageCenter ADS-2800W Wireless Artwork Scanner

This is among the best scanners for artwork for you if precision and speed are your criteria. It comes with integrated image optimization, multi-page scanning, colour touchscreen, and many such delightful features.

Here’s a list a few more of its features:

1. You can expect to scan up to 30 pages in a minute – both colour, and black-and-white.
2. The 2-in-1 mode lets you scan more than one page together into a single file.
3. It is a wireless scanner, which means you can scan directly without worrying about any wired connections.
4. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac. But remember that if you are using XP, it is compatible only with 32-bit and not 64-bit.
5. Maximum paper capacity is 20 papers.
6. It can scan documents up to 8.5 x 34 inches.
7. You can even scan to email without additional connections!
8. The company offers limited 1-year warranty along with free technical, lifetime support.

6. Plustek A3 Flatbed Scanner

This handy flatbed scanner allows scanning for various reasons such as blueprints and documents. It is also one of the more affordable scanners for large artwork. Let’s quickly go through its features:

1. It can scan 11.69 x 17-inch large artworks.
2. It has an LED light source that saves energy.
3. You can start using the scanner immediately after switching it on, without wasting time waiting for it to heat up.
4. It has pre-set functions. This means that you only need to press one button to get going.
5. Its software is extremely powerful, providing enhanced accuracy with its advanced reader.
6. It also has a DocAction feature that enables easy file sharing.
7. You can use it to scan art, blueprints, documents, and much more.
8. The scan mode is the 48-bit color or 16-bit gray-scale.

7. Fujitsu ScanSnap Scanner for Artwork

 Say hello to the Amazon’s Choice scanner for large artwork, books, and more! The Fujitsu ScanSnap Scanner is a brilliant, multipurpose device that will blow your mind! Oh, you don’t need to go by our word. Just go through its features.

1. This is an overhead scanner that you can use to scan large artwork, both sides of a book together, journals, delicate papers, etc.
2. It does not damage the paper at all.
3. It is powered by an image flattering software that can correct curves automatically. The software also removes fingertips that may have been scanned.
4. You can also scan small artwork or documents as well. In fact, you can save time by scanning them together. The scanner can detect and crop them instinctively.
5. It also has the imaging technology that produces clean and smooth images.
6. It offers one-button scanning to avoid unnecessary setup procedures. 

How to connect a scanner to a PC

While there are many different types of scanners, the basic setup process is similar. Before trying to connect your scanner to the PC, remember to gather all the required items. These include a USB cable, CDs that came with the scanner, and the scanner itself. After that, simply follow the steps below:

1. Connect your scanner to the power source. If your scanner is battery-powered, you can ignore this step.
2. Now, connect your scanner to the computer. You will need the USB cable for this. However, if your scanner supports Bluetooth connectivity, you can directly try that.
3. The moment a connection is established, the computer will detect the scanner and start taking necessary measures such as installing the basic drivers.
4. Most scanners today are plug-and-play, which means the drivers are installed in an instant.
5. If there’s a CD, put it in and install the software along with all the device drivers.
6. After the installation is complete, you can start using your scanner to transform your art!

This list shows you the vast variety of scanners for artists out there. The best one for you will depend on your requirements and the kind of projects in which you engage. Some may be high-end, but as aforementioned, users decided to buy them due to the functionality. Which one would you recommend? We’d love to hear your views.

FAQs

We are now going to answer a few questions, which we have received multiple times in the past.

What are good specs for a scanner?

The optical resolution is the most important spec for a scanner. It should be 4,800 DPI at least. This is crucial for color scanning. You can also opt for more resolution based on your needs but if you choose anything less than 4,800 DPI, the difference will be significant.

What makes a good scanner for art and design?

The technology used weighs in a lot here. Your scanner needs to have the CCD scanning tech to qualify as a good scanner for art and design.

Do any scanners go beyond A4 size?

Yes, large format scanners can go beyond the standard A4 size.

Do portable scanners exist? Are they reliable?

Yes, compact and portable scanners exist. These scanners use batteries and store the data as well. Once you reach home, you can transfer all this data to your computer. 

Make sure you buy a portable scanner from a reliable brand for reliability.

What is the best A3 scanner?

There are many options! Our favorites are 

• Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 Slim Scanner 
• Epson Perfection V800
• Epson Workforce ES-400
• Brother ImageCenter ADS-2800W

How much does scanning an artwork cost?

It costs upwards of $80. Large prints can go beyond $150. If you are an artist, it is easiest to buy a scanner instead.

At what DPI can we scan artwork?

900 DPI is an excellent option. But, it can go up to 4800 DPI depending on your requirements. The more the optical resolution, the better the result. However, scanning at 4800 DPI is a very slow process.