Computers and technology

Scanners, digital cameras and other input devices

Mouse, trackballs, keyboards, flatbed scanners, graphics tablets, digital cameras – the methods of getting information onto computers are numerous.

Having said that, considering some of the many other advances in computing, the quantity of input devices for graphic designers has remained comparatively static. However, the quality and price of these devices has improved dramatically. The choice of keyboard and mouse are very much a personal thing and often the input devices supplied with the computer system are more than adequate for graphic design use. However many designers, especially illustrators, product designers and artists will swear by graphics tablets.

Graphics tablets

Graphics tablets are sold by a number of manufacturers, including Wacom, Adesso, Crossfield and Aiptek. Graphics tablets come in many sizes, ranging from small pads for amatiers, to table-top sized tablets for CAD designers.

Graphics tablets come with a variety of pen devices, the more advanced of which are pressure sensitive to simulate real life drawing tools. Most pressure sensitive pens will integrate with graphics applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Corel Painter.

Scanners

The advance in desktop scanner technology since the early days of desktop publishing (DTP) has been phenomenal. It is now possible to buy a flatbed scanner for a few hundred dollars, that has almost the same optical resolution and color range as drum scanners costing tens of thousands only a few years ago.

Many designers and pre-press professionals will argue that most flatbed scanners are still not ideal for high-end graphic design work, such as quality brochures and art books. However, many flatbed scanners are certainly suitable for general magazine reproduction and for outputting client proofs.

Manufacturers that produce scanners for graphic arts use include Epson, Canon, Hewlett Packard, Agfa and Umax.

Digital Cameras

The debate is still raging as to whether digital cameras have evolved to the point where they can produce photographs to the quality of traditional film and high-end drum scanning. But for graphic designers and art directors, if perhaps not for professional photographers, the quality of even many of the cheaper digital SLR cameras is certainly good enough for producing concepts, client proofs and even finished high resolution artwork.

When it comes to deciding how much to spend on digital input devices such as desktop scanners and digital cameras, the trade-off is whether the cost in time, for retouching scans and photographs, is worth it. Or whether this is a justification for upgrading to a more expensive model of scanner or digital camera. Or whether to oursource the job for professional drum scanning, or to a professional photographer.

Mac or PC | Monitors | Hard Disks | Printers | Portable or Desktop | Input Devices | Freelancer or Studio

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Web www.designtalkboard.com

Some design, computing and technology discussions in the forums

• Macintosh forums
• Windows graphic design forums
• Studio management forums
• Pre-press forums
• Software forums