About a Large Format Printer & Scanner
Today's digital technology equipment can produce high-resolution images of considerable size. While basic combination printer-scanners suit most document creation needs, big jobs such as large-scale banners and commercial signs require specialized large format printers and scanners.
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Large Format Printers
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While typical office printers max out at 17 inch wide sheets (or smaller), some large format (also called wide format) printers can output pages 100 inches or more in width. Large format printers are used primarily by copy centers and specialty businesses like photography labs or design studios to create large-scale graphic presentations such as blueprints, wall charts, posters and billboards.
Large Format Scanners
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Standard image scanners digitize photos, film and other documents up to 12 inches wide. Bigger items like wall maps, manuscripts or CAD drawings often require large (or wide) format scanners. Large format scanners come in three basic styles: flatbed, sheet-fed and roll-fed. As of 2011, flatbeds are the most popular, but size, resolution quality and processing speeds can vary widely among models.
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Considerations
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In addition to a sizable workspace, large format printers and scanners can require a substantial financial commitment. A cost/benefit analysis is necessary to determine whether a purchase is right for your home or business. Renting or outsourcing large format projects is often the practical alternative.
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References
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