#JX-100 scans
14 messages in this thread
Jonathan, what type of IFF do you want uploaded? 24bit? Grayscale?
Hires/lores? Mixed down to grayscale, 32color, HAM? I notice that Joe K
has already responded, and he *does* have some fine images already
available in AmigaArts, usually identified with the 'JX-100' keyword. Check
them out.
The only limitations of the JX-100 scanner are size. It's maximum size
scan is apprx 6"x4", so full page graphics are out. You can scan real
small too, but once you get below a certain size you start losing
resolution, of course. Ie: if I want a full screen scan lores (320×400),
then the smallest I can scan, and still have full detail, is about 1.6"x2"
(at 200DPI this is about 320×400 pixels). If I have a *very* small area I
want to scan (say 1"x.75") then I run up against the resolution limit of
the scanner. A 300 DPI scanner would let me go just a bit smaller and not
lose resolution.
But the quality of what you do get is excellent. You'd have to go aways to
convice me that the 18bit color it gets isn't more than enough for nearly
all applications, and the 200DPI is just fine for video presentations.
You would need ADPro to use it, however. Or ADPro 2.0 now, I guess….
Very elegant interface, ultra easy to zoom in exactly where you want to
scan in detail.
Of course the only thing the JX-100 has over the Epson 300C scanner is it's
price. That still seems to be the scanner of choice if you've got about
$1200 to spend or so… TTFN
–jp–seattle–
John, sounds good. I guess the best sort of format to view is a 24 bit
image. That way I can load it in to TAD and play with it in the ways I want
to. 6×4 is a small image size, is it possible to glue sections of scan
together to form a larger image if you see what i mean. Ie if the picture
was 6×8 then do 2 side by side scans and put them together somehow with
dpaint or whatever? Jonathan
Jonathan, I assume you saw Joe K's message that you can use the JX-100
without ADPro… it comes with it's own standalone scanning program (as
well as an ADPro loader module, which is what I normally use).
Yes, you can certainly join images together. No reason you couldn't
construct a mural that way if you wanted to. But there are some
considerations….
The JX-100 sits ON TOP of the paper you are scanning. Picture a box about
1/2 the height of a loaf of bread, with a clear glass middle. You set this
box on top of your image, and then start the scan software. Well, it's
obvious that to get perfect alignment you'd need to make sure that you were
always perfectly strait on the page, etc. I suppose you could use a strait
edge for that. Any overlap between images could be cropped off too, I'd
guess. No real fundamental problems, now that I think about it.
You'd probably put them together in ADPro (or TAD – does TAD do compostion?
It's been so long). That way you'd be assembling 24bit source, and when
you rendered to amiga resolutions the palette etc would be optimal.
Like I said, the limitations seem to be size — over 6"x4" (due to scanning
area) and very small (due to 200DPI limitation). But it is a good deal
cheaper than the Epson 300C scanner (what, maybe $700 vs $1,200 or so?
Check dealers)
–jp–seattle–
Have just got some specs on the JX-100 from Sharp. Some things look awful.
Can anyone comment.
Scan time: Upto 9 mins/full page (wow!) Colour sep: Alternate R,G,B
filters (do these have to placed manually) Resolution: 200dpi (40-400
selectable) (don't understand)
There is a picture of the scanner and the serial connector doesn't look
like the RS-232 25 way – more like the 9 way. I assume they supply a 25/9
way adapter.
Zooming. My limited experience with scanning to date indicated the a higher
dpi gives a bigger picture – if the target medium is a monitor how does the
dpi and screen res correlate. Eg take a postage stamp 1inch x 1inch. 200dpi
would give a picture 200×200. If this is for display on a screen does this
map to 200×200 pixels. If so then my postage stamp would fill a screen.
What about a photo 6inx4in. Now my photo at 200 dpi gives 1200×800 – how
does that map to my 320×256 lo-res screen! If I scaled it down presumably I
would lose definition. Maybe a dot from a dpi doesn't equal a pixel from s
screen.
Basically i need an idiots guide to scanning!
Jonathan
I'll do a timing test in a few days if you like. Cannot right now, but
soon. 9 minutes to scan a full 6"x4" in color doesn't sound that wrong to
me, though. Scans three time, very slowly. I don't know what is the
limiting part – I assume the scanner itself. The time might even be slower
in a stock amiga 2000, since I doubt if it can handle the 117,000BPS serial
rate. Maybe ASDG can chime in with average full-scan times?
The scanning is 50/100/200 DPI, from ADPro at least. BTW, when I say
'ADPro' I also mean the standalone prog that ASDG includes with the
interface. Both work the same…. I'm just used to saying 'ADPro' 🙂
No, you don't have to change any 'filters'. Just say scan color and walk
away.
There is a cable for hooking it up to the standard Amiga serial port. I
*think* that this comes with the ASDG interface kit. Check with them.
Re resolution: what you're mentioning is exactly what I was trying to say
earlier. If you scan a 1"x1" area @ 200DPI you will get a 200×200 pixel
image. That is the *most* detail you're gonna get out of it. You can
scale that in ADPro to whatever size you really need (ie. maybe a full
screen 320×200? or a smaller 100×100 brush?)… (keeping aspect ration in
mind, of course)
If you scan a 6"x4" area at 200DPI you will get 1200×800. If you want that
viewed as a 320×256 screen you'll have to scale it down. ADPro (or TAD)
will do that for you. Conversely you could scan the area at only 100DPI
and get an image only 600×400 pixels, or scan at 50DPI and get an image of
300×200 pixels. If you want the best conversion to amiga resolutions you'd
likely use the highest scan; that way ADPro has more data to work with in
getting you the best possible image. If you're after the fastest possible
scan, or if ultra-high quality isn't a must, then the 50DPI scan would be
best…. faster scans, and less converting afterwards.
Make sense?
BTW, another fellow noted that they had seen the Epson 300C for under
$1000. It is more expensive, but not incredibly more. I know I'd RATHER
The Epson ES-300c can be had via Computer Shopper for only $999.
Add $125 or so for ASDG's software via mail order. For the relatively LOW
cost margin, it's by far the scanner of choice.
J.R.
John,
I've done some images composed of multiple JX-100 scans. CROWS.JPG in
Lib 11 of AmigaArts is such a beast…it took three scans to get the whole
image (a van Gogh painting) 'cuz the source photo was so big. As long as
you're _real_ careful about alignment and cropping it works very well.
To answer your TAD question: No, the original TAD doesn't do
compositing.
I really like my JX-100. I wish it could do 24-bit color and 300 dpi,
but I'll take its raw image quality over the Epson 300C's. (Maybe the
Epson I got to play with last week was a below-par unit, but I wasn't
impressed with its color accuracy.) Now a JX-300…that's drool material.
😉
-Dave-
I understand how you feel about your JX-100. Love mine too. Main
limitation I run into is the 200DPI, cause sometimes I want to scan a *real
small* area, and then I lose resolution cause I have to enlarge the scan to
get screen size. With 300DPI I would get 50% closer without sacrificing
resolution, I guess.
Thanks for the reply on TAD (it's been *so* long since I used it), and on
creating scan montages. I haven't done that yet, and am glad to hear
they're not that hard to do.
John, we have the same tools to make grey scale prints on a DJ 500. What
have you been doing to get a "perfect print" ? 24 bit thru prefsprinter via
DJ_Helper, I'm still getting dark, muddy and banded output. What would you
do to get a nice half page print from one of your typical scans?
Thanx again, (er, still :),
Paul
–pt–not seattle– 😉
I've only been using the PrefPrinter for a few days now, almost always
testing color images so far (using the new Commodore DJ500C driver). Let
me try a couple 24bit greyscale images using DJHelper and get back to you
tomorrow, ok?
–jp–seattle–
Is the Commodore DJ500C the same as the HP Deskjet 500C?
I assume I mis-typed? I may have meant the Commodore *driver* for the HP
DJ500-Color printer? This driver has recently been released, and is pretty
darn good, IMHO.
–jp–seattle–
You would not need ADPro to use a JX-100, as the JX-100 Drivers from ASDG
comes with a stand-alone software package to scan if you do not own ADPro.
You're correct, of course. I had forgotten about the stand-alone software
since I always use ADPro. Thanks for the correction.
–jp–seattle–