A large format scanner, also known as a scanner large format in some areas, is a scanner that is capable of scanning large documents, pictures, papers, and files. Unlike a traditional scanner, a scanner large format is specifically designed to scan large objects without producing errors or overheating. As you might expect, a scanner large format may be significantly more expensive than a traditional scanner, but recent advances in technology have made large format scanners more popular and affordable than ever in the last several years. There are a number of reasons why people may be interested in large format scanners, with the most common reason being a desire to copy large objects instead of having to divide them into smaller pieces or travel to a professional scanning and copying facility. Many people look for a scanner large format and give up because they cannot decide which features offered by the scanners they see are essential, which are useful but optional, and which are completely unnecessary. Additionally, the prices of these scanners tend to put people off unless they absolutely need to purchase them. This guide will provide information regarding tips for purchasing a scanner large format to help you get the features you want without spending more money than you have to.

One of the most important things to look for when you are in the market for a scanner large format is the maximum size of documents it can scan without errors. Papers and documents come in different sizes, and you should carefully review the capacity of a scanner large format before whipping out your credit card and taking the scanner home. It is possible to find scanners capable of scanning images and documents of approximately 12 by 16 inches in size for well under $200 if you know where to look. A popular example of a scanner large format in this size range is the Mustek Scan Express A3 large format scanner, which explicitly includes in the title the size of documents it can scan (A3). For comparison, the letter paper size commonly used in the United States is approximately the size of A4 paper, which is slightly more than half the size of A3 paper.

As you can expect, the larger the scanning capacity of the scanner, the more expensive the scanner is likely to be. As a comparison to the Mustek Scan Express A3 large format scanner, the HP Designjet 4500 Scanner large format is capable of scanning images and boards up to 43 inches wide. However, it costs almost $20,000, putting it out of the range of most private purchasers and many small businesses. Therefore, it is advisable not to buy more scanner large format than you need; if you plan to simply scan individual pages from average sized books, for example, you will likely not need a scanner capable of copying entire pages at a time from national newspapers.

Another important thing to look for when you are in the market for a scanner large format is the resolution offered by the scanner. Higher resolutions from a scanner mean it is capable of delivering a higher quality scanned image when you observe it on the computer or anywhere else once the document or image has been scanned. However, the higher the resolution capacity of the scanner, the more it is likely to cost. As an example, the Epson Expression 100000XL large format flatbed photo scanner is capable of delivering scans with up to a 2400 × 4800 optical resolution and is designed to scan papers of the A3 size, or up to 12.2 by 17.2 inches. The printer is available for slightly more than $2500. This translates to a 2400 dot per inch resolution. The Mustek Scan Express A3 large format scanner, in contrast, offers up to 1200 dots per inch of resolution, which is half of that offered by the Epson scanner large format, yet its price is less than a tenth of that of the Epson scanner. With such a price difference, you may wonder why someone would want to pay so much more for only twice as much resolution; it depends on your needs and your budget when buying.