Review: Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Pro USB Large Format Scanner

Mustek Scan Express A3 1200 Pro USB Large Format Scanner is the most reasonably priced tabloid-size (11.7 x 16.5) scanner on that market at this time. It definitely outperforms expectations, especially at this pricepoint (i paid $167 at Amazon) though it should not be confused with the less-for-more Mustek ScanExpress A3 USB Flatbed Scanner

The first scanner I ever bought way back in 1998 was also a tabloid sized scsi scanner by Epson for which I paid around $500- a hefty chunk of that semester’s student loan but my rationale was that I draw big.  My drawing pad of choice was (and still is) the strathmore 18×24 50lb and it was much easier to digitize in two passes on a tabloid-size scanner.

Many years, and many scanners, later I bought this Mustek scanner to expedite truly tedious work, scanning evidentiary timelines, for my bread-and-butter client, an Intellectual Property Rights Attorney. These timelines can end up being 13 inches by 142 inches spanning 20 years or more.

Even though I purchased this scanner for purely commercial purposes, I can see the advantage for artists working in 11 x 17 (or slightly larger) media- watercolor or comic book art boards. For less than $200, it can output full color 1200 dpi images, connect to any mac or pc via USB 2.0 and its removable cover makes scanning thick books easy.

Installation from a the included CD, while a little archaic, is easy enough. I couldn’t figure where to launch the scanner from so I called Tech Support. They were friendly and helpful and didn’t laugh out loud when we figured out that i installed the scanner while Photoshop was opened in the background. (and they answered the call quickly)

Do remember to re-launch Photoshop or you might find the scanner is not listed in the FILE>IMPORT> menu.

The Drawbacks-

• The scanner interface is tiny. Too small to get a good preview of teh iamge you are scanning.
• The scanner software is slow to launch. Very slow. The lack of multi-scan option means relaunching the software a lot.
• Lack of image correction: Because it is fully compliant with TWAIN api. is managed thru Photoshop or any other image editing software that supports scanner interface software known as “Technology Without An Interesting Name”. This is convenient.  but I do miss the image retouching capabilities of my previous scanner and corresponding software. The Canoscan 4400f software had a multi-scanning option- I should have to relaunch the scanner window for every scan. The Canon software also provides image correction – moray/print pattern correction and the color adjustment for fold shadows are 2 other options all scanner software should provide.
  In sharp contrast, the only automatic color correction Mustek provide is a radio button called “color match”. The difference is immediately visible when color match is checked. Flip thru the slideshow to see the difference.
• No film scanner attachment.
  

The scanner itself is very good. The interface is definitely lacking. And still, I recommend this to anyone in need of an over-sized scanner. Perfect for scrapbooking as well.

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