Microtek Scanmaker i900 (SilverFast Ai) (Microtek Scanmaker I900)

Member Name: Walt_Nalt

Product:	Microtek Scanmaker I900
Date:	15/10/08 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: low price, all-rounder, sotware SilverFast Ai

Disadvantages: customer service seems to be not the best

Overview:
The i900 was released in August 2004, but it is a powerful device for various scanning tasks still nowadays. It is a flatbed- AND a filmscanner. In contrast to other flatbed scanners the i900 doesn't scan slides with a normal transparency unit, but with the patended E.D.I.T. technology. This is, there isn't any loss of quality (Newton rings) through the glass plate like with other flatbed scanners.

Details:
* The scanner's case makes a quite solid impression, metal railings inside
* Connection: USB 2.0 or Firewire
* max. target size: 8.5 in x 14 in
* 6,400 x 3,200 dpi optical resolution
* 48-bit color depth, 16-bit grayscale
* 4.2 optical density
* Setup is easy: Install the software, restart the computer and perform a scanning test to check it's working.

Software:
There came a whole lot of software for PC AND MAC within the box. But I think the most worth to be mentioned are Microtek ScanWizard Pro and LaserSoft Imaging SilverFast Ai. The first one is the one I recommend you to start with, when you're new to scanning in general. It's very easy to control and leads to average good results. When you're firm with the general issues of scanning you should have a look at SilverFast. It's a bit strange and confusing at first, but after all it gets you really great scans. You don't have to post-process your images in photoshop afterwards, because all this image processing could be done in SilverFast. (color correction, dust & scratch removal and so on)

Conclusion:
I really do like the i900, because it does so much for so little cost. Over the years I was working with it, I used it to do hundreds of normal flatbed scans and many, many slide scans. But I was also scanning microfiches, old cartoons, books and some other stuff. The included multi-size scan templates are a big help with the different formats. Another big help is the SilverFast Ai software. After figuring out how to use it for my needs, it has tremendously improved the quality of my scans and saved me hours and hours of post-editing in photoshop.

Summary: nice device for a little price

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