Wide Format Imaging

MFPs (multi-function printer systems) were a hot topic last year. Dominated by the big guys, Hewlett-Packard, Océ, and others, it seems that everybody was offering such systems. In general, however, buying a complete new solution with printer and scanner is not necessary. Most likely you already have a wide-format printer and you should only be looking for a new scanner and software to complement your existing solution.

For years, Contex (www.contex.com) has offered its own scan-to-print software, JETimageNET, which works with its existing scanners and is a cost-effective way to add scan-to-print to your existing wide-format printer. Priced at $1,990, JETimageNET is one of the less expensive RIP (raster image processor) software solutions on the market today.

When adding scan-to-print to your system you have several options.

1. Buy a complete MFP system including printer, scanner and RIP software.
2. Buy individual component for the scanner and printer and then use a generic RIP from third-party software house to bring the system together.
3. Buy a scanner and use the scanner manufacturer's RIP to bring the system together.

The best solution, in my opinion, is option three because you use the scanner manufacturer's knowledge of the scanner input device to capture data and map color precisely to the target printer.

Surprisingly, Contex JETimageNET software is not widely known in the industry. The JETIimageNET has a number of important features available and one of my favorites is that it can be operated in two modes—a regular mouse/keyboard mode and a touch screen mode. This makes it possible to adapt the user interfaces for experts who may prefer the mouse and keyboard mode and the traditional copy shop approach using touch screen mode.

I reviewed the JETimage software solution as part of a scan-to-print system with a Contex HAWK-EYE G36 scanner and a Canon iFP700 printer.

The Hawkeye G36 listed at $9,900, is priced at the lower end of the scanner spectrum. Contex's entire scanner series span from 25 inches to 54 inches wide and vary in price from $7,900 to $29,900. With the HAWK-EYE G36 at $9,900, you get a very versatile scanner with excellent scan quality that fits the CAD, AEC and reprographic markets. The scanner includes a two-year parts warranty.

Contex has a very liberal software upgrade policy and scanner customers can freely download and install new software updates directly from Contex at support.contex.com.