Scanning 11" x 17" Comic Book Art

[Toluene]

What is the best way to scan 11" x 17" art into a computer?


I currently have a printer/scanner that can scan 8 and 1/2 by 11" work which I then have to paste together.


Someone recommended a Brother MFC-5890CN printer scanner, but I've found out it prints 11" x 17" but only scans up to 8 and a 1/2" by 11".


I've also been told that the Mustek A3 is a good scanner but it costs around $160 and I would still have to buy a 11" x 17" printer in addition which could cost another $200.


Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thank you

[jfrancis]

Light it evenly from the sides and photograph it with a good digital camera and lens?

[Zazerzs]

with an 11 x 17 scanner, besides that not much you can do besides scanning parts and reassembling in photo shop... as far as I've heard.

time to start savin'

[Anid Maro]

Like said above:

- You can stitch it together in Photoshop as you currently do (a pain, but it works).
- You can get a larger scanner, expensive but works (up to a certain size).
- You can get some good studio lighting and photograph the work (works, though it takes some lighting knowledge).

If you're short on cash, stitching it is going to be "best". If you can afford a big enough scanner, that'll be "best". If your work tends to vary in size frequently and/or is often very large, photography would then be "best".

Also, if you don't mind the trip you could go to a professional print store (e.g. Kinkos, or a local shop) and see if they do digital scans. They ought to have the equipment for use at a modest fee.

[Digital Transfer]

I used to work at a print shop and we did scans for 15 cents black and white. Just specify DPI and they should do it.

[arthas1011]

Before I had regular access to a scanner I would simply photocopy my work to A4 then scan it. It worked for me

[catartxis]

@Toluene

Hi, before you buy a larger scanner, you might want to try the following:
Try PHOTOMERGE in photoshop application, i think in versions CS3 or higher.
Basically is an option designed to merge several photo or scans almost automatically. altough i have yet to try that option i have heard and seen that its very helpful and highly recommended, specially to merge several and complicated photos into one file.
That option is located in: File/Automate/Photomerge

Give it a try and tell us how it worked.
I am in a similar situation, scanning larger sheet of paper in a cheap smaller scan.
Hopefully it will save you some money if you already have photoshop. Good luck!