Scanners - The Ultimate Guide - Binuscan Workflow

Binuscan is a special software which differs from all other scanning software. Graph below shows how typical workflow could be, depending on the quality of source media, capability of scanning software, and skills and preferences of scanner's and page layout operator(s).

In this case scanning software usually allows some degree of color tuning, separation, other image-editing capabilities; and works as Photoshop plug-in or standalone application.

Using Binuscan can completely change outlined above workflow. However, source media have to meet certain quality criteria (later you understand, why). First of all, with Binuscan user do not need to scan many separate files, instead, entire bed could be filled with originals of the same type (e.g. slides), and scanned at one pass to single big Binuscan TIFF file, usually at maximum optical resolution. Binuscan TIFF contains additional information used by Binuscan itself at processing stage, and therefore, should not be edited by any other program. Additionally, scanning of single file is much faster, especially with slow midrange flatbeds (because it requires only one pass to capture all originals). In page layout program, artworker links his file to Binuscan TIFF, and invokes Job Manager. Binuscan IPM (Image Processing Machine) automatically does crop, resize, color cast removal, auto-density, color conversion, sharpening, CMYK separation, and creates million-color preview. Need to say, algorithms used by Binuscan for sharpening and CMYK separation offer better quality (more detailed shadows/highlights) rather than ones implemented in Photoshop. In fact, Binuscan CMYK separation algorithm is so efficient, so its possible to use 200 dpi images for 175 lpi printing. At least, it worked for samples produced by Binuscan itself. Full version of Binuscan (called Color Pro) includes calibration charts. Calibration profiles generated by Binuscan are more precise because curves being built of millions of dots, not thousands, like standard ICC. Binuscan also mention unique RECO technology (REbuid COlor), which allows to regenerate information missed by CCD censor. I believe this is done by means of profiling CCD themselves, because certain CCD types have known common defects.

However, Binuscan is not free from some drawbacks:

• Binuscan does not offer any kind of live real-time preview inside scanning plug-in module, and thus, images have to be captured at first at full resolution.
• Binuscan works in autopilot mode and its adjustment options are very limited. Sometimes results are very good, sometimes not.
• Scanning of separate originals is rather slow because of two-stage processing (second stage need to generate output image from Binuscan TIFF file).
• Too expensive.

Anyway, this software is really unique, so under certain circumstances it may be perfect or near perfect for your needs. Not so long ago Binuscan started to sell special version of its software for digital cameras.

PS. Rather to buy Binuscan Color Pro (full version with calibration charts) separately, its better to buy Binuscan PhotoPerfect CMYK bundled with midrange flatbed (like UMAX PowerLook III) and then buy upgrade to Color Pro.