2003 1 Colortrac enhanced The products, their markets, their competitors...?

2003 1

Colortracenhanced

The products,

their markets,

their competitors. . .?

2003 2

Colortrac Background ~ Overview

• Market-driven LF scanner design & manufacture (since 1980s - via ANAtech, Scangraphics & Tangent)

• Application software development for Copying, Archiving, GIS, Raster Editing

• Facilities• R&D in Cambridge UK• Manufacture in UK, USA and China• Sales & support centres in UK, USA and China

• International sales via VAR & OEM partners

2003 3

ACTion Imaging Solutions ~ Formation

Three separate market-leading Companies

September 1999

Colortrac acquires ANAtech and Tangent

One Company ~ Colortrac Ltd

Product brands for individual markets

Brands

• ANAtech

• Colortrac

• Tangent

2003 4

ACTion Imaging Solutions 2003 ~ ‘Return of COLORTRAC’


Two scanner brands


Product brands for individual markets

Brands

• ANAtech

• Colortrac

• Tangent

• Colortrac

Mainstream

• ANAtech High

Value

• Tangent

Terminated

2003 5

Colortrac Background ~ Innovation

• Innovation leaders– 1st to market with :~

• Large scale scanning applications (1980s)

• Hi-Value sheet feed LF colour scanner (1993)

• Inexpensive LF colour scanner (1994)• A0 digital colour copy solution (1996)• Thick media handling capability (1998)• 54” colour scanner (1999)

• Queen’s Award for Export 1999

2003 6

Colortrac - The MarketBusiness Profiles for Scanning:

Market segments Features

CAD/AEC, FM – FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

COPY SHOPS, CORPORATE IN-HOUSE PRINTING GIS (non-professional)

PROFESSIONAL REPRO GRAPHIC ARTS

PROFESSIONAL GIS/ MAPPING, PRE-PRESS & PROOFING

Large Volume Archiving / Document Management

Key Needs

Fast batch scanning. Often work with other applications. Image clean up & editing. High scan speeds. Multiple file formats. e.g. PDF. JPEG

Simple copying & archiving. “Mid-Range” Quality, Productivity, Functionality. Compatibility with existing equipment. Robust operability. Good ROI

Emphasis on colour management. High quality colour reproduction. Demanding originals. Flexibility. Capability. Productivity.

Emphasis on geometric accuracy. High optical resolution. Post scan image processing. Relatively low volume.

Fast batch scanning. Interaction with other applications. Image clean up & editing. High scan speeds. Multiple file formats.

Functionality View, Edit, Colour Reduction, Feature Extraction, Index, Archive, EDM, Convert, Measure, Red Line, Copy, Print

View, Crop, Copy, Print, Archive

View, Edit, Copy, Print, Archive

View, Edit, Feature Extraction, Archive, Measure, Red Line, Print

View, Edit, Colour Reduction, Feature Extraction, Index, Archive, EDM, Convert, Measure, Red Line, Copy, Print

User Skills Functionality more important than ease of use - skilled users.

Unskilled and general office users. May have black & white scanning skills

Technically proficient & dedicated operators. Fast service response.

Technically proficient, professional operators & occasional users.

Functionality more important than ease of use - skilled users.

Colour Limited use of colour. Approx. match is fine

Reliable colour reproduction.

Colour & Image Quality is KEY.

Limited use of colour. Colour & Image Quality is important.

Documents Engineering assembly drawings and schematics. Utility maps & architectural plans. Often poor quality originals.

Wide range of original media types and sizes including legal, photographic, posters, print, drawings, maps, graphics design.

Very wide range of original media types and sizes including photographic, fine art, print, drawings, maps, graphics design, displays etc.

Information rich originals. Maps / schematics, some satellite photography. Large oversize originals.

Engineering assembly drawings and schematics. Utility maps & architectural plans. Often poor quality originals.

Price sensitivity

Affordability is very important.

Affordability is important. ROI & Cost of ownership more important than price.

Specification & Quality come before price.

Specification & Quality come before price.

2003 7

2003-05-23

UK £

US $

Euro

UK £ Plus Minus Plus Minus Plus Minus Plus Minus Plus Minus Plus Minus Plus Minus Plus Minus

Contex Premier TX 36 7,86 P/W/I/M/A/T F/D I/M/CS/CU/T P C/I/M/CS/T P/R

Graphtec CS 1000 8,67 P/W/I/M/A C/R P/I/M/F/CS/D C/W/R C/I/M/S/F/CS/D P/W/R

XES Synergix Mono Base 8,70 P/W/I/M/A F/CS/CU/D P/I/M C/I/M P/R

Contex Premier TX 36 Plus 9,11 P/W/A/T I/M/F/D P/I/CS/CU/T M C/I/CS/T R/M

Graphtec CS 2000 9,33 P/I/S/F/CS/D W/R W/I/S/F/CS/D P/R I/S/F/CS/D P/W/R

Contex Chameleon TX 36 9,36 I/M/S/CS/T R W/I/M/S/CS/T P/R I/M/S/CS/T P

XES Synergix Mono Pro 9,67 P/W/M/A F/CS/CU/D P/I/M ? C/I/M R C/W/I P/R

Contex Crystal TX 40 10,36 W/I/S/CS/T R I/M/S/CS/T P/W/R

Contex Chameleon TX 36 Plus 10,61 P/S/CS/T R/I/M P/W/S/CS/T R/I/M S/CS/T P/I/M

Contex Crystal TX 40 Plus 11,61 P/W/I/S/CS/T R/I/M S/CS/T W/R/I/M

XES Synergix Color Base 11,83 P/I/M ?

Contex Cougar TX 36 12,36 P/I/M/S/CS/T

Contex Cougar TX 36 Plus 13,61 P/CS/T I/M/S

Contex Chroma TX 40 15,36 P/W/I/M/CS/T R

Contex Chroma TX 40 Plus 16,61 P/W/CS/T R/I/M/S

XES Synergix Color Pro 19,20 P/I/M S

Contex Magnum 3050 17,86 P/I/M/S/F/CS/T W/R I/M/S/F/CS/T P

Contex Magnum 6050 19,16 P/I/M/S/F/CS/T W/R I/M/F/CS/T S

Contex Magnum 8050 21,36 P/I/M/S/F/CS/T W/R P/I/M/F/CS/T S

Contex WideImage or EasyScan 0,51

Contex JetImage Pro+ 2,25

Contex Stand 0,35

30,5014,50 17,50 18,50 21,50 23,50

Evo Pro 3640e 4260e 3680e3680Me 5480e4860e 4280e

19,0014,7511,50 13,50

10,50

7,00 9,00 10,008,25

11,25 13,25

31,5012,50 14,50 16,50 18,75 21,00 23,00

Colortrac - The Market

2003 8

Colortracenhanced

• ScanWorks scan2file SW with image editing and advanced batch processing FOC• CopyWorks copying and RIP SW FOC• high throughput due to SW workflow• low maintenance due to no scan glass• available 36 to 54 inches• all RGB and mono• 2 year RTF warranty• electronic & automatic stitch calibration• TWAIN driver FOC – ISIS driver available• stabile chassis minimizing need for calibration• Firewire & SCSI (Firewire card and cable incl.)• mono accelerator giving high productivity in mono mode• glassless aperture (reduces streaks and lines in the image)• DNA Dynamic Normalization Appl. (reduces streaks and lines in the image)

Models: 3640e, 4260e, 3680e, 4860e, 4280e, 5480e

2003 9

Is Hewlett-Packard a problem?

42” scanner with onboard scan2print/copy and scan2file processing

Colortrac 3680e 4260e/4280e

HP DJ 4200

HP MFP 815

36”/42” high speed, flexible and reliable colour scanners

42” colour copier with onboard scan2print/copy + scan2file

2003 10

Let’s examine the claims. . .

*200 dpi

Poor quality, touch pad resolution screen for control - NOT for viewing the scan !

850 MHz processor - SLOW, OBSOLETE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO UPGRADE

STYLUS? - Why is this fitted? A stylus normally indicates precision is needed. Suggests a high degree of control is required somewhere in the software

KEYBOARD? - An untrained Windows operator will not welcome this. Why is it fitted if it the DJ4200 is so simple to operate?

Glass which can get scratched and smeared. A scanner aperture glass means high levels of document cleanliness must be maintained. The glass will need replacing at regular intervals.

Despite its weight the Contex chassis still fails to control camera stitch problems as well as Colortrac

CD Writer - a DVD makes more sense!

2003 11

The problems with this concept. . .

*quote from Hewlett-Packard dj4200 details page

2. The DJ4200 is marketed as a simple device but file formats and scan resolution setting require training and understanding. HP say this product is for file format illiterates *

Summary - Too technical for the print room operator.

Too limited for the expert

Colortrac and Contex have tried this before and it was not successful. Why?

- The computer/ processor is superceded very quickly and is often out-of-date even when first launched. The user is locked into the supplied hard disk and processor.

- The DJ4200 supports PDF, CALSG4, JPEG and others to CD, disk or file. This is completely opposite to HP’s, ‘ No knowledge required boast!’

1. An internal computer can be a problem

2003 12

The problems with this concept. . .

Summary - Too restrictive

- Hewlett-Packard printer ownership can be expensive. The user has no chance to switch to a different brand of printer to take advantage of better deals for media and inks or better local service or support.

3. The DJ 4200 software locks the user into printing / copying ONLY to HP printers.

2003 13

What about the 815mfp . . .?

Summary - Too wasteful

- It can be if you later decide you want to run two printers.

For example if you wish to have one printer for photographic quality work and a second for plain paper CAD copies.

The 815mfp locks the user into printing / copying ONLY to the integral printer!

Is this a problem?

2003 14

The Colortrac advantage. . .

The 3680e, 4260e/4280e are a better scanner buy and have the following advantages:

- Higher scan speeds at 200dpi*

- Better black & white scanning results

- More interactive image control for better productivity

- The 3680e has a narrower scan width but then 90% of customers are happy with a 915mm (36”) scan width.

- The Colortrac offers a higher accuracy at 0.1%

- Colortracs have a much better reliability record than current Contex Tx technology

- The user is free to upgrade the attached computer and still have the original PC available for useful work

* 4280e is same speed in colour and 50% faster in black & white than DJ4200

2003 15

How to sell Colortrac. . .

- flexibility

add your own high-spec computer, choose your own software for an extensible and open/ non-proprietary growth solution

- performancethe Colortrac is faster in colour and productivity is better because of more effective black & white and colour image control and easier scanner maintenance

- reliabilitybecause of better ‘engineered-in’ camera stability and fewer moving parts the Colortrac is more reliable

- productivityOpen aperture for higher effective throughput due to reduced maintenance and better first time quality

2003 16

The conclusions are obvious . . . !

2003 17

The Facts about Colortrac Open Aperture

• Open Aperture prevents streaks in the scanned image caused by dirt or deposits on the glass!

• An Open Aperture design cannot scratch the glass because there is no glass!

• BUT what about the effects of DIRT and DUST finding their way inside the scanner optics?

WELL LET’S EXAMINE THE FACTS!

The lid containing the pinch rollers and paper hold-down assembly has been removed for clarity

2003 18

Open Aperture - ‘The Design’

• The ‘Aperture’ on a Series 4 scanner is only 6mm wide • All illumination and the delivery of the scanned information back to the CCDs is handled in the small area circled

• The CCD cameras are not positioned in the ‘gravity fall’ path below the aperture

• The CCDs are focussed on the media!

WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR THE COLORTAC USER?

Scan path from camera(s)

Media path through scanner

Cross-section of the Series 4 head assembly

2003 19

Open Aperture - ‘An experiment’

STEP 1.

• Take a metal wire and allow it to rest across the mirror (the mirrors could be where dust will settle).

N.B. A metal wire is much larger than dust particles!

2003 20


STEP 2.

• Run the scanner and look for the effect of the wire in the image

Result: The wire has created a shadow or darker area but the scanner is still working!

Sca

n d

irect

ion

2003 21


STEP 3.

• Now recalibrate the scanner using the white target (2 mins)

Result: After calibrating the shadow has gone and the detail is still there in the arrow head!

Sca

n d

irect

ion

2003 22

Colortrac Workshop - Lock-out tender specificationsLockout:

No streaks, reduced maintenance, reduced running costs

Advantages:

2003 23

Lockout:

Stable fully electronic compensation system (no motors)

Advantages:

Colortrac Workshop - Lock-out tender specifications

2003 24

Lockout:

Less temperature and surroundings induced optical problems

Advantages:


2003 25

Lockout:

Advantages:

Low frequency of firmware upgrade (no fixing problems in the field)


2003 26

Lockout:

Sheet-feed, high accuracy console and flatbed models

Advantages:


2003 27

Lockout:

ScanWorks is unique because scan settings can be tested / adjusted / stored in the computer without rescanning for increased productivity

Advantages:


2003 28

Colortrac Flatbed 24120

• Can accept almost any type of original e.g. irregular edged, friable, non-flexible and pressure sensitive documents !

• Highly accurate A1 size colour and monochrome flatbed scanner 0.05%*600dpi optical resolution

• Uses the acclaimed Scanworks software interface for maximum operational ease

colour, high accuracy, flatbed

Model: 24120* Requires Colortrac engineer at installation

2003 29

• No need to use wallets to protect valuable originalsDocuments can be laid flat using the cushioned document cover• No need to use warp correction software or geo-referencing post-processing to restore accuracy to scan• Scan metal fastenings,* hangar strips, mounts etc

* Avoid scratching glassModel: 24120

Colortrac Flatbed 24120colour, high accuracy, flatbed

2003 30

• Museum archiving

• Geographical Information Systems

• High Resolution Colour Graphics

• Mapping

•Pre-Press Proofing

Model: 24120


2003 31

Model: 24120

• There are relatively few rivals: Kongsberg*, Canon** and these are prohibitively expensive

•The 24120 is compatible withall of the current Colortrac software e.g. Copyworks, Scanworks, and its modules e.g. colour classification & colour profiling

* Now called ProCaptura

** Not made any longer - no spares


2003 32

Colortracenhanced

The products;

their markets;

their competitors

Thank you for your time and attention.