New contact-free large format art scanner delivers the market’s most lifelike results
HD Apeiron/42, the new contact-free art scanner from Contex, uses unparalleled technology to accurately digitize media. With the market’s most realistic image quality, full light control and a unique ability to emphasize details, the scanner is ideal for fine art, fragile artifacts and more. This art scanner is another innovative solution from the world leader in large format scanning.
ALLEROED, DENMARK – June 28, 2023 – Museums, art galleries, copy shops and others have a powerful new way to boost the quality of scanned artwork. The HD Apeiron/42 scanner from Contex delivers contact-free digitization of detailed and delicate originals with unprecedented accuracy.
Meeting the highest FADGI image quality level with four stars as the first of its kind, and also reaching CRI levels above 98 makes it clear that this scanner is head and shoulders above the rest.
Featuring a clearance height of 10 inches (254 mm) and a focal plane of up to 5.1 inches (130 mm), it also enables scanning of thicker media, such as framed artwork.
“When you’re working with what could be priceless originals, only the best is good enough,” says Jacob Bendix, CCO and VP of Global Sales & Marketing. “HD Apeiron/42 beats the competition on all parameters, which means our entry into the art scanner space will open up new opportunities for our customers. The technology we have put behind digitizing art and other media is simply better and more effective.”
Unparalleled technology and light control
Six quad-linear Fujifilm lenses with Toshiba color CCDs capture all details in up to 1200 dpi optical resolution – twice the competition’s image quality.
Patent-pending laser-controlled camera adjustment and motorized focus adjustment make focusing easy as well.
“The way we integrated the precision timing belt for the table transmission makes HD Apeiron/42 equally as precise as our other scanners which we have further developed and improved over the last 20+ years,” says Søren Thuun Jensen, CTO and VP of R&D. “Together with the lighting in the scan module which is uniformly illuminated in all three dimensions, it is, simply put, a superior scanner.”
The lamps in HD Apeiron/42 recreate the natural daylight spectrum using cutting-edge LEDs with TRI-RTM technology. This, plus the clever design of LED strips mounted in elliptical reflectors, results in correct and uniform colors – and no distance fading.
Preserving the unique surface sensations of an original in the scanned image is also easy. HD Apeiron/42 offers four different lamp positions, and depending on their position, the lamps provide different types of highlights and shadow effects – especially if paired with the 3D option. In comparison the competition has only one lamp position.
Museum-correct light with no UV/IR radiation conserves the art.
Fast, flexible and fitted
HD Apeiron/42 is the fastest contact-free large format scanner on the market. A flexible solution; it improves workflows while ensuring superior image quality.
The hardware is designed to support correct ergonomics; this includes an adjustable arm with the touchscreen, so the operator doesn’t have to hunch over.
Simple scanning
Award-winning Nextimage software forms the operational foundation of the scanner. While the Nextimage Apeiron software (included) itself is complex, using it is as simple as:
- Choosing between presets (or making and saving your own)
- Positioning the table and the focal plane
- Scanning
All required parameters are readily accessible on the touchscreen rather than hidden behind tabs or dropdown menus. A variety of post-scanning options also allow the user to adjust parameters and effects, if desired.
About Contex
Contex has earned its reputation as the market leader in large format scanning by developing state-of-the-art technology since 1923. Known for reliability, high performance and superb image quality, Contex world-class scanners are sold in more than 100 countries.
Get more details on the HD Apeiron/42 at https://contex.com/hdapeiron
See the entire range of Contex large format scanners at https://contex.com/products
| HD Apeiron/42 | The competition | |
| Media scan size | 42×60×5.1 inches (1067×1524×130 mm) |
36×60×3.9 inches (914×1524×100 mm) |
| Compliances | FADGI **** (4 stars) ISO 19264-1:2021 (imaging quality of reflective originals) Energy Star 3.0 |
FADGI *** (3 stars) ISO 19264-1 level B |
| 3D effect | Yes, slide for desired degree of 3D effect | Yes, light or strong texture |
| Focus adjustment | 5-points laser controlled focus adjustment (Pat. Pend.) |
3-points motorized focus adjustment |
| Scanning speed (300 dpi, 24-bit color) | 6 inches per second | 1.38 inches per second |
| Cameras | 6 × quad-linear color CCDs (RGB and gray) |
3 × tri-color CCDs (RGB) |
| Table conveyance system | Precision timing belt transmission with triple-point direction control system | Rubber capstan direct-drive |
| Optical resolution | 1200×1200 dpi | 600×600 dpi |
| Total number of pixels | 256,320 pixels | 67,500 pixels |
| Light sources | Two adjustable elliptical reflector lamps with dual LED strips each; LED natural daylight spectrums for color correctness: 2700K, 5000K, 6500K; no IR/UV radiation | Two lamps with white LEDs; integrated optical diffusor; no IR/UV radiation |
