| While working with the ArtixScan M1 scanner over the course of the last few weeks for our review, we’ve had a chance to spend some quality time with the scanner and have gotten a good feel for what the ArtixScan M1 brings to the table both good and bad. We had an opportunity to speak with Microtek’s Manager of Product Marketing Parker Plaisted recently to address some of the nagging questions we had regarding the scanner and to just chat about the ArtixScan M1 in general.
Edward Mendes: The ArtixScan M1 was originally announced in October of 2006 and was set for release in February of 2007. Obviously that didn’t happen, let’s set the record straight, what was the cause of the delay?
Parker Plaisted: The ArtixScan M1 has new components that took longer to develop than the engineers anticipated. One of the critical components, the new circuit board, took much longer to debug than the engineers anticipated. The entirely new circuit board was a big project from beginning to end, and delivers significant improvements in scan speed in the ArtixScan M1 over previous Microtek scanners. The new auto focus system, including hardware, software and firmware, was another project that took longer than anticipated. The long delay was a big embarrassment for us, but we knew it was more important to deliver a high quality product than to meet the announced schedule. Therefore, we delayed the release until we were satisfied that the ArtixScan M1 was ready to be released. EM: What are some of the features that set the ArtixScan M1 apart from other scanners on the market? PP: First, when compared to other flatbed scanners, E.D.I.T. and auto focus are the two stand-out features that differentiate the ArtixScan M1 from all other flatbed scanners. These two features contribute to superior image quality from the ArtixScan M1 when compared to other flatbed scanners. Second, when compared to dedicated film scanners, the ArtixScan M1 offers much more capability with support for 35mm, 6cm, and 4x5-inch film with the included film holders and support for additional film sizes up to 8x10-inch film with the included glass tray. The ArtixScan M1 is also capable of reflective scanning for materials up to 8.5 by 14 inches, which is a feature that dedicated film scanners do not have. The versatility of the ArtixScan M1, with high-quality film scanning capabilities, at the price of $649.99 makes the ArtixScan M1 stand out in comparison with other flatbed scanners and dedicated film scanners. EM: One of the ArtixScan M1’s major features is its glassless film scanning feature which Microtek has dubbed EDIT (Emulsion Direct Imaging Technology). What advantages are seen in scanning film without a glass bed? PP: Traditional film scanners, based on CCD technology, were designed to suspend the film in the air. This design avoided a few significant problems caused by scanning film through a glass support: Newton Rings, dust and other translucent or opaque materials collected on the glass, and reduction of optical efficiency (i.e., light loss). This glassless design has worked well for many dedicated film scanners from several manufacturers. An additional benefit of the Microtek E.D.I.T. glassless design has become apparent with the increase in the optical resolution of flatbed scanners. In a design where the film is supported by glass and the film is scanned through that glass, the optical quality (i.e., clarity and optical flatness) of the glass has a significant impact on the sharpness and uniformity of the scan. A large sheet of high quality glass is expensive and would add significant cost to the scanner. With the E.D.I.T. design, Microtek can avoid the trade-off between glass cost and quality, because the film is not scanned through a sheet of glass. EM: Digital Ice is a feature that many photographers are looking for in a film scanner and are bemoaning the fact that the ArtixScan M1 lacks it. We know the ArtixScan M1’s European cousin the ArtixScan F1 has DIGITAL ICE included so why not in the American model? PP: We recognize the benefits of the DIGITAL ICE technology when scanning color film. Unfortunately, DIGITAL ICE does not work with traditional silver-based B&W film because the silver in the film is not translucent to infrared light. Both Microtek and Eastman Kodak are interested in including DIGITAL ICE in Microtek scanners, but a business agreement could not be reached before the decision was made by Microtek to release the ArtixScan M1 in North America. The Microtek ArtixScan F1 is a different product and is not sold in the North American market. EM: Some ArtixScan M1 users have an issue with banding on their image files, I’ve heard through the grapevine that LaserSoft Imaging has been successful in replicating the banding and is working on a fix. Is there any truth to this and what is the current status of the ArtixScan M1’s banding issue? PP: Microtek has tried to reproduce the problem in our test lab at our Los Angeles office, but we have not been able to reproduce the problem. The Microtek engineering team has been informed about this issue, and sample scans from customers have been sent to these engineers as examples of the problem. The Microtek engineers are investigating the issue. The LaserSoft Imaging engineering team has been informed about this issue and those engineers are investigating the problem. At this time, I do not have any information about the root cause of the problem. We are still investigating the issue. EM: I’m very impressed with how well the ArtixScan M1 is built, it looks and feels like a professional piece of machinery, this is something that Microtek is known for. How important is it for you to build a piece of hardware that will stand up to heavy professional use? PP: The Microtek scanners have been robust and are designed to hold up well with repeated use over a long period of time. We are very proud of that feature. A large percentage of our customers use our scanners in a professional or commercial environment and these customers need a robust scanner. This feature is a clear point of differentiation for Microtek scanners, and we plan to continue to build robust scanners for our customers. EM: One of the first things a user will notice when they start un-packing their ArtixScan M1 is all the printed manuals and user guides. You’ve seemed to go out of your way to give the end user hard printed material to reference. In a day and age of PDF files and online user manuals what was the thoughts behind including printed material? PP: For any company in a competitive market, it is important to reduce costs to enable lower prices for the products. Some companies chose to stop printing manuals and other documentation to lower costs. We have access to relatively low cost printing resources in China, so we can keep our printing costs low. For the ArtixScan M1, and many of our scanners sold in professional or commercial markets, we decided to continue printing the manuals and other documentation because we recognized the value and convenience it provides to our customers. In this case, the value justified the cost. EM: The ArtixScan M1 is the only flatbed scanners on the market to offer auto focus at an affordable price point. Why was it so important to release the ArtixScan M1 with the auto focus feature as opposed to going a more traditional route of a fixed focus scanning unit? PP: The Microtek engineering team has experience with previous auto focus designs for Microtek film scanners. The engineering team saw an opportunity to implement an auto focus design in the ArtixScan M1, so prior experience is part of the reason. The other part is the optical resolution and the disadvantages of going to a higher optical resolution. As the optical design is adjusted to achieve a higher resolution, the depth of field for the scan decreases. Therefore, the tolerance for the position of the film becomes smaller. A small error in the position of the film can lead to a dramatic reduction in the sharpness of the scan. Manual adjustment of the film position, in a fixed focus system, is tedious and time consuming for the users who are willing to undertake that task. Auto focus is a much more efficient and effective solution for setting the optical system, or the film, in the best position to achieve the sharpest focus. The auto focus design in the ArtixScan M1 adjusts the optical system through a series of positions to find the best position to achieve the sharpest focus. EM: Thanks Parker If you haven't read our review of the ArtixScan M1 yet you can do so HERE. | 
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