Best Way to Scan

So I have been scanning my cels for a long time now but recently I have starting really wanting to find a better way to do it. Right now I am scanning my cels but they get cut off because the scanner is only 8.5"x11". I have been able to scan both top and bottom and stitch them together on some of my cels but it usually doesn't work to well on most cels.

Long story short, I don't want to take pictures because I like having a super high-res image to archive and show off here in my gallery. All of the few scanners that I have found that are big enough (11"x17" usually) to scan the entire cel at once are beyond expensive usually. Does anyone have any tips on scanning techniques or a decently priced scanner big enough for cels that you personally use and can comment on?

Hi,

This has been a constant question with all of us (collectors). Over the years I have heard that for a fairly decent scanner A3 size (11 x17) that won't break the bank is by Mustek. From what I heard you either love it or hate it. My brother uses it for all his original comic art and really enjoys it as well as a few other members use Mustek scanners here on RS. There are a couple different models below.
http://www.amazon.com/Mustek-Express-A3-USB-Scanner/dp/B000WKSZ5A/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1370147196&sr=8-10&keywords=large+bed+scanners

I have been looking too for a while now, and I really enjoy Epson. Like you said the new Epson large bed scanners are usually in the $2k realm. So, I am still trying to decide. Please let us know what you end up going with.

As far as merging the two images. Everybody has their own way for that. Maybe someone will chime in here to help you. I don't have much experience with that.

Anyways, hope the link helps. It will be nice to hear what you decide.

Best,

Matt

I have an A3 sized Epson 1000XL scanner that I bought used on E-bay for less than half of the 2K asking price last year. I went this route after getting tired of paying people to stitch my scans together and reading all the (mostly) negative reviews for the Mustek. I've used my scanner often over the past year and I couldn't be happier with it. My only question is why I waited so long to buy one.

If you're in the hobby for the long haul and you're accustomed to dropping hundreds of dollars on art, I recommend just sucking it up and buying the Epson. Yeah, it's a pricey (and heavy unit at 50lbs) unit, but the image quality is great, and the software is very user friendly.

I have a Mustek scanner Matt mentioned in the link above and I'm not very happy with it to say the least, images consistently require editing for its color faded scans and darn nearly impossible to edit to what I want them to look. But it might also just be a model problem. There is a newer version of this scanner in black color and slightly more expensive that I have read decent reviews on, if you want Mustek then that's most probably the best one to go for.

I have the Mustek scanner and I'm fairly happy with it. I also do all of my touch ups in Photoshop to make up for any quality the scanner misses. Before the Mustek I just used a regular 8.5 x 11" scanner and stitched my scans together in Photoshop.

I recommend the Mustek because its so cheap, but if I ever become rich I would definitely buy the $2k Epson scanner.