Whether wanting to scan in linework or capture full blown graphics, our choice of the best scanners out there for creatives has something for everyone.

The usefulness of a scanner these days provides for an interesting flashpoint in the relationship between traditional and digital art. While a lot of artists and designers do linework on their tablet devices, there are also many who vouch for doing outlines in ink before scanning onto a device for colouring digitally.

A scanner can also be invaluable for adding graphics, illustrations and type to vectorise for a digital piece, a designer knowing that the capture from a scanner will always be truer than that from the shutter of a camera. If the lighting’s wrong for your shot, then expect an inaccuracy with the facsimile created that simply doesn’t occur with a scan.

You might also want to capture the certain shade of a colour in a magazine or book that’s inspired you, to then sample from your scan for a digital project you’re working on. You could invest in a handheld Pantone Capsure if you want – but a decent scanner can easily be half the price of this kind of colour capture tool, so it really just depends on your budget.

If you’re reading this and find you’re nodding your head, then read on to find all the specs and advice you need when shopping around for your first or next scanner – and find our most recommended scanners out there below with a summary of each device and price tag.

What makes a good scanner for art and design?

First up, put away any notions of a bulky beast pulled straight out of your 9-to-5 office nightmare. A good scanner for artists and designers will be the stand-alone desktop sort, preferably a flatbed type with a lid you can press down on your documents (as below).

Do most scanners work with a Mac?

This is something many creators overlook as it’s often taken for granted – but make sure your scanner has a MacOS driver before making a purchase.

Windows users are generally safe but anyone using a Macbook – i.e. most artists and designers out there – should read the fine print. MacOS drivers can be already on the machine or available as a separate download on the manufacturer’s website; to make things easier for you all our scanner picks in this feature are Mac friendly.

What are good specs for a scanner?

Any decent scanner should offer an optical resolution of 4,800dpi or more if you’re looking to scan in colours. Any higher and the difference won’t necessarily be obvious – but any lower and it will.

Your perfect scanner for art and design should also have CCD scanning tech. CCD stands for Charged Coupled Device, an image sensor that uses an actual lens to reduce the scanned image onto the scanner’s imaging sensor. This lens is the sort you’d find in a legacy digital camera, giving all the capturing capabilities you’ll need; most of our picks below are CCD unless otherwise noted.

Don’t scanners capture ‘dirt’ on an image?

Most scanners come with software that can detect irregularities sitting on top of the emulsion of what’s being scanned, like Digital ICE for example which usually comes with Epson models.

Are latest scanner models always better?

Scanner models are not updated on an annual basis, so don’t presume that because something came out a year ago that it’s automatically better.

Scanner tech is not a constantly evolving field, and a model from five years ago can still be more than ample enough to deal with your creative needs.

Do portable scanners exist – and are they reliable?

Portable scanners are an option for anyone who needs to travel from location to location, packing their kit along with their laptop and tablet. They look slim as a Toblerone packet or window blind mount, but almost always come with low specs. They can be useful though if you only intend to scan one sheet here and there simply for linework whilst on the move.

A compact scanner like the Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i below will always be your best bet – compact scanners aren’t as thin as their portable brothers, but can easily be lugged about, stowed away or placed on a small desk with little coverage.

If you do go small, you may be tempted to pay premium for a wireless model, but as it’s likely you’ll be working with your laptop on hand anyway, just get a standard type which you can hook up to your device’s USB portal.

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