Linotype-Hell Tango

[sperera]

can anyone talk to me about this scanner....I have the opportunity of getting one cheap....

[Bruce Watson]

can anyone talk to me about this scanner....I have the opportunity of getting one cheap....

From what I can tell, it's an excellent scanner if you're scanning trannies for magazine and advertising work. For larger output, it's not as sharp as some of the other drum scanners out there. Also, for scanning negatives it's not as easy to use as other scanners / software that's out there. Some would call the Heidelberg scanners and software "negative hostile".

That said, I've never actually driven one myself, so all I know is hearsay from people who have, and from postings on forums where drum scanners are discussed.

Do your homework on used drum scanners. Get a fully turn-key system, everything including the mounting station, the software, the computer the software runs on (typically an ancient Mac), and the dongle that activates the software. Everything you need to scan should be included, and I mean everything (because you can't buy it from companies that either are gone or who have exited the scanning biz, like Heidelberg has exited the scanning biz). It should all be one package, or you should walk IMHO. And you should get a demo on it and some instruction if you want.

As to "cheap" the prices of drum scanners are nearing the floor. There's a lot of them being carted to landfills and recycling stations for lack of interest. Make sure you know its real market value before you make a deal.

[sperera]

thanks for your comments Bruce, you're a legend here so im glad to have your help....!!!

I have a Scanmate 5000 drum scanner already running ColorQuartet off a Powerbook G3 laptop with OS 9.2 and I'm focused to make it work well with colour negative. I posted scans on my Portra 160NC thread over in APUG. The unfortuneatae thing is i was forced to scan as a positive, invert in Photoshop and go from there as opposed to using the profile i created....I got better results that way as much as it pained me.

I NEED to make a great profile of Kodak Portra 160NC in particular. I have created one already but hopefully there will be someone out there who will email me there's to compare with mine ideally!!!!!

Ive posted over in the Yahoo hi-end scanner group so hopefully someone will one day help me.....

From what I can tell, it's an excellent scanner if you're scanning trannies for magazine and advertising work. For larger output, it's not as sharp as some of the other drum scanners out there. Also, for scanning negatives it's not as easy to use as other scanners / software that's out there. Some would call the Heidelberg scanners and software "negative hostile".

That said, I've never actually driven one myself, so all I know is hearsay from people who have, and from postings on forums where drum scanners are discussed.

Do your homework on used drum scanners. Get a fully turn-key system, everything including the mounting station, the software, the computer the software runs on (typically an ancient Mac), and the dongle that activates the software. Everything you need to scan should be included, and I mean everything (because you can't buy it from companies that either are gone or who have exited the scanning biz, like Heidelberg has exited the scanning biz). It should all be one package, or you should walk IMHO. And you should get a demo on it and some instruction if you want.

As to "cheap" the prices of drum scanners are nearing the floor. There's a lot of them being carted to landfills and recycling stations for lack of interest. Make sure you know its real market value before you make a deal.

[james beck]

I would suggest contacting Karl Hudson (karl@hudsongrafik.com) He is a former Hell/Heidelberg engineer and a great resource for fully supporting the Tango-Primescan scanners. I own and operate the Primescan and it produces excellent scans be it from transparencies or negatives. I've been scanning for over 25 years and still make my living at it. While there is a lot or hearsay surrounding the Tango-Primescan, it is just that...hearsay. If you don't take the time to understand and correctly use this scanner, then you too will be frustrated and disappointed in the results. Karl will give you the straight story...shoot him an email.

Good luck.
Jim

[sperera]

thanks appreciate it...

I would suggest contacting Karl Hudson (karl@hudsongrafik.com) He is a former Hell/Heidelberg engineer and a great resource for fully supporting the Tango-Primescan scanners. I own and operate the Primescan and it produces excellent scans be it from transparencies or negatives. I've been scanning for over 25 years and still make my living at it. While there is a lot or hearsay surrounding the Tango-Primescan, it is just that...hearsay. If you don't take the time to understand and correctly use this scanner, then you too will be frustrated and disappointed in the results. Karl will give you the straight story...shoot him an email.

Good luck.
Jim

[sperera]

I'm being offered the Tango scanner, 2 drums, mounting station and Apple Mac with the software running it all for under 300 euros....what you think?

From what I can tell, it's an excellent scanner if you're scanning trannies for magazine and advertising work. For larger output, it's not as sharp as some of the other drum scanners out there. Also, for scanning negatives it's not as easy to use as other scanners / software that's out there. Some would call the Heidelberg scanners and software "negative hostile".

That said, I've never actually driven one myself, so all I know is hearsay from people who have, and from postings on forums where drum scanners are discussed.

Do your homework on used drum scanners. Get a fully turn-key system, everything including the mounting station, the software, the computer the software runs on (typically an ancient Mac), and the dongle that activates the software. Everything you need to scan should be included, and I mean everything (because you can't buy it from companies that either are gone or who have exited the scanning biz, like Heidelberg has exited the scanning biz). It should all be one package, or you should walk IMHO. And you should get a demo on it and some instruction if you want.

As to "cheap" the prices of drum scanners are nearing the floor. There's a lot of them being carted to landfills and recycling stations for lack of interest. Make sure you know its real market value before you make a deal.

[8x10 user]

Not bad but it might cost more then that to have it locked down, transported, and installed.

Its very important to have all scanners properly locked down before transport.