In this article, we will be discussing the best art scanner for scanning in your artistic works. If you’re just starting out, choosing the best one can be quite confusing because there are so many different options out there.
And while the best smartphones have made it drastically easier to relay artworks through photos, nothing beats manually scanning them using devices that are primarily designed to get that specific job done.
That’s why in this article, we will be discussing what to look for when choosing an art scanner. We will then follow up with the best ones in detail to help make the decision-making process easier for you.
14+ Best Art Scanners in 2024
- Canon CanoScan LiDE400 – Best high-resolution art scanner (Editor’s Choice)
- Epson Perfection V600 – Best art scanner overall
- Plustek 1180 – Best large format art scanner
- Epson V39 – Best artwork scanner for beginners
- Canon CanoScan 9000F MKII – Best film and negative scanner
- Epson DS50000 A3 Scanner – Best scanner for office use
- Plustek A3 – Best value scanner for artwork
- Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanner – Best photo scanner
- Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600 – Best user-friendly art scanner for artists
- Canon IMAGEFORMULA R40 scanner – Best art scanner with a compact design
- Epson Perfection V19 – Best compact scanner with built-in kickstand
- Plustek OpticPro A320L – Best art scanner to offer extraordinary image quality
- Canon CanoScan LiDE400 Slim –Best scanner with high speed performance
- Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i – Best portable art scanner
Also see our features on the best cameras for photographing art and the best art printers.
What is the best art scanner?
We’ve picked Canon CanoScan LiDE400 as the best art scanner overall. But we’ve also gone ahead and listed some of the best art scanners to pick the most suitable for you.
14+ Best Art Scanners in 2024
1. Canon CanoScan LiDE400 (Editor’s Choice)
Bit Depth: 16 bits | Scan Resolution: 4800 x 4800 DPI | Compatibility: 5,6 Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows 7 SP1, Windows Vista SP1, Vista SP2, Windows XP SP3 32 bit.5,6. Mac:5,6Mac OS X v10.6.8 10.95,6 | Scan Speed: 8 seconds | Connection Interface: USB
Canon CanoScan LiDE400 is our top-ranked scanner for artwork as it’s known for producing high-resolution scans.
Apart from the great design clarity, it is lightweight and portable. It has USB ports that are easy to use and do not require any other power sources to function.
It is slim, fast, portable and great value making it our top pick for the best art scanner.
Pros |
Cons |
➕ The slim design looks stylish | ➖ Stand can feel flimsy |
➕ Portable | |
➕ Fast scanning |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Advanced Z-Lid accepts books and other thick media for scanning.
- Entire unit runs off USB power.
- Documents can be immediately uploaded to cloud services like OneDrive or Dropbox.
- Compatible with Windows 10/8.1/7 SP1, Mac OS X 10.10.5 - 10.13, and Linux with ScanGear MP driver installed.
2. Epson Perfection V600
Bit Depth – 48 Bit | Scan Resolution – 6400 DPI || Scan Speed – Up to 23 PPM | Connection Interface – USB
Epson Perfection V600 is one of the best art scanners overall. The Epson Perfection V600 captures every detail clearly and precisely.
This scanner has the best features when it comes to being able to highlight details and colors.
Pros | Cons |
➕Excellent color and image quality | ➖Does not have an automatic scan feature |
➕High scan resolution | |
➕Able to scan multiple kinds of artworks | |
➕Portable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Create extraordinary enlargements from film: 6400 x 9600 dpi for enlargements up to 17 Inches x 22 Inches. Maximum Scan Area 8.5 x 11.7 inches. TPU 2.7 x 9.5 inches
- Remove the appearance of dust and scratches from film: Digital ICE for Film
- Remove the appearance of tears and creases from photos: Digital ICE for prints
- Restore faded color photos with one touch: Epson easy photo fix included
- Scan slides, negatives and medium format panoramic film: Built in transparency unit
3. Plustek 1180 Scanner
Best large format art scanner
Optical scan resolution: 300 dpi | Scanning speed: 9 seconds| Interface: USB
The Plustek 1180 scanner is a spectacular pick for creatives who needs to make scans of wide-format documents. Whether magazines, zines, books, or booklets, the Plustek 1180 is great for documents like blueprints or large designs that would limit graphic designers on most scanners.
Speed-wise, it’ll take roughly 9 seconds to thoroughly scan entire spreads. If you regularly work with larger documents, the Plustek 1180 is one of the best scanners to work with.
Pros |
Cons |
➕ Quick scanning speed | ➖ Could have better resolution |
➕ Great for scanning large documents |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- ✔WE SCAN SIZES - A3 11.7"x 17" Large Format Scanning
- ✔NO MORE WAITING - LED Light Source, Save Energy, No Warm Up
- ✔HASSLE-FREE OPERATION - Pre Set Function One-Touch Button for Your Quick Use.
- ✔POWERFUL SOFTWARE BUNDLE - Enhanced OCR Accuracy with ABBYY FineReader 12, and DocAction for File Sharing
- ✔SCAN MODE - 48 bit Color /16 bit Gray-Scale for Scan Art, Documents and Other Items
4. Epson V39
Bit Depth: 48 Bit | Scan Resolution: 4800 DPI || Scan Speed: Up to 10 PPM | Connection Interface: USB
Epson V39 is the best artwork scanner for beginners because of how it’s very compact and easy to use. It’s actually so compact, it’s one of the slimmest art scanners on this list. Despite its size, you can scan large artworks by removing the lid. This allows you to scan thick books or scan artworks in bulk.
Considering its price point, it gives you a lot of value for your money because of its high resolution. It also has an auto-scanning function that allows you to scan a file from emails or cloud storage providers.
Pros | Cons |
➕High-quality images | ➖Scanning speed is low |
➕Easy to use | |
➕Budget-friendly |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- High quality scanning for photos and documents : 4800 dpi optical resolution (1) for amazing clarity and detail
- Preserve priceless memories: Restore, archive and share family photos for generations to come
- Scan to Google Drive and other cloud services (2): Epson Document Capture Pro and Easy Photo Scan software included
- Convenient: Easy to use buttons for scan jobs, plus a space saving built in kickstand for vertical placement
- Scan over sized prints, documents and artwork : ArcSoft Scan n Stitch Deluxe 2 included (3)
5. Canon CanoScan 9000F MKII
Bit Depth: 48 Bit | Scan Resolution: 9600 DPI || Scan Speed: Up to 25 PPM | Connection Interface: USB
What makes the Canon CanoScan 9000F MKII Photo, Film, and Negative Scanner one of the best art scanners for artwork is its high resolution. With an impressive 9600 DPI, you’ll be able to capture even the finest details of artworks.
Aside from its high resolution, it also has an auto-scanning feature. This will allow you to easily scan a lot of artworks and documents.
As for colors, this scanner will be able to capture vivid colors because of its 48-bit color depth. This makes your scanned artworks feel realistic. Finally, it also has FARE Level 3 technology. This ensures that the documents you scan won’t be accidentally damaged during the scanning process.
Pros | Cons |
➕Has a very high resolution | ➖The lid isn’t that flexible which sometimes becomes problematic while scanning thick artworks |
➕High-speed scanning | |
➕Able to scan multiple kinds of artworks | |
➕Auto scanning |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- My Image Garden Software handles photo and document scanning and organizes your files in a simple and friendly way so you can get the most out of them
- FARE (Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement) Level 3: This built-in retouching technology delivers automatic correction to photos and film, removing much of the dust and scratches while restoring...
- Zero warm-up time and offers lower power consumption with super-efficient white LEDs
- Auto Scan Mode automatically adjusts settings by detecting what you're scanning
- OS Compatibility : Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP and Mac OS X v10.6.8 to 10.7
6. Epson DS50000 A3 Scanner
Bit Depth: 48 Bit | Scan Resolution: 9600 DPI || Scan Speed: Up to 25 PPM | Connection Interface: USB
Epson DS50000 A3 Scanner is great for industrial use as it can scan a large number of files. It’s also a large-format scanner so it can scan documents up to 11.7″ x 17″. This makes it easy to scan different kinds of artwork.
The scanning speed is also relatively fast so you can finish quickly if you have a lot of artwork to scan.
Pros | Cons |
➕Compatibility | ➖May overexpose artworks during scanning |
➕Quick scanning speed | |
➕Able to scan multiple kinds of artworks | |
➕Auto cloud storage |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Large-format scanning: scan documents up to 11.7" x 17".
- Minimize Downtime: 3-year limited warranty includes Advance Exchange with free Next-Business-Day Replacement.
- Achieve remarkable results: 4-line CCD sensor (RGB and black) provides vivid color and crisp, sharp text.
- Integration: Compatible with your software - comes with both TWAIN and ISIS drivers.
- Network Capable: Turn the DS-50000 into a secure networked workgroup scanner using the optional Epson Network Scan module.
7. Plustek A3
Bit Depth: 48 Bit | Scan Resolution: 1200 DPI || Scan Speed: Up to 30 PPM | Connection Interface: USB
Plustek A3 is one of the best art scanners on this list in terms of ease of use. It doesn’t require much effort to master operating this device. Aside from that, it also has an auto-scanning feature that will help speed up the process if you’re scanning lots of artwork.
Pros | Cons |
➕Auto-scan | ➖Not a good document scanner |
➕Color accuracy | |
➕Scan multiple images (photos) |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- ✔WE SCAN SIZES - A3 11.7"x 17" Large Format Scanning
- ✔NO MORE WAITING - LED Light Source, Save Energy, No Warm Up
- ✔HASSLE-FREE OPERATION - Pre Set Function One-Touch Button for Your Quick Use.
- ✔POWERFUL SOFTWARE BUNDLE - Enhanced OCR Accuracy with ABBYY FineReader 12, and DocAction for File Sharing
- ✔SCAN MODE - 48 bit Color /16 bit Gray-Scale for Scan Art, Documents and Other Items
8. Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanner
Bit Depth: 48 Bit |Scan Resolution: 9600 DPI | Connection Interface: USB
Epson Perfection V850 Pro scanner has an extremely good value for your money with its dynamic range. What this means is that it has good contrast between the darkest and brightest color tones.
This scanner can also capture vivid colors because of its 48-bit color depth. This will give you realistic and highly accurate colors when you scan artworks. Pair this feature with 9,600 DPI and you get a highly accurate, vivid, and detailed scan of your artworks.
Pros | Cons |
➕Auto-focusing | ➖Not budget-friendly |
➕High color accuracy | |
➕High-quality images |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Pro quality color & detail - get unparalleled scans W/ 6400 dpi resolution & Adv
- Remarkable tonal range - 4.0 Dmax for smooth gradations & fine Shadow detail
- Exclusive dual lens system - selects from 2 lenses for optimum results
- Operating systems: Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows XP professional x64 Edition and Mac OS X 10.6.X, 10.7.X, 10.8.X, 10.10.X
9. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600
Best user-friendly art scanner for artists
Bit Depth: 16 bits | Scan Resolution: 1,024 × 768 pixels | Compatibility: Mac and PC | Scan Speed: Up to 40 PPM | Connection Interface: USB, Wi-Fi
Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1600 is the best scanner for its user-friendly interface. It features an intuitive 4.3-inch touch screen for scanning and data utilization. It also allows you to customize your scanner according to your requirements with the 30 default and 30 customizable profiles with icons using color, icons, or letters.
Its user-friendly interface enables you to scan documents easily with its automatic document feeder which is steady and versatile. It comes with an Ultrasonic Sensor and the Brake Roller to provide superior reliability for various paper types and feeds papers individually to prevent feeding errors.
It is compatible with all smart devices or cloud services even without a PC. It allows you to directly connect with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for flexibility and convenience wherever you want.
It allows sharing a single license among four users which also allows customizing each profile according to an individual’s requirements through its easy touch screen options. Auto-facial orientation and red-eye reduction also allow you to scan 4″ x 6″ photos in under a second.
Pros |
Cons |
➕Auto-facial orientation and red-eye reduction | ➖ You cannot scan plastic cards |
➕Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity | |
➕Ultrasonic Sensor and the Brake Roller for reliability |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- MANAGE HOME AND SMALL BUSINESS DOCUMENTS WITH EASE. Large color touchscreen; fast 40ppm duplex scanning; Wi-Fi and USB connectivity; photo scanning; and support for a wide variety of cloud services
- DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AT YOUR COMMAND. Easily select your scanning destination with up to 30 scanning profiles. Send to PC, Mac, mobile devices and cloud services
- GREAT FOR YOU, GREAT FOR A TEAM. Users can select their profile from the touchscreen and access their personal shortcuts and destinations
- WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY FOR CONVENIENCE. Built-in Wi-Fi allows direct connection to smart devices or cloud services without a computer and allows for placement wherever it’s convenient
- PHOTO AND DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION MADE EFFORTLESS. ScanSnap Home all-in-one software brings together all your favorite functions. Easily manage, edit, and use scanned data from documents, receipts,...
10. Canon IMAGEFORMULA R40 scanner
Best art scanner with a compact design
Bit Depth: 24 bits | Compatibility: Mac and PC | Scan Speed: Up to 40 PPM | Connection Interface: USB
The Canon IMAGEFORMULA R40 scanner is an office document scanner that is simple and easy to use. It helps you to increase productivity wherever you are as it is compact and fits in most office settings. With its powerful bundled software, it converts many documents and artwork into searchable digital files.
It can handle many different documents like receipts, photos, business cards, reports, contracts, long documents, and thick or thin documents. It is fast and efficient, as it can scan documents with up to 40 pages per minute, with a 60-sheet automatic feeder, and one-touch operation. It is compatible with Windows and Mac which includes TWAIN drivers.
It includes Canon CaptureOnTouch software for easy scanning, Readiris PDF and OCR software, and Cardiris business card software for free.
Pros |
Cons |
➕Compatible with Windows and Mac | ➖ It lacks network and mobile productivity |
➕Simple, compact, and easy to use | |
➕Includes bundled software for easy usage |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Stay organized: Easily convert your paper documents into searchable digital formats.Grayscale : 8-bit, Long Document Mode : Up to 118”.Has Greyscale: Grayscale:- Simplex: Up to 40 ppm ; Duplex:...
- Reliably handles many different document types: Receipts, photos, business cards, reports, contracts, long documents, thick or thin documents, and more
- Fast and efficient: Scans both sides of a document at the same time, in color, at up to 40 pages per minute, with a 60 sheet automatic feeder, and one touch operation
- Broad compatibility: Windows and Mac TWAIN driver included
- Easy Setup: Simply connect to your computer using the supplied USB cable
11. Epson Perfection V19
Best compact scanner with built-in kickstand
Bit Depth: 48 Bit | Scan Resolution: 4800 DPI || Scan Speed: scan letter sized documents in 10 seconds | Connection Interface: USB
The Epson Perfection V19 scanner offers an excellent detail and clarity of pictures and documents. The scanner also allows users to scan and share documents and pictures on cloud services. It also consists of a built-in kick stand.
It is features fast speeds for scanning which does all letter-sized documents in as few as ten seconds. It is also easy to use and it comes with buttons to scan to email or create PDFs as well. It also includes a built-in kickstand for vertical placement and requires no USB adapter.
Pros |
Cons |
➕Excellent clarity and details. | ➖ Not wireless. |
➕Fast speed scanner. | ➖ Not portable. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Everyday scanning for photos and documents — 4800 dpi optical resolution (1) for amazing clarity and detail.
- Scan and share on cloud services (3) — includes Epson Easy Photo Scan software for scanning to Evernote and more
- Fast speeds — scan letter-sized documents in as few as 10 seconds
- Easy-to-use buttons — scan to email or create PDFs.
- Save space — built-in kickstand for vertical placement.
12. Plustek OpticPro A320L
Best art scanner to offer extraordinary image quality
Bit Depth: 48 Bit | Scan Resolution: 1600 DPI || Scan Speed: 7.8 seconds | Connection Interface: USB
The Plustek OpticPro A320L offers extraordinary image quality. The scanner allows users to scan up to 12×17″ scan area and also allows them to easily and quickly scan A3 sized documents. It is also allows easy file management for users.
It comes with Industry standard TWAIN drivers which ensures compatibility with the software you have. It support Windows 7/8/10/11 (64 bit OS only) , Mac OS 10.12 and above only.
Pros |
Cons |
➕Excellent image quality. | ➖ Not wireless. |
➕Supports Windows, MAC, and Linux. | ➖ Expensive |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- [A3 Scanning Solution] - up to 12x17" scan area , allows you to quickly and easily scan A3-sized and wide-format paper such as maps, drawings, or large bound books and even odd-shaped articles.
- [Extraordinary image quality] - A320L uses Sony ILX560K professional CCD sensor. Optical Resolution up to 1600dpi. If scan 12"x17" photo, user can get a 522,240,000 pixel image with 1.45GB size (BMP)
- [Easy File Management] - With Doc Action, you easily scan and save to different file format. It also provides quick access to post-scan destinations, including scan-to-print, email, Windows Public...
- [TWAIN and WIA support] - Industry standard TWAIN drivers ensure compatibility with your software.
- [Windows, Mac and Linux] - Support Windows 7/8/10/11 (64 bit OS only) , Mac OS X 10.12 to 13.x User can download the latest version on Plustek website. For LINUX and SANE driver, please ask seller...
13. Canon CanoScan LiDE400 Slim
Best scanner with high speed performance
Optical Resolution: 4800 x 4800 dpi | Color Depth: 48-bit | Maximum Scan Area: 8.27 x 11.69, 8.50 x 11.69 | Scanning Speed: 8 seconds | Maximum Scan Area: 8.27 x 11.69, 8.50 x 11.69 | Product Dimension: 14.5 x 9.9 x 1.7 inches | Weight: 3.6 lbs.
If you are among them who are searching for budget-friendly scanners, Canon CanoScan LiDE400 Slim is the best pick for you. It is compatible with both Mac and Windows, and the scanner is accurate and fast in the process. You can experience your product being scanned in 8 seconds.
With the LiDE400, you will get great results in capturing the tints and texture of the watercolor paints. The prints can be preserved with a resolution of 4800 x 4800 dpi. Another impressive feature of the scanner is that you can easily convert it to pdf through pdf buttons. In addition to these features, it also allows editing multiple page pdf.
Pros |
Cons |
➕User-friendly | ➖ Noisy |
➕Affordable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Enjoy high speed scanning in as fast as 8 seconds, with the included USB Type-C cable. With USB Type-C the Cano scan lied 400 has one cable for data and power.
- Preserve detailed photos and images thanks to 4800 x 4800 dpi resolution, and with image enhancements, such as color restore and dust removal, Your photos will continue to look great.
- Enjoy ease of use with 'EZ' Buttons. With auto scan mode, the Scanner automatically detects what you are scanning; built-in PDF buttons, scan and save multi-page pdf's that are editable and searchable
- Paper size: 8.27 x 11.69, 8.50 x 11.69
14. Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300i
Best portable art scanner
Optical Resolution: 600 dpi | Color Depth: 48 bit | Scanning Speed: 8 seconds | Maximum Scan | Area: 216 x 360 mm | Product Dimension: 284 x 99 x 77mm | Weight: 3 lbs.
For moderate document scanning, the Fujitsu ScanSnap is the best pick for you. With this scanner, you can easily work on 12 double-sided pages per minute. In addition to the documents, it also allows you to work on art with high quality.
Along with the paper size detection, the scanner also features auto-color detection. It is compatible with Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. So, scanning is easy to do from the cloud. These features make the scanner a good fit for not only art works but also for office purposes.
Pros |
Cons |
➕Portable | ➖ Provides small ADF |
➕Easy to use | ➖ Expensive |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- One touch scanning with Quick Menu options for PC and Mac
- Scan up to 12 double-sided pages per minute - Holds up to 10 pages in the automatic document feeder
- Compact and portable design is USB or AC powered
- Intelligent automatic image processing including auto color detection, paper size detection, de-skew and orientation, and more
- Scan documents directly to the cloud and access them from anywhere - compatible with Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, and more
How to Choose the Best Art Scanner
To choose the best art scanner for you and your needs, we need to first understand what to look for in a good art scanner. There are a lot of options in the market but if you know what you’re looking for, it’ll make the process much easier.
Types of Scanners
There are different types of scanners available in the market and each of them serves a different purpose. Some are better at scanning photographs while others are more tailored to scan documents. On your end, you have to identify what kind of artwork are you usually going to scan so you can find the right scanner.
DPI – Dots Per Inch
Another factor that you need to consider is the DPI. This is the number of dots that make up every inch of your scanned document. A good rule of thumb to remember is the larger the DPI number, the higher the quality of the image. Most professionals recommend a DPI of at least 300 for scanning artwork.
Bit Depth
Most modern artworks are vivid in color and sometimes, scanners can’t keep up. Some scanners tend to dull out colors when they scan artworks. This is why it’s important to make sure that the scanner you’ll be getting can accurately capture color.
The ability to capture color can be seen with bit depth. This refers to the color information stored in an image. A good rule to remember is that the higher the bit depth, the more colors it can store.
Flexible
Make sure that your scanner is capable of scanning different kinds of documents. These refer to ID cards, playing cards, envelopes, artwork, creatives, photographs, and many others.
Price
Price is a very important factor to consider when choosing an art scanner. Some art scanners will bring you more value for your money than others. As important it is to work within your budget, it’s also important to make sure that you don’t compromise the quality of the art scanner.
Storage Capabilities
Some of the scanners offer storage capabilities, such as cloud storage, while others offer built-in storage options. You can go for whatever you prefer as long as they fit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the top 2 scanners for artwork?
What DPI does a scanner need to have for a good quality image?
A scanner should have 600 - 900 DPI for the quality of the image to be good enough for an artist.
What type of scanner should a professional use?
A flatbed scanner that can scan large files of size A0 would be the best choice for professionals.
How do I scan large files or documents?
Flatbed scanners are helpful in this case.
Can watercolor, acrylic, or oil paintings on canvas be scanned?
Yes, these can absolutely can be scanned by scanners that have high resolution and color accuracy.
When it comes to digitalizing artworks, which is better, photography or scanning?
Scanning would be the best since they tend to capture more details.
Best Art Scanner for Artwork
Art has become a very important aspect of our lives. It’s expressed in so many different forms and it continuously evolves into something new. We use art scanners to document all of these and save them for future generations.
We have discussed the things that you should look for when purchasing the best art scanner. This includes the following:
The scanners recommended on this list are some of the best art scanners currently available in the market. There’s also a wide variety to choose from so you’re guaranteed to find something that will fit your needs.
Have a fun time scanning artworks!