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From: Classic_-_Concepts@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: Film Recorders
Message-ID: <14856@cup.portal.com>
Date: 19 Feb 89 22:52:46 GMT
References: <1479@anuck.UUCP>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 37

> Can anyone answer some general questions on film recorders ...

The answers to your questions depend on your target price range.
A crude classification would put film recorders into 4 categories:

   Lens Hood
        This is nothing more than a shield which attaches to your
        monitor and prevents glare.  They range from $25-$200 and
        do not eliminate jaggies, raster lines, etc.
   Low-end output devices
        These output the signal (usually RGB) to a 'box' which houses
        a small flat display screen and a camera.  The colors are
        quite crisp and warm, resolution is usually about 2k x 2k
        and raster lines are not glaringly apparent.  Prices range about
        $800 - $3,000.  They're acceptable for many applications.
   Medium range output devices
        These are similar in concept to the above, but also usually
        include some processing which can take vector-format graphics
        and reproduce them at about 4k x 4k +.  They are larger and the
        results are clean, rich colors and negligible raster lines.
        I think HP has some nice models in this range ca. $8000 - $20,000
        These are often the ones people would like, but, because of
        budget considerations, they defer to 2K x 2K.  Very nice, though.
   High end output devices
        MDA makes some outstanding photoplotters which can output to film 
        at, I think, up to about 4,000 line resolution (compare this to 
        a magazine photo which is usually about 250 line resolution). 
        My guess at the prices on these is about
        $60,000 - $100,000+.                             \_                
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