FLATBED SCANNER & TRANSPARENCY UNIT FOR 2D ROOT IMAGING

Epson flatbed scanners are the first choice of root researchers worldwide for reliable analysis of root morphological parameters. In line with our aim to provide a one-stop-shop experience, Vienna Scientific thus offers modified Epson scanners - ready for root imaging.

2D Root Imager. Flat-bed "2D root" scanners are often used to analyse roots by placing the roots on the glass surface or, better still, water-filled trays. The resulting 2D root image can be analysed using root image analysis software to determine the length, diameter and other characteristics of the roots. Flatbed scanners ('root imager') with a transparency unit are more suitable for root analysis as they:

• have a higher dynamic range and can capture more detail including subtle variations in color and contrast, and
• often have a higher resolution (e.g. up to 2400 x 4800 dpi) and more precise microstepers, as they are designed to capture images at a higher level of detail.
• Most importantly, the transparency unit provides illumination from above, i.e. the illumination is not positioned next to the sensor head, which in particular avoids shadows - which are not detected by thresholding image analysis, making roots parallel to the scan head appear wider, leading to miscalculations of diameter and volume (both of which are overestimated) per (incorrectly assigned) size class by image analysis programs.

For root imaging, we therefore recommend the use of modified Epson "2D Root Imager" scanners with transparency units. The standard Epson scanners have to be slightly modified to allow the root scanning trays to be placed under the transparency unit, and for the transparency unit to function when elevated. Vienna Scientific prepares the Epson products for root analysis by adding

• spacers to raise the transparency unit - for placing water-filled root trays, 
• cover for the transparence unit switch (12000XL only), &
• a set of 2 plexiglas (PMMA) root trays of the appropriate size (entire scanner area; A4 (letter) or A3-size) 

Additional root trays for 2D root imager can be ordered as required in the webstore. Please contact us for details.

• Epson Expression 12000XL - Flatbed scanner - A3 - 2400 dpi x 4800 dpi - USB 2.0, TWAIN, WIA, Epson Scan2 (TWAIN), SANE (Linux), ICA (Mac) incl. Transparency unit
• Scanning area: 310 mm x 437 mm (horizontal x vertikal) max.
• Spacers (front and back) to elevate the transparency unit - to be used with water-filled scanning tray
• Cover to allow the transparency unit switch to work when elevated
• 2x A3-sized, transparent scanning trays for 2D root imaging - allowing to use the full size of the scanner for large root samples

• Epson Perfection V850 Pro - flatbed scanner - desktop device - USB 2.0 incl. transparency unit
• Scanning area: 216 mm x 297 mm (horizontal x vertikal) max.
• Spacers (front and back) to elevate the transparency unit to be used with water-filled scanning trays
• 2x A4-sized acrylic scanning trays for 2D root imaging - allowing to use the whole scanner area