Scanner Trivia – The More You Know! - #1

Did you know – the world’s first image scanner was developed back in 1957 by the United States National Bureau of Standards. While it wasn’t a large format scanner, it was still incredibly innovative for its time. Created by a team led by Russell A. Kirsch, it was the first scanner able to transfer a copied image to a computer, paving the way for scanners to come in future decades. The first image ever scanned was a 5cm photograph of Kirsch’s three-month-old son, Walden. Rather than using CCD or CIS technology, this scanner used Drum Scanner technology – a form of scanning technology which has since been restricted primarily to film, and relies on photomultiplier tubes to copy an image into a digital format. Drum Scanners are preferred in the cinematic field for their ability to capture both reflective and transmissive images, along with their ability to display subtle features in film originals which other scanning methods cannot duplicate. Scanning technology has come a long way in the 4 decades since Kirsch and his engineering team made their first scan, and where our company is concerned it’s terrific to know that there are so many different ways to scan an image. With all of that variety, it’s no surprise that so many people around the world are now finding that it’s easier than ever to preserve their personal and professional work, but we’re sure many of them would be surprised to know it all started with a black-and-white 5cm photo.