Manufacturers are racing to produce the most cost-effective industrial imaging solution for their specific needs. Consider investing in laser imaging systems if you’re looking for lower capital investment and higher return solutions.

Imaging systems help manufacturers digitize 3D objects quicker and more efficiently than ever before. These systems extract information from images that are captured by cameras or sensors, creating digital representations of physical objects. The different types of imager technologies include laser imagers and other camera-based solutions such as conventional cameras, color cameras, and 3D cameras.

These different imaging systems have different pros and cons that can affect your manufacturing process. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between dry-imaging vs. conventional camera imagers.

What are Dry Laser Imagers?

A dry laser imager is a device used in radiology to produce multiple format hard copy radiology images. The dry laser imager works like a photocopier, except that light-sensitive material is used rather than paper to transfer an image.

This type of laser scanner uses infrared light to create a digital image. The main advantage of utilizing this technology is that it gives higher resolution than conventional scanners with water vapor. Moreover, a dry laser scanner can work indoors in environments like laboratories and hospitals where the presence of water creates problems for other types of scanners. Because infrared lasers do not require electricity, they are more cost-effective than devices that need electricity, such as ultrasonic or analog scanners.

What are Conventional Laser Imagers?

Conventional laser imagers produce hard copy imaging by illuminating exposed film sheets with laser light. The images are captured on the film surface and developed in darkness. The process has been discontinued for medical applications.

A conventional printer uses paper to create an image from electrical impulses; in theory, the same concept applies to conventional laser imagers, except rather than paper, it uses film sheets or photographic plates. The difference between both technologies is that the paper-based printer uses ink to transfer the image to paper, while the film sheets or photographic plates are made of light-sensitive material.

What’s the difference between Dry Laser Imagers versus Conventional Laser Imagers?

 Conventional laser imagers use photographic film sheets, while dry laser imagers use special light-sensitive material to obtain the image. The following table compares the two types of devices:

1. The technology used

 Conventional laser imagers use photographic film sheets, while dry laser imagers use light-sensitive material to obtain the image. A conventional printer uses paper to create an image from electrical impulses; in theory, the same concept applies to conventional laser imagers, except rather than paper, it uses film sheets or photographic plates. The difference between both technologies is that the paper-based printer uses ink to transfer the image to paper. At the same time, the film sheets or photographic plates are made of light-sensitive material.

2. Method of capturing the image

Laser Dry imagers emit a focused red light onto a photosensitive material, creating the image. These images are stored in digital format on computer-readable media and can be transferred to a printer or other display.