Engineering:Autokon

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Autokon
Autokon 1000/DE
ManufacturerECRM, Inc.
Introduced1975; 51 years ago (1975)
TypeImage scanner (flatbed)
ConnectionSCSI (some models, aftermarket)
DPI1000–2000 (lines per inch)

Autokon is a discontinued line of image scanners sold by ECRM Inc., a subsidiary of AM International, from the 1970s to the 1990s. The inaugural Autokon 8400, introduced in 1975, was the first flatbed scanner used for digital image processing.[1][2][3] In the print industry, the Autokon was considered a milestone in the transition to from manual to electronic pagination.[4] Numerous models were released over the span of two decades, and the Autokon line as a whole enjoyed widespread use in the newspapers and prepress industries, becoming a de facto standard for image scanners in the time before the desktop publishing revolution of the mid-1980s.[5]

History

The Autokon 8400, introduced in 1975, used a laser beam to scan pages up to 11 by 14 inches at a maximum resolution of 1000 lines per inch. Although it was only capable of scanning in 1-bit monochrome, the on-board processor was capable of halftoning, unsharp masking, contrast adjustment, and anamorphic distortions, among other features.[3][6]: 53  The Autokon 8400 could either be connected to a film recorder to create a negative for producing plates or connected to a mainframe or minicomputer for further image processing and digital storage.[6]: 53 [7] The Autokon 8400 enjoyed widespread use in newspapers—ECRM shipped 1,000 units to newspaper publishers by 1985[2]—but its limited resolution and maximum scan size made it unsuitable for commercial printing.[1]

In 1982, ECRM introduced the Autokon 8500, capable of scanning up to 1200 lines per inch. Four of ECRM's competitors introduced commercial flatbed scanners that year, including Scitex, Agfa-Gevaert, and Linotype-Hell, all of which were capable of scanning larger prints at higher resolutions.[1] The Autokon 1000, introduced in 1984, came to support scanning up to 2000 lines per inch as well as the ability to scan in color with hardware enhancements.[8][9][10] The Autokon 1000 gained support for connecting to personal computers in 1988 when ECRM announced a kit for the Macintosh II, comprising a SCSI buffer expansion board and software, that allowed the Macintosh II to control and ingest image data (formatted as TIFFs) from the Autokon 1000; it supported monochrome data only. ECRM simultaneously announced an add-on raster image processor for the Autokon 1000, allowing it to output PostScript-compliant image data to computers and to printers such as the LaserJet.[10][11]

In 1988, ECRM introduced the 1000/DE (digital enhancement),[12] which used a microprocessor to produce the sharpening effect as against the 8400 which used analog electronics and an optical method to create sharpening. The Autokon 1000/DE had a touchpad rather than analogue rotary controls. The Autokon 1000/DE had applications in both commercial and newspaper environments where only a single halftone was required, i.e. black and white. While typically the Autokon 8400 was a standalone output device that scanned and then output to either photosensitive, roll format bromide paper or film, the Autokon 1000/DE was often connected to Macintoshes or IBM PC compatibles via a dedicated interface such as those from HighWater Designs. The last Autokon was a wider format, online-only device which utilized both a red and green laser to improve the response to the scanning of color photographs.

ECRM continued selling Autokons into 1995.[13] The line disappeared from the comapny's catalog between then and 1998.[14] After selling its remaining platesetter assets to Kodak in 2021, ECRM quietly dissolved.[4][15]

See also

  • Datacopy Model 700, the first flatbed scanner for the IBM Personal Computer
  • History of image scanners

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bruno, Michael H. (May 1983). "Solving the Equipment/Technology Equation". American Printer (Maclean Hunter Publishing) 191 (2): 31–35. https://books.google.com/books?id=hU4gAQAAMAAJ. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bruno, Michael H. (October 1985). "Scaling the Heights of High Technology". American Printer (Maclean Hunter Publishing) 196 (1): 39–43. https://books.google.com/books?id=hU4gAQAAMAAJ. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Banks, W. H. (1984). Advances in Printing Science and Technology: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference of Printing Research Institutes, Saltsjöbaden, Sweden, June 1983. Pentech. pp. 63–64. ISBN 978-0-7273-0109-3. https://archive.org/details/advancesinprinti0000inte_y6z3/page/63/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Staff writer (April 20, 2021). "ECRM 'rests' at 50, selling platesetter business to Kodak". GXpress. MPC Media. Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. https://archive.today/20250811001755/https://www.gxpress.net/article/7008/ecrm-rests-at-50-selling-platesetter-business-to-kodak. 
  5. ↑ Staff writer (August 30, 2009). "ECRM turns 40 and recalls its OCR and Autokon roots". GXpress. MPC Media. Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. https://archive.today/20250811001755/https://gxpress.net/article/476/ecrm-turns-40-and-recalls-its-ocr-and-autokon-roots. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wallis, L. W. (1988). A Concise Chronology of Typesetting Developments, 1886–1986. Severnside Printers. ISBN 0853315388. https://archive.org/details/concisechronolog0000wall/page/53/. 
  7. ↑ Staff writer (February 1981). "Exhibitor listing for Atlantic City ANPA/RI Conference: AM ECRM". Editor and Publisher (Duncan McIntosh) 114 (19): 60. https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1981-05-09_114_19/page/60/. 
  8. ↑ Staff writer (October 6, 1984). "On the supply side". Editor & Publisher 117 (40): 24. https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1984-10-06_117_40/page/23/. 
  9. ↑ Staff writer (October 1988). "New hardware: In this informal survey of the season's new offerings, the emphasis is on special effects". Graphic Arts Monthly (Reed Business Information) 60 (10): DS24 et seq.. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A6733380/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=7c075218. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Guglielmo, Connie (October 11, 1988). "Interface links Mac II to ECRM image system". MacWeek (Ziff-Davis) 2 (41): 4. https://archive.org/details/mac-week-v-2-n-41/page/n3/. 
  11. ↑ Maguire, Mary (September 26, 1988). "Add-in board for LaserJet Series II users offers PostScript and PCL compatibility". PC Week (Ziff-Davis) 5 (39): 24. Gale A7013403. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A7013403/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=25cd69b6. 
  12. ↑ Staff writer (May 14, 1988). "ECRM Inc.". Editor & Publisher 121 (20): 32E. https://archive.org/details/sim_editor-publisher_1988-05-14_121_20/page/32E/. 
  13. ↑ Staff writer (May 27, 1995). "Booth directory for Nexpo 95: Who's showing what where". Editor & Publisher 128 (21): 8N. ProQuest 194282626. https://www.proquest.com/docview/194282626/. 
  14. ↑ "Our Products". ECRM, Inc.. 1998. Archived from the original on February 9, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980209051414/http://www.ecrm.com/products.html. 
  15. ↑ Staff writer (April 26, 2021). "Kodak takes on ECRM's CTP arm". Print Business. Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. https://archive.today/20250811001648/https://printbusiness.co.uk/kodak-takes-on-ecrms-ctp-arm/. 



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