Requirements for a multifunctional scanner:

1. Instrument capable of scanning phospor storage screens, fluorescent gels, radiographic film, Coomassie Blue or silver-stained protein gels.

-- instrument with 3 internal laser at 650, 532, 473 nm wavelength.

--long pass emission filters must be available at the following wavelengths - 520, 580, 670 and 710 nm.

--easy emission filter changes by user.

2. Performs scan of thin phosphor storage screens up to 20 cm x 40 cm.

3. Performs scans of fluorescence emission following laser excitation able to scan gels up to 24 cm x 40 cm in size.

4. Performs scans with choices of pixel resolution of 25, 50, 100, or 200 micrometer.

5. Instrument footprint not larger than 940 x 556 x 380 cms.

6. Scanner uses USB 2.0 interface with either Macintosh or Windows computer.

7. Performs scans of 24 x 40 cm in 90 seconds for 100 micron, 150 seconds for 50 micron, and 4.5 minutes for 25 micron resolution.

8. Uses removable glass stage for easy cleaning following gel scans.

9. Generation of 16 bit images.

10. Capable of scanning in both log and square root modes.