Slabsmith is Designed around a very specific set of algorithms and techniques that depend on the correct hardware and setup to produce consistently accurate digital slabs. The following hardware represents our recommendations in order to achieve the best possible results for your Slabsmith photo station. If you select other equipment, results may vary.
*All prices are correct as of the writing of this article. Prices may have changed since this writing.
- Camera
- Flashes
- Calibration target
- Label printer
- Barcode Scanners
- Computers
- Photo station
- Layout station
- Database Server
- Custom hardware
- Camera mounts
- Light stand
- A-frame
- Camera mounts
Camera equipment
| Qty | Description / link | Vendor | Part # | Cost/unit | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canon T6i / T7i / T8i Camera w/18-55mm lens (European models: EOS750D / EOS800D / EOS 850D) Prime lenses The Canon camera “kit” includes an 18-55 zoom lens, however slightly better pictures can be created by using a prime lens on the camera. Because a prime lens does not have the ability to zoom, the camera placement and the lens must be matched. The table below assumes a 12′ (3.66m) wide A-frame. Approximate minimum distance from Camera to A-Frame – Ft / MRecommended Prime Lens 19′ / 5.9m Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle Lens 21.6′ / 6.6m Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens 27′ / 8.23m Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens | Amazon | Canon EOS Rebel T6i | $749.00 | $749.00 | |
| 1 | Canon AC Adapter (IMPORTANT: Match the AC adapter to the camera model you purchase for the T6i & T7i the adapter is the ACK-E18) | Amazon | ACK-??? | $119.95 | $119.95 | |
| 1 | Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head | Amazon | Manfrotto 410 | $216.00 | $216.00 | |
| 1 | USB 2.0 – A/Mini-B Cable ( Long enough to go from the photo station computer to the camera ) | Amazon | $9.99 | $9.99 |
Flash equipment
| Qty | Description / link | Vendor | Part # | Cost/unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Alien Bee B800 Flash units | Paul C. Buff | B800 | $295.00 | $1180.00 |
| 1 | Spare flash tube for B800 Flash | Paul C. Buff | AWFT14MMUV | $34.95 | $34.95 |
| 1 | CyberSync Receiver ( Fire the flash remotely – AC powered – mounts on 1 flash)(NOTE: If you will set up the photostation in a large open area with high ceilings, purchase 2 receivers, 1 for each side, to assure all lights will flash) | Paul C. Buff | CSR | $69.95 | $69.95 |
| 1 | CyberSync Trigger Transmitter (Fire the flash remotely – mounts on camera hotshoe) | Paul C. Buff | CST | $59.95 | $59.95 |
| 4 | Cam brackets ( allows positioning of the flash and mounts it to a 1″ pipe”) | Paul C. Buff | EC32 | $16.95 | $67.80 |
Calibration Targets
| Qty | Description/link | Vendor | Part # | Cost/unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Set of Calibration targets ( call: 315.287.2877315.287.2877 or email: nwd@nwdesigns.com | Northwood Designs, Inc. | Calibration Targets | $725.00 | $725.00 + shipping |
Calibration targets are custom made for Slabsmith and must be purchased directly from the makers of Slabsmith: Northwood Designs, Inc.
Label printers
Any printer that works with Windows 7 or later will work to print labels for your slabs. Custom labels for Slabsmith can be created to your specifications for a charge of $50.00 per label.
While any Windows printer will work, if you need labels that can stand up to the elements, you should be looking for a printer that prints on Vinyl. We are recommending the Zebra GC420t printer. Following are the links for the printer, labels and thermal transfer ribbons.
| Qty | Description/link | Vendor | Part # | Cost/unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GC420t – Zebra Label Printer (Zebra part #GC420-100510-000) | ULINE | H-7246 | $439.00 | $439.00 |
| 4″ x 2″ Polypropylene label roll (1000 labels) | Amazon | PolyPro | $177.00 | $177.00 | |
| 4″ Thermal Transfer Ribbons | Amazon | TTR12 | $30.00 | $30.00 |
Barcode Scanners
( For use with the Slabsmith “Scan” module )
| Qty | Description/link | Vendor | Part # | Cost/unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zebra Scanner Kit ( Physical Inventory Reconciliation) The scanner kit includes the scanner and base station used to quickly and accurately reconcile your Slabsmith database with your physical inventory. | Northwood Designs, Inc. phone: 315.287.2877 email: nwd@nwdesigns.com | Zebra Scanner | $1,100.00 | $1,100.00 + shipping |
| Qty | Description/link | Vendor | Part # | Cost/unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Socket D730 Bluetooth Barcode Scanner Recommended for use with Slabsmith’s Scan module “Inventory Browser” tablet based sales/inventory interface. (replaces the Socket 7Pi with a more durable scanner) | Amazon | Socket D730 Barcode Scanner | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| Qty | Description/link | Vendor | Part # | Cost/unit | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LI4278 Bluetooth Scanner with Cradle Recommended for use with Slabsmith’s “Locator” or “Slab Consumer” modules at the Saw. | Amazon | LI4278 | $179.00 | $179.00 |
Computers
In all cases, if the computer will run Windows 7 or later, it will probably run any Slabsmith module. However, a slow computer may result in substantial increases in the time it takes to produce digital slabs with Slab Maker and/or how well you can layout a job in Perfect Match. The recommended configurations below will provide good performance for each of the modules of Slabsmith as detailed below.
All computers should be connected to the internet (for technical support) and must be able to see each other across the network.
Photo Station (Slab Maker™) computer – The Slab Maker computer is typically located at the photo station and is the computer that creates the digital slabs from a photograph. It does not require specialized 3D graphics, but it benefits from as many CPU cores as you can give it.
- 3.0 Ghz+ Intel Core -i7 processor (multi-core AMD is also compatible)
- 16+ GB RAM
- 250 GB+ Hard Drive
- On-board Graphics card (Intel graphics, for example)
- 17″+ Monitor
- Windows 10 – x64
Layout (Perfect Match™) computer – The Perfect Match computer benefits from both processor speed and the right graphics card.
- 3.0 Ghz+ Intel Core i7 processor (multi-core AMD is also compatible)
- 16+ GB RAM
- 250 GB+ Hard Drive
- nVidia dedicated graphics card 2 GB+ *important ( ATI is acceptable, but the nVidia is preferred )
- 17+ Monitor
- Windows 10 – x64
Database server – Digital slabs are managed in a database. The database can reside on either of the other computers, but it often resides on a company server. Wherever the db resides, all other computers that need to access the data must have a network connection to this computer.
The size of the hard disk is important on the database computer as the storage of the slab images can require a lot of disk space. Each digital slab will require somewhere between 2-10MB on the server.