Drum scanners have a drum with very precise guidance on which reflected light originals or transparent light originals can be mounted. This means that only thin, flexible paper or foil can be scanned.

During the scan process, the drum turns with high speed while the scan sleigh (objective, blend, photo electronic modifier and the light source) is pushed towards the turn axle and the original is scanned point-by-point.

This is the reason why reflected light originals (up to 1 m x 1 m) can be captured with high color quality and resolution (approximately 3.000 dpi). A major difference to other scanner classes is that these scanners do not have the CCDs but photo multiplier elements. Image faults cannot occur through different sensibilities by the CCD cells. Additionally, these scanners have a larger dynamic area.

Drum scanners are used in the prepress stage to scan photos or negatives for magazines or art. The data arisen by this is imense.