This pen-sized portable scanner allows for stealthy, one-pass scans on the go.

The DocuPen RC800 is a color scanner that weighs less than 2 ounces and measures 8.9 inches long by 0.5 inch wide. The pen-shaped device can make one-pass copies of contracts, signatures, articles, or any other document you might need to digitize on the fly. It’s a good solution when a desktop scanner is either unavailable or impractical. The included PaperPort software isn’t Mac-compatible, but the DocuPen is TWAIN compliant, making setup and use a plug-and-play affair.

Three adjustable scanning modes support up to 24-bit color and resolutions up to 400 dpi, though its paltry 8MB of onboard flash memory means you’ll have to limit large scanning projects to 1-bit monochrome, or invest in some additional memory. A one-page monochrome scan set on the lowest resolution produces a 400KB TIFF file. The DocuPen has a MicroSD memory card slot that lets you add up to 2GB of additional memory; currently the only supported MicroSD card manufacturer is SanDisk ($29.99 for a 2GB microSD card, sandisk.com). You’ll definitely need to buy additional memory if you plan on making more than one or two high-resolution scans in a sitting— an 8.5-by-11-inch grayscale text scan comes in at a whopping 10MB at maximum resolution. Under optimal conditions, scans are fully legible and sufficient for archival purposes; with less careful use, text and images can easily come out wavy and distorted.

Despite the fact that it’s not very Mac-friendly, the true beauty of the DocuPen may lie in its unintended uses. It is a simple tool for capturing digital images of graphic elements that can’t easily be preserved otherwise, though true image fidelity requires a steady hand and a stable, flat surface to scan on. In our tests, we used the DocuPen to scan detail from an oriental rug, the wood grain of a desk, a linen placemat, and a velvet Elvis. Our scans showed exceptional clarity and color. With a bit of practice, imagination, and ingenuity the DocuPen could become a boon to any designer’s palette—or just a really cool way to impress your friends at cocktail parties.