Epson Expression 11000XL – graphic arts scanner

[playgraphics]

We recently purchased an Epson Expressions 11000XL – graphic arts scanner in order to scan fine art into a very high resolution digital file.We need a high resolution in order to later blow up the image up to a possible size of 5ft.This scanner has the ability to scan up to 2400 dpi and the original size image we are trying to scan is 11X17.All parameters are being set in order to scan an 11x17 into a very high resolution (2400 dpi) digital file.Every time we try to scan, an error comes up that says, “image is too large, reduce size.”So we reset the target area to scan at a 4x6 size…and then it will scan at 2400 dpi.The problem is that when it scans at 4x6 at 2400 dpi, the size is too small to later blow up to 5 ft. and still keep the high quality/high resolution.
We have contacted Epson technical support many times and have gotten several different answers.One is that the computer graphics card and memory isn't good enough.Another is that the scanner will not scan an image that large at that high of a dpi (even though the scanner size is 11x17), and the last answer is – the scanner should absolutely scan an 11x17 at 2400 dpi so we must have a bad scanner.It's brand new and we got it from Epson.
Does anyone have any ideas what we could be doing wrong/should be doing differently?
Thank you!

 

[carnageX]

Does the scanner's manual say anything about it?