avoid the lexmark three in one, i know theres a scanner here in my art class that would take 12x16 but i forgot what the manufacturer was

Seconded! We had one and it malfunctioned after a short time. It never worked since.

mine works, just only fits regular or smaller paper

I don't think there is a scanner that will fit that paper. At least nothing *cheap*.

Since all my drawings are bigger than the scanner (and mine is an 8.5"x14" model) here is a trick...

-- Line up one edge of the paper with the top of the scanner bed. Since you said you are using 9x12 paper, rotate the image so that the short side of the paper is lengthwise to the bed (so you'll get two inches of blank space, but you can crop that with any image editor.

-- Scan the portion of the image, then move the paper to scan the rest of it, keeping the one side still against the top of the scanner bed.

-- You'll get two images, with some overlap. Enlarge the canvas size on either one, then copy the part of the other image that is not in the image you just increased. It works better if you copy with some overlap.

-- Now paste that copy onto the enlarged image, and move it until you get the complete image.

It may not be perfect, and you may have to try a couple times. But with pencils it doesn't matter much, as I scale images down and some stuff won't be noticed.

I feared I would have to do that.

I already have about 30 pages of my comic that will need to be treated in that fashion, and that's a task I'm not keen on having to do a lot of.

Still, if there's no other practicable option, then I'll have to make due.

D.O.P.R

I know that well; scanning a bunch of stuff for my "Visions" CD wasn't pleasant. :P Just tackle a few per day; less burnout that way.

Flatbed scanners fall into three size categories:

1) 8.5x11.7 (US Letter/A3)
2) 8.5x14 (US Legal)
3) Don't ask, you can't afford it.

I've got a whole bunch of 12x18 artwork I need to digitize, and I'm having to stitch it together (three strips each) on an 8.5x14 scanner. It's a hassle, but it's better than forking over $1000+ for an 11x17 or 12x18 scanner.

Damn...

Well, it looks like I can get an 8.5 x 11.7 for about $89 - but that's not a whole lot of improvement.

I guess I might just have to go back to the smaller size paper.

D.O.P.R

You can probably get an 8.5x11.7 for under $70 if you shop around. Or you can pick up a used one at Goodwill or some other thrift store, as long as it has a power supply and the store has a return policy (in case the scanner's a lemon). Even if it doesn't come with software, you can probably get drivers from the manufacturer's website.