Best Scanner for this application?

Anonymous · Aug 25, 2007

I have some 16X20 prints that I no longer have the negatives for. What is the best flat bed scanner for scanning these prints and arriving at a digital file suitable for generation of a negative or digital output?

The largest that I have found at B and H photo is the Epson 10000 and it does not appear capable of scanning this image size...would this work by scanning portions of the image and then stitching in PS?

Is there a third party that does high resolution scanning that would permit me to not purchase an expensive scanner?

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

toyotadesigner · Aug 25, 2007

You might search for a service company that does book scanning. They have scanners for (very) large formats and usually work for museums or public archives.

The scan resolution is second to none and you can send the data to someone with a slide printer at high resolutions.

David A. Goldfarb · Aug 25, 2007

For large items, it can make more sense to use a camera with a digital scanning back, which is what high-end digital art repro places use.

A less costly solution for occasional use might be a DSLR on the back of a view camera with a sliding back for making stitched panoramic images, using rear rise/fall or shift for capturing the other dimension. Fotodiox makes such a back in EOS and Nikon mounts that attaches to a 4x5" Graflok back, and it's under $200.

Bob Carnie · Aug 25, 2007

Donald
What David says,phase capture on hasselblad in our studio is how we do it now.
I do have the Epson1000xl and we have stitched 16x20 prints with no problem , just a lot of patience.
I would do the scans for you but let you work on the stitching if you would like.
Bob

David A. Goldfarb said:
For large items, it can make more sense to use a camera with a digital scanning back, which is what high-end digital art repro places use.

A less costly solution for occasional use might be a DSLR on the back of a view camera with a sliding back for making stitched panoramic images, using rear rise/fall or shift for capturing the other dimension. Fotodiox makes such a back in EOS and Nikon mounts that attaches to a 4x5" Graflok back, and it's under $200.

donbga · Aug 25, 2007

jens g.r. benthien said:
You might search for a service company that does book scanning. They have scanners for (very) large formats and usually work for museums or public archives.

The scan resolution is second to none and you can send the data to someone with a slide printer at high resolutions.

I think Jens makes an excellent suggestion. These kind of scanners produce excellent results and if you don't have a lot of prints to digitize then this may produce the best quality.

Don Bryant

Pinholemaster · Aug 25, 2007

Shoot a 4x5 copy negative, then use a good quality film scanner for make a digital file.

KnightHawk_StudioLab · Aug 25, 2007

Where are you located? I can scan them for you...

REPLY: HI, I am in Vancouver and using a 4 X 5 ScanBack that produces are very large uncompressed file using a technical camera mounted on a giant enlarger/copier type assemply with dedicated and very even lighting.

If you have a budget for outsourcing and are OK with popping these in a large tube, I can guarantee they will be treated like gold, and back in your hands, along with the new digital files.

Jerome

Donald Miller said:
I have some 16X20 prints that I no longer have the negatives for. What is the best flat bed scanner for scanning these prints and arriving at a digital file suitable for generation of a negative or digital output?

The largest that I have found at B and H photo is the Epson 10000 and it does not appear capable of scanning this image size...would this work by scanning portions of the image and then stitching in PS?

Is there a third party that does high resolution scanning that would permit me to not purchase an expensive scanner?

Thanks for your thoughts on this.

williamtheis · Oct 24, 2007

or you might scan with a high end flatbed: I have an Scitex/Creo Eversmart Pro II with a 30cmx44cm that does an exceptional job and would minimize the number of stitches. Remember that most prints are only 150 lines/inch so the Creo is pretty much overkill. Same for dynamic range of a print (no DMAX of over 4!) It does however do a magnificent capture.

Jeremy · Oct 29, 2007

Don,

I do art reproduction at work with a Betterlight Super 8K (plus vacuum easel plus northlight HMI lighting) and can do them for you w/o the hassle of international shipping.

Best Scanner for this application?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency