Can someone teach me drum scanning?

[DanielStone]

hey all,

i'm new to this forum, been on apug for a while, but now that i'm getting more into the digital side of film, i've come over for a look see!

does anyone on here know of a lab or a person that would be able to teach me the basics of drum scanning? I've been using an Imacon at my local photo center for a year or so, but compared to Drum scans I've had made at pro labs of the same neg/chrome, they're not comparable. wet mounting is the best way IMO. i've always wanted to know how its done, but finding someone or a lab who is willing to let me observe/ teach me has been a no-go so far.

i'm on southern california, and being a student, i can't really pay for instruction. i'm looking to see if any of you lucky people out there with drum scanners in the so cal area would be willing to help.


thanks

dan

 

[donbga]

hey all,

i'm new to this forum, been on apug for a while, but now that i'm getting more into the digital side of film, i've come over for a look see!

does anyone on here know of a lab or a person that would be able to teach me the basics of drum scanning? I've been using an Imacon at my local photo center for a year or so, but compared to Drum scans I've had made at pro labs of the same neg/chrome, they're not comparable. wet mounting is the best way IMO. i've always wanted to know how its done, but finding someone or a lab who is willing to let me observe/ teach me has been a no-go so far.

i'm on southern california, and being a student, i can't really pay for instruction. i'm looking to see if any of you lucky people out there with drum scanners in the so cal area would be willing to help.


thanks

dan

Hi Dan,

What kind of drum scanner are you using or plan to use. I know we have a few members here that own and use Howtek scanners, perhaps they can chime in.

Don Bryant

 

[DanielStone]

Any type of drum scanner actually. I have my eye on getting an Aztek Premier eventually down the road (after school is paid off ). But a Howtek, Aztek, or Crosfield would be what I'm really after.

But any type would do actually. I just really want to learn how its done.

-Dan

 

[DanielStone]

anyone?

 

[sanking]

anyone?

Your best bet would be to find someone locally with a drum scanner and pay them to do a lesson or two with you. If you already know a goo deal about scanning in general it should be fairly easy to follow a good opeator and learn enough to do this on your own.

However, scanning with any high end scanner, is very specific in terms of work flow to the scanner and the scanning software. In other words, if you did not already know this, there are all kinds of drum scanners and software and I would want to learn and practice on the one that I planned to buy and use.

Sandy King

 

[Ben Altman]

Take a look the Yahoo tech group: ScanHiEnd. Lots of drum-scan people over there. You might figure out someone in your area.

I agree with Sandy, most of the software is very specific to the machine and it also depends what type of film you want to scan and for what purpose.

(But it's worth it.)

Ben

 

[Ben Altman]

Oh, and there's a good video about mounting film on the Aztek site.

B.

 

[DanielStone]

Oh, and there's a good video about mounting film on the Aztek site.

B.

I've tried watching those. I'm on a mac system currently, so being able to watch .wmv files is kind of a pain. I'll watch them at a friends house when I get the chance.

I have my eye on either a Howtek D8000(the 8000 dpi one) or the Aztek Premier 8000. Being that quite a few labs have been going out of business here in the LA area with the current economy, and the growing demands of digital capture on set, drum scanning is getting more and more scarce. At least GOOD drum scanning is. Also, having the knowledge on how it is done will in turn allow me eventually to scan my own work, so from capture to output, I have TOTAL control over the entire process, including the film processing (e6, c41 and b/w).

I've used the Imacon scanners, and they're a great tool. Drum scanners are MUCH different IMO, and those differences are quite big. The big difference for me is shadow detail. And density range as well.


just my .02

if anyone else knows someone in the LA area, or has some ideas, please let me know

 

[pellicle]

anyone?

daniel .. this place is like gardening ... you plant a seed and hope it grows. Perhaps it takes a few days, perhaps it never grows.

People don't typically chime in with "no I don't know anything about that"

That said I've noticed quite a few people ask then never bother to say thanks.

 

[Marco B]

Hi Daniel,

I can't help you with the drum scanning issue, as I have never before done one.

I also won't argue with you about the scanning quality of drum versus Imacon, as I again have never had my hands on a set of comparative result myself, but in case you would still be interested to learn more about the Imacons, so as to be sure you are getting the maximum out of them, you might look at these excellent video's about the Flextight software.

It sure has thought me new things I didn't know, but I still haven't been able to put them in practice, still need to book a new session at the professional lab again, where I normally hire one:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ac/IT_tutorial_web_site/photography/photography_flexcolour.htm

Marco