Dealing with film flatness

[Usagi]

Hi,

I have sometimes really hard times with keeping film flat during scan (120 size).
My scanner's own holders (Epson v700) doesn't keep film flat if film itself has tendency for curving (this is also problem with 135 films).

I have also Doug's MF holder (now Better Scanning), designed for my previous scanner but works fine with v700 too. With that holder I can get film flat if it is strongly curved.
Problem solved? Not.

The Better Scan holder like Epson's own has one problem; if the film is flat, but happnes to be flexible then it hangs with down curve. Bit like "U" form if I exaggerate..

Any other options that you have tried?
If I only could have holder that will have similar slats like film scanner holders usually do have (on both sides). It would solve all problems.

Attachment photos: Film curvature with Epson's holder. Elastic film in Better Scan holder and finally the film that happens to be flat and hard enough to stay flat without any support from below.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

real interesting, and thatnks for the images.

I am interested in your report of the film 'hanging' ... does it hang equally emulsion up and emulsion down?

could you 'brace' the film in the holder with something at the 'frame boundary' such as a thin but stiff bit of (say) plastic

 

[Doug Fisher]

Have you tried flipping the film over so that it arches upward and thus the T-locks will press the arch downward as suggested in the manual? Or is the film so limp that it can't support its own weight either way? You can always use the taping method with your 120 ANR Insert.

Doug

 

[donbga]

Have you tried flipping the film over so that it arches upward and thus the T-locks will press the arch downward as suggested in the manual? Or is the film so limp that it can't support its own weight either way? You can always use the taping method with your 120 ANR Insert.

Doug

Doug's suggestions worked perfectly for me. I would suggest giving them a go. You can get 120 film much flatter than that with the T-Locks and or AN glass tape down.

And for what it's worth I have similar problems with 120 film curl scanning with the Polaroid Sprintscan 120. Luckily I have the glass holder. In short use a glass holder for maximum flatness.

Don Bryant

 

[Peter De Smidt]

If the other suggestions don't work, wet mount to the bottom of a sheet of glass that is shimmed to keep the negative at the proper height. Make a mask on top of the glass to limit stray light. This is much more work, though, so definitely try the other suggestion first.

 

[Usagi]

Have you tried flipping the film over so that it arches upward and thus the T-locks will press the arch downward as suggested in the manual? Or is the film so limp that it can't support its own weight either way? You can always use the taping method with your 120 ANR Insert.

The film is just so limp that it can't support it's own weight.

Taping method would work as some kind of supporting plastic from the below, just outside the frame being scanned.

Best option would be T-lock style approach with holder that has T-locks on boths sides, up and below the film so the film would be pressed tightly like in some enlargers.