iPad to back-iluminate while scanning

Hi all,

I only have a flatbed scanner.
I decided to scan a test roll of Tmax 400, having a shot at EI50. This looked ok by visual inspection, but unfortunately nothing or very little was record when I scanned the negative.

I recalled having owned a previous flatbed which had an accessory to back-illuminate 35mm negatives. Therefore, I tried to back illuminate my test negatives with an iPad. The improvement is massive. See annexed file.

I did not know in which topic to post about scanning. I hope here is ok.

jsimoespedro said:

I did not know in which topic to post about scanning.

Click to expand...

Methinks they will be along with the pitchforks real soon :

Probably the safest way to digitise images is to scan a gelatin print, either a proof or final...

But yes, backlighting a neg is the best way. If you rely on light from the scan head, it has to pass through the neg before being reflected back to the sensor. The light gets scattered much more, losing contrast and detail in the process.

Dear jsimoespedro,

Nice idea. Thanks for sharing.

Neal Wydra

You will end up seeing the pixels that show through. It's probably easiest to just lay a frosted piece of glass on top and shine a desk lamp over it.

Or just print it in the darkroom and scan the finished piece.

Newt_on_Swings said:

You will end up seeing the pixels that show through. It's probably easiest to just lay a frosted piece of glass on top and shine a desk lamp over it.

Or just print it in the darkroom and scan the finished piece.

Click to expand...

did not think of the ipad pixels showing through.