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Negatives scanned.....

derek andrews

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Jul 17, 2017
Messages
44
Location
lancs
Format
35mm
....emulsion side up or down? Im using an Epson with Vuescan software, but I'm not clear which way up the film should be in the holder. Any thoughts would be appreciated!
 
Which Epson scanner and which holders?
It depends on where the scanner actually focuses.
Notionally, it has always seemed to me to make more sense to have the emulsion closest to the lens in the scanner. Of course my Canon flatbed specifically recommends the opposite.
By the way - if you had a thread title like "Epson scanner - negatives which way up?" your likelihood of having responses to your question would be much greater.
 
I have an Epson V800 and use the supplied film holders and Epson scan. I scan emulsion down. The software automatically produces a positive and it is the right way round with no intervention from me so I assume I’m doing it right!
 
If It's getting Newton rings due to film curl I will turn it emulsion side up.
 
I think with Epson V series scanners, you can with emulsion side up. My old V700 scans that way.
 
Yes for emulsion up on my V600 as the manufacturer reccomends.
 
ced said:
Yes for emulsion up on my V600 as the manufacturer reccomends.
Click to expand...

Yes that's correct. I am mistaken. The negatives are loaded in the film holder emulsion side down but to mount the holder in the scanner the film holder is flipped over so the emulsion is ultimately facing upwards when mounted on the scanner. I had to re-read the instructions but I was doing it right anyway, just got a bit muddled due to the flipping over of the film holder (this is for the Epson V800 and Epson supplied film holder which may differ from other models/holders).
 
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Thanks, but I'm more confused! I expect the film is so thin it may not make a difference. I tried the same neg both ways and it didn't look any different, but the scanning head must have a focus point? Also the slight curve that my negs have must also make a difference?
 
The thickness of the film is enough to make a difference.
 

There is a focus point on my V700. I have to use spacers that came with my scanner on my film holders to adjust it to find the sweet spot. Don't know if it's the same for you.
 

What scanner do you have? Are you putting the negatives directly on the glass or using a film holder? Film holders hold the negatives flat.
 
I made a scan today of a 6x6 b&w neg and scanned emulsion up and down and could not make out any difference regarding focus (I guess the film is so thin).
 
It may not matter. Dunno which is emultion side. Epson says you flip it the other way round, the software will give you a scan with the right way up. Better Scanning Holders which I have says, you lay the film the right way up as you put it on the holder, after scanning flip it horizontal ...
 
The standard rule for any sort of copying is 'image-to-image'. For contacts it is emulsion side to emulsion side, for a DSLR scanner or flatbed scanner it is emulsion side to lens. As a principle, anything between the image and the device can compromise the result.
 
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