Scanning contact sheet on Epson 700

brianentz · Apr 14, 2020

I am interested in making quick and dirty contact sheets of negs in the clear plastic neg carrier sleeves. These are mine, old and many. I know the quality isn't good, but I just want a sense of what I'm looking at. I'd like to lay the sheet on the glass and do a single scan for the contact sheet. However I do it, though, it won't cover the full sheet. I'm trying to adjust the Frame settings, but can't seem to figure it out. What am I missing? I'm using Silverfast, I should add.

Eric Rose · Apr 14, 2020

It just won't work. I've tried.

Les Sarile · Apr 14, 2020

You mean something like this - strips of Fuji Astia 100 inserted in plastic holder layed on glass of an Epson V700?

Full res version -> http://www.fototime.com/EEEB5C4CBC442CB/orig.jpg

Pieter12 · Apr 15, 2020

I do it all the time on an Epson V600. I leave the negatives in the sleeve and I will either scan 1/3 page at a time using the film setting (backlight in the lid) and assemble the scans into a page that I then print, or I put a 9x12 LED light panel on top of the negative page and scan as a reflective original, then inverting the negative in Photoshop. Both methods work, the first can give you slightly better quality but requires more effort.

brianentz · Apr 15, 2020

Les Sarile said:
You mean something like this - strips of Fuji Astia 100 inserted in plastic holder layed on glass of an Epson V700?

Full res version -> http://www.fototime.com/EEEB5C4CBC442CB/orig.jpg

Which way do you lay it on the table? Strips running left to right or up and down? And how do you set the Frame setting?

Les Sarile · Apr 15, 2020

brianentz said:
Which way do you lay it on the table? Strips running left to right or up and down? And how do you set the Frame setting?

The V700 came with a template to outline the 8X10 window and you would just orient it to fit as much of the film as possible.

I also did it for color negatives, in this case Kodak 400UC. This time I just tried to bunch the strips on the glass as much as I can.

Full res version -> http://www.fototime.com/B3997C3A230D873/orig.jpg

George Collier · Apr 17, 2020

I've done it regularly too, especially for 2 1/4 film. Lots of dust, etc, but easy and fast.
Also, if you use Photoshop, you can select individual frames and apply adjustment layers to explore different printing conditions. Saves a huge amount of darkroom time. Once you are happy with it, then print in the darkroom.

Eric Rose · Apr 17, 2020

I always found it to be a PITA

brianentz · Apr 19, 2020

Thanks. Much appreciated.

Les Sarile said:
The V700 came with a template to outline the 8X10 window and you would just orient it to fit as much of the film as possible.

I also did it for color negatives, in this case Kodak 400UC. This time I just tried to bunch the strips on the glass as much as I can.

Full res version -> http://www.fototime.com/B3997C3A230D873/orig.jpg

Scanning contact sheet on Epson 700

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