yardkat
Member
Hi everyone,
I have an Epson V700 that I use with either the Epson scan software or Silverfast Ai. I've been scanning prints for awhile but have just started learning to scan negatives. I've got some old family negs that I'm trying to learn on, and of course they are all odd sizes. I've got some 126, some superslides, and some negs that are 3.5x5.75. I've experimented using the holders, or placing the negs right on the scanner glass, and seems like I get sharper scans in the holders, but of course the holders mask off parts of the image. That wouldn't bother me if I could pick which parts were getting masked off but it doesn't always work out how I wish. I'd kinda like to keep people's heads in the picture if at all possible.
So I am toying with the idea of the holder from betterscanning.com that will allow me to use a holder with different size negs. And I can use it for my own medium format as well when I get to that point. It seems pretty versatile.
I've thought of just using cardboard or some paperboard to make a mask, but how do I get it to the right size thickness so it will be sharp and in focus? And the small pieces of sheet film have a ton of curl and are hard to keep flat as it's pretty thick film, I'm afraid cardboard wouldn't really keep it really flat.
Anyway, I guess my question is are the betterscanning holders worth it, or am I missing something about being able to scan right on the scanner glass? I'll admit that these scans aren't super important, but eventually I do want to make decent neg scans from my own work anyway. I also just got an inkjet printer so not only am I trying to figure out the scanning thing, I'm also trying to figure out the printer thing, so I'm full of questions, ideas, thoughts, half-formed knowledge, uncertainties, sore from sitting in front of the computer for hours, loss of cash...
Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice!
Julie
I have an Epson V700 that I use with either the Epson scan software or Silverfast Ai. I've been scanning prints for awhile but have just started learning to scan negatives. I've got some old family negs that I'm trying to learn on, and of course they are all odd sizes. I've got some 126, some superslides, and some negs that are 3.5x5.75. I've experimented using the holders, or placing the negs right on the scanner glass, and seems like I get sharper scans in the holders, but of course the holders mask off parts of the image. That wouldn't bother me if I could pick which parts were getting masked off but it doesn't always work out how I wish. I'd kinda like to keep people's heads in the picture if at all possible.

I've thought of just using cardboard or some paperboard to make a mask, but how do I get it to the right size thickness so it will be sharp and in focus? And the small pieces of sheet film have a ton of curl and are hard to keep flat as it's pretty thick film, I'm afraid cardboard wouldn't really keep it really flat.
Anyway, I guess my question is are the betterscanning holders worth it, or am I missing something about being able to scan right on the scanner glass? I'll admit that these scans aren't super important, but eventually I do want to make decent neg scans from my own work anyway. I also just got an inkjet printer so not only am I trying to figure out the scanning thing, I'm also trying to figure out the printer thing, so I'm full of questions, ideas, thoughts, half-formed knowledge, uncertainties, sore from sitting in front of the computer for hours, loss of cash...

Anyway, thanks in advance for any advice!
Julie