What do you use to scan 4x10?

spotmeter · Jul 27, 2008

I am looking for information from 4x10 film users who scan their film, not general recommendations.

I will be making 16x40 and 20x50 prints.

If you use a flatbed scanner, how do you keep the film flat?

Thanks.

Pinholemaster · Jul 27, 2008

Get a piece of anti-newton ring glass to hold your film flat.

http://fpointinc.com/glass.htm

lenny · Jul 27, 2008

spotmeter said:
I am looking for information from 4x10 film users who scan their film, not general recommendations.

I will be making 16x40 and 20x50 prints.

If you use a flatbed scanner, how do you keep the film flat?

Thanks.

I use 8x10 and scan with a drum scanner. Can't beat it... I'm thrilled with the quality.

Lenny
EigerStudios

sanking · Jul 27, 2008

I scan large sheet film on an EverSmart Pro scanner. You place the negative emulsion down on the glass of the bed, which has an anti-newton coating, and when you close the top of the scanner there is a pressure loaded glass, which also has an anti-newton coating that presses the negative flat on the bottom glass. The scanner focuses automatically.

Most consumer flatbeds do not focus the lens but keep it a a fixed distance from the material being scanner. That point is usually about 1mm above the glass of the bed, but may be on the bed or as much as 3 mm above the bed.

I would recommend that you look at he better scanning or scanscience solutions for fluid mounting if you are using a consumer flatbed that does not focus the lens. These systems have methods for locating the point of best focus and carries on which to mount the film. You will also get a much better scan with these scanners fluid mounting.

Sandy King

spotmeter said:
I am looking for information from 4x10 film users who scan their film, not general recommendations.

I will be making 16x40 and 20x50 prints.

If you use a flatbed scanner, how do you keep the film flat?

Thanks.

imazursky · Jul 27, 2008

Ive been scanning my personal work (4x5's & 12x20) on our Howtek 7500 drum scanner.
A drum scan will definitely be sharper and have much better quality than a consumer flatbed.
As Lenny said, you cant beat it!

Ben Altman · Jul 28, 2008

For 8X10, 4x5, and long strips of 120 film, I use a Howtek 4500. I use Aztek's Photolab software, which allows tuning of the photomultiplier tubes to fill up the histogram. Expensive, but effective for scanning negatives.

You'll be able to mount two 4x10's at once on a 4500 (and scan them separately). More on a 7500, if you can find one. Not worth compromising on the scan end, I'd say. Howteks and other drum scanners can be found relatively cheap these days, as print shops and govt. departments are unloading them.

Good luck figuring it all out.

Ben

imazursky · Jul 28, 2008

Hi Ben,

How do you like DPL? Im a Trident guy but i am considering the upgrade.
As you said, the cost is a real factor.

Ben Altman · Jul 28, 2008

Hi Ian,

DPL seems to work pretty well. I had to shut down my operation to move house shortly after I got it, so I still have only used it for B&W negatives. It was pretty flexible for that - I can get a scan that needs very little adjustment in Photoshop. It has aperture control, too, either auto or manual. You can set things up to suit yourself (and save the settings) or use one of their many canned set-ups. Of course, if you adjust the scanner for each image, you can't profile the scanner. That is fine by me, but it's a little different. Three caveats:
- you have to get the even more expensive Pro version to be able to control the PM tubes and other stuff manually;
- it only runs on Windows (I had to get another computer to run it, as I use Macs);
- the manual seems to have been translated from Chinese by someone from Poland, although it is usable, once you get the hang of the syntax.
Aztek has been helpful and their guy hangs out on the ScanHiEnd forum.

Best, Ben

donbga · Jul 29, 2008

spotmeter said:
I am looking for information from 4x10 film users who scan their film, not general recommendations.

I will be making 16x40 and 20x50 prints.

If you use a flatbed scanner, how do you keep the film flat?

Thanks.

This suggestion was made on the Epson scanner list about scanning 4x10:

http://www.pigment-print.com/CTG_0049/target0.html

THis URL shows a home made holder suggested for Polaroid film or other "non standard" sheet film sizes.

Don Bryant

Ike · Jul 30, 2008

I have a custom 4x10 holder for a Flextight Precision.
Ike

What do you use to scan 4x10?

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