How many use wet scanning for your best images? Who use the Epson v700 to wet scan?
I have read several articles that state that wet scanning is superior.
How many use wet scanning for your best images? Who use the Epson v700 to wet scan?
I have read several articles that state that wet scanning is superior.
Generalizations are made because they are Generally true...
Of course it is superior but you have to weigh the extra work versus results. Better to use the Epson to proof quickly and easily, then send out for drum scans of your best images.
I find it optimal quality-wise, and if given the choice of wet vs dry scanning on my best shots, I'd go wet all the time if possible.
That's where proof/contact sheets come in handy, even in a digital world. They can give you a glimpse as to what's on a roll before you start scanning. Especially with roll film where you might have a couple of shots in a series, and determining which one you like best. I think I can "read" color negatives pretty good these days, but having a contact sheet to reference from(that's properly color/density balanced as close as possible to what I want to see in the scan) saves me time, and again, is great as a reference. Especially if I don't have the time to scan it myself, and outsource the scan to someone else.
-Dan
I would think that a dry scan/contact sheet would help you determine which shots were the ones that you would want to wet scan for optimal quality to print.
What is the method you use? I know better scanning has a "kit" but I also watched a video on wet scanning by Gavin Seim, it appeared he used a piece of glass a sheet of mylar and some scanning fluid. I am not sure if he used some sort of frame????
Generalizations are made because they are Generally true...
I talk with a guy who gave up all film for digital. He's a professional of 15+ years and a really good darkroom printer. He has a very large archive of 8x10 black and white negatives, prints of which many were made in 20x24 and he sold to people for large sums of money. If someone looks in his portfolio and requests a particular print, he can make it digitally in a manner which pleases him and his client and some of these clients have darkroom made prints of his work. I asked him about wet vs. dry and he does dry for about 80% of his work. The wet is reserved for the stuff that is going to be really big or stuff he is trying to get the 'little bit more' out of that he saw when he exposed the shot.
I'm planning on getting an Epson 700/750 scanner and paying this fellow for a few hours of his time to show me how it works and how to make a good dry scan. Once I get happy with operating the scanner, I might try the wet method, again paying for a lesson to see how it is done.
Unfortunately, it cost about $200 to get the basic stuff to try it to see if you like it. If I know that it is really worth it then I don't mind spending the money.
Generalizations are made because they are Generally true...
The effects vary quite a bit by scanner. All you need is some mylar (art store) and naphtha to give it a try. Don't use this on an important negative. Don't worry much about bubbles .... you'd just be testing to find out the quality difference between wet and dry scanner. Naphtha is flammable, and so take precautions.
“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know
Is scanning fluid just Naptha? Are you saying just put the negative directly on the scanner glass and the mylar over that?
Generalizations are made because they are Generally true...
From the bottom:
Scanner glass
air (o-rings for spacers)
mylar
neg
glass
The last three are stuck together with naptha.
This upside-down thing with o-ring spacers isn't my idea but I can't locate the source at this instant. Works great, though.
Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear
https://www.freestylephoto.biz/pdf/m...ting_Fluid.pdf
Well, how do you scan now? If on the glass, than yes you can mount right to the glass. But that is not usually the best height for an Epson scanner. Get a piece of picture framing glass. 8x10" is great if you're doing 4x5" film. Use tape shims in each corner to find the best height. Cut a piece of mylar about 7x6" for a 4x5" negative. Now you flip the glass holder over. Center the negative. Lift up so one corner of the negative is touching the glass. Squirt some scanning fluid along the edge where the negtive touches the glass. Lay the negative down, taking about 1 second to lower the negative, starting at the edge that's touching. You're kinda rolling the negative down. Place the edge of the mylar about 1" from the the negative, touching the glass. Squirt...lay the mylar down. Push out any bubbles. Flip carrier over. Scan. Danial doesn't use a consumer flatbed, but you can get the idea here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXy7RJwIBAo
“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know
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