Epson Scan cutting 4x5 scans into strips

[spike42]

For years I have used an Epson V700 to scan 4x5 negatives in one pass with no issue. Now it has suddenly and inexplicably started slicing the image into three vertical strips that have to be stitched together. I didn't change any settings and haven't installed any updates. I have tried rebooting everything, resetting Epson scan, and uninstalling and reinstalling both the scanner drivers and Epson Scan, several times. I can't find any sign online of anyone else ever having experienced this.

Has anyone seen this happen, and if so how did you fix it?

[djdister]

When you are seeing the initial scan in Preview mode, you need to switch from "Thumbnail" view to "Normal" view by clicking on the appropriate tab of the Preview display.

This is where you need to switch the preview mode from Normal to Thumbnail or vice versa:
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[spike42]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I have always used "Thumbnail" view. Previously, this mode would use the film holder to find the edges of the image and crop it down automatically, but this has stopped working. Do you know what could have changed?

It might also be worth mentioning that this is still working normally for all other film sizes, only the 4x5 is having this problem.

[Alan Klein]

It seems that the scanner holes of your 4x5 holder appear like a 35mm strip holder. There are little sensors at the top of the glass toward the hinge that determine which film holder is lying on the glass. It looks like the sensors might be dirty. Try cleaning them off. You can see where these are by looking at the top of each type of (holder). There should be little holes that code the holders that let light through to the sensors, so the scanner knows which holder type you're using. Also, clean the holes in the holder so they are not blocked with dust or dirt.

[djdister]

It seems that the scanner holes of your 4x5 holder appear like a 35mm strip holder. There are little sensors at the top of the glass toward the hinge that determine which film holder is lying on the glass. It looks like the sensors might be dirty. Try cleaning them off. You can see where these are by looking at the top of each type of sensor. There should be little holes that code the holders that let light through to the sensors, so the scanner knows which holder type you're using. Also, clean the holes in the holder so they are not blocked with dust or dirt.

I'm with Alan. If its not the "Normal/Thumbnail" setting then it could be something is blocking the tiny hole pattern that identifies the 4x5 holder near the large notch at the top of the holder.

[spike42]

Thank you both for the advice. It's these holes, correct? If so, they appeared clean, but I gave them a blast of air duster just in case. Same issue :\
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Also, what I'm seeing isn't exactly like the strips djdister posted in their screenshot. I'm attaching a screenshot of what I'm seeing as well. (Please excuse the terrible photo I'm trying to scan)
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[djdister]

I switched over to my 4x5 film holder but could not reproduce the problem you have. Here is the normal 4x5 thumbnail view:

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But, here is another way to do it. In the Preview panel, switch over to Normal instead of Thumbnail view. You should see two unbounded images in the preview scan:

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Then manually draw the marquee (see below) around one of the images and then do the scan for that area.

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[spike42]

Yeah, that's the way I've started doing it, I just wish I could do it the easy way again. Out of curiosity, could I see a picture of the dots on your film holder? Just to compare the pattern.

[spike42]

Oh nevermind, I see it in the screenshot. Looks the same. Although my holder only has space for one negative, which is odd.

[djdister]

Yeah, that's the way I've started doing it, I just wish I could do it the easy way again. Out of curiosity, could I see a picture of the dots on your film holder? Just to compare the pattern.

The 4x5 film holder that came with my v750 Pro holds 2 negs, which is not too bad. Other than that, the dot pattern seems to be identical.
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However, my 4x5 film holder does NOT have the two long open areas (circled in red) that yours appears to have. What are those for? Do your other film holders have those narrow openings in them as well?
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[Alan Klein]

Thank you both for the advice. It's these holes, correct? If so, they appeared clean, but I gave them a blast of air duster just in case. Same issue :\
245571

Also, what I'm seeing isn't exactly like the strips djdister posted in their screenshot. I'm attaching a screenshot of what I'm seeing as well. (Please excuse the terrible photo I'm trying to scan)
245573

Why is Target Size so small? 1.6" x 3.85"

As an aside, nothing to do with this problem, but why do you set for color negative film and 16 bit grayscale?

[Alan Klein]

Thank you both for the advice. It's these holes, correct? If so, they appeared clean, but I gave them a blast of air duster just in case. Same issue :\
245571

Also, what I'm seeing isn't exactly like the strips djdister posted in their screenshot. I'm attaching a screenshot of what I'm seeing as well. (Please excuse the terrible photo I'm trying to scan)
245573

I checked my 4x5 holder vs the medium format holder. The medium format holder has one less hole, the one by itself on the 4x5 is not there on the medium format. Maybe the sensor or light going through isn't working. That could account for the medium format strip scan. Try the 35mm slide holder to see if you get the correct scan selection. It has that extra on the 4x5 and only 2 of the 3 of the others. If the extra isn;t working, you should get some strange result.

[Alan Klein]

Coding: see picture. The hole on the right might not be working. If not, the 4x5 holder would work as a 120 holder. Try the 35mm holder to see what you get. You don't need slides I don't think to test.

[Alan Klein]

The 4x5 film holder that came with my v750 Pro holds 2 negs, which is not too bad. Other than that, the dot pattern seems to be identical.
245585

However, my 4x5 film holder does NOT have the two long open areas (circled in red) that yours appears to have. What are those for? Do your other film holders have those narrow openings in them as well?
245586

Those long holes have sliders that raise and lower the holder to find optimum focal point. They're furnished with the V850. I found they really make a difference.

[djdister]

Those long holes have sliders that raise and lower the holder to find optimum focal point. They're furnished with the V850. I found they really make a difference.

Thanks. Interesting that they made that change from the v750 film holder and also made the 4x5 holder for 1 neg instead of two. The raising/lowering options for my holders are rudimentary at best.

[spike42]

However, my 4x5 film holder does NOT have the two long open areas (circled in red) that yours appears to have. What are those for? Do your other film holders have those narrow openings in them as well?
245586

They do, they're for height adjustment but the 4x5 holder is missing the little tabs. Here's the 35mm holder:
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These were sold as "genuine" Epson film holders but I'm beginning to suspect that's not the case. I wonder if my film being oriented in the other direction is confusing the scanner?

[spike42]

Why is Target Size so small? 1.6" x 3.85"

As an aside, nothing to do with this problem, but why do you set for color negative film and 16 bit grayscale?

Target Size is being set automatically, I've tried changing it but it always changes itself back. I can't find a setting to disable this. I assume it's getting that from the dot codes but I'm not sure.

And the negative settings are because I'm a dumbass and misread some notch codes in the dark bag, so a sheet of Portra went in my Stearman tank with a bunch of HP5+ and got developed in Ilfotec DD-X. :(

[spike42]

Coding: see picture. The hole on the right might not be working. If not, the 4x5 holder would work as a 120 holder. Try the 35mm holder to see what you get. You don't need slides I don't think to test.

35mm slide and strip holders are both working normally. :\