Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pkr1979
I have considered but not yet tried wet mounting directly on the scanner bed... I worry about leaks and damaging the scanner. I might give it ago though. Alan9940, do you do any adjustments on the scanner to make sure its sealed... or anything similar... or do you just fill up the scanner bed with fluid... so to speak?
Peter
Peter,
Definitely DO NOT simply fill the scanner bed with fluid! You will have leaking into the scanner hardware under the glass. Since an 8x10 negative fills so much area of the bed glass, what I do is tape around the bed glass with drum mounting tape to ensure a tight seal along the edges. Then, I use only enough mounting fluid to cover the film area; practice will show you how much fluid, but it's less than you think. If you use Kami fluid, then there is no need to clean the negative after the scan; you simply remove it from the bed glass and whatever remaining fluid will evaporate very quickly.
So, to sum up the steps here is my procedure:
1. Clean negative as required. Generally, this requires only a wipe with an anti-static brush and a quick once-over with something like Dust Off. If necessary, I use PEC cleaning fluid but this is rare.
2. Dispense the correct amount of scanner fluid on to the bed glass (remember, you've got it all taped up, right?)
3. Lay negative down into the fluid. I bow it slightly and start at one end to help eliminate trapped air.
4. Dispense the correct amount of scanner fluid on to the negative.
5. Lay a sheet of Graphics Arts Film (crystal clear mylar) on to the negative using the same technique as with the negative.
6. Use a scanner wipe, swiping across the mylar, to remove air bells, ensure full coverage of fluid over the entire negative surface, and to remove excess fluid as it seeps out from under this "sandwich."
7. Scan away and enjoy no Newton Rings, minimized look of grain, and, typically, sharper scans.
I have always bought all my scanner supplies from aztek.com.
Have fun!
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
Brilliant! Thanks - I'm gonna give this a go :-)
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
Alan, forgive my ignorance - why do you have to apply the sheet of mylar? Why couldn't you forgo that step and just scan without it?
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Randy
Alan, forgive my ignorance - why do you have to apply the sheet of mylar? Why couldn't you forgo that step and just scan without it?
1) Seals in the scanning fluid that is between the negative and the scanning glass along the edges so that it doesn't start to evaporate during the scan causing the negative to pop off.
2) Acts as a protective barrier while trying to push away air bubbles without marring the film.
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
Randy, the post above says it all.
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
I was never able to eliminate "bubbles" from the scanner fluid when wet mounting. They were worse than Newton Rings. Using the 4x5 holder worked, but it takes awhile to get the neg flat, so focusing was sometimes problematic. This is the source for the idea of simply taping the neg to the scanner glass. Which as I noted above, works for me.
http://www.kennethleegallery.com/htm...ning/index.php
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
The main reasons for getting bubbles are two-fold:
1) Not using enough scanner fluid.
2) Not smoothly bowing the film from one edge on the glass down gradually into the fluid.
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mitrajoon
I was never able to eliminate "bubbles" from the scanner fluid when wet mounting. They were worse than Newton Rings. Using the 4x5 holder worked, but it takes awhile to get the neg flat, so focusing was sometimes problematic. This is the source for the idea of simply taping the neg to the scanner glass. Which as I noted above, works for me.
http://www.kennethleegallery.com/htm...ning/index.php
I had "bubble" issues, too, early on with wet mounting, but found that it was my technique of placing the negative down into the fluid that was causing trapped air. I got the idea for the technique I use now from watching a friend load a scanner drum. If you flex the negative, start at one end, and lay it down being careful not to rotate the film in relation to the glass you shouldn't get any significant "bubbles." What is there, if any, should be easily removed by light pressure on the mylar working from the center of the film to each edge.
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
Alan,
I just got loads off stuff to start wet scanning... how do you apply your drum tape at the top... where that calibration area is... or does this not matter since its transparent?
Cheers
Peter
Re: Newton rings on scanned 8x10" negatives
No, don't cover the calibration area! I don't use tape when wet-mounting film on a flatbed. If you use a piece of mylar 2 cm bigger than the film in every direction, it should stick to the glass just fine using the mounting fluid. That could be a problem if your film is super curly, but usually it isn't. Once you mount your film, scan. It's not a super time-sensitive situation, but don't leave the film wet-mounted for a long time. After scanning, remove the film and hang to dry.