Digital BW, The Print

I'm making the leap into B&W digital printing this year from the wet 
process, and I'm assembling the knowledge and equipment I need.  I 
have a pretty good handle on the printers and software, but need help 
on the scanning side.

I do mostly 4X5 with some 35mm.  Finding a 35mm scanner is no 
problem, but 4X5 is another story.  Outside of a $14K drum scanner, 
about the only other ones I see are flatbed reflective scanners with 
a drawer for negs.  I've been told of problems using these for 4X5.  
Also, I'm not sure about what resolution I should shoot for when 
taking 4X5s and 35mm negs to 11X14 digital prints (for comparable wet 
process resolution).

Can anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that 
could provide help?

THANKS!

>>I do mostly 4X5 with some 35mm.  Finding a 35mm scanner is no problem, but
4X5 is another story.  Outside of a $14K drum scanner, about the only other
ones I see are flatbed reflective scanners with a drawer for negs.... Can
anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that could provide
help?<<

You might want to look at the new Epson 3200 scanner for your 4x5 needs.  It
is reasonably priced and will also scan 35mm - but not as well as a
dedicated film scanner.  There are links to a number of reviews at the
"links" section here on the 3200 page:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/epson3200/

Also, Canon is supposed to release a 3200 dpi flatbed soon.  Check their
webpage for specs.

Doug

http://www.scantips.com/ is excellent for understanding the basics of
scanning. 
Bob Michaels

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "nedbuntline2002"
<NedBuntline@H...> wrote:
<snip>  but need help on the scanning side.
<snip>
> Can anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that 
> could provide help?

Almost any decent flatbed scanner is fine for 4x5 negatives. I'd stay
within the $400 range, nothing less. You want a good lens, and the
cheapies don't have them. Try a microtek, canon, etc.
They won't do 35 mm well at all, but 4x5 wouldn't be much of a problem
for any of them. 

Jerry



nedbuntline2002 wrote:

> 
> I'm making the leap into B&W digital printing this year from the wet
> process, and I'm assembling the knowledge and equipment I need.  I
> have a pretty good handle on the printers and software, but need help
> on the scanning side.
> 
> I do mostly 4X5 with some 35mm.  Finding a 35mm scanner is no
> problem, but 4X5 is another story.  Outside of a $14K drum scanner,
> about the only other ones I see are flatbed reflective scanners with
> a drawer for negs.  I've been told of problems using these for 4X5.
> Also, I'm not sure about what resolution I should shoot for when
> taking 4X5s and 35mm negs to 11X14 digital prints (for comparable wet
> process resolution).
> 
> Can anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that
> could provide help?
> 
> THANKS!
> 
> 
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
> 
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Hi !
I can recommed a scanner Not to purchase for BWs :
the Microtek X12USL/LightLid cost a bit over $400.
It does not have the dynamic range to accommodate
the full range of a BW neg. Color prints would 
probably be okay.

I found a used Polaroid PrintScan45 for $800 : it 
works fine. I am scannning some 100 yr old glass
negs from my grandfather and they range from nearly
transparent to deep black. That is still a challenge
for the Polaroid, but the Microtek was virtually
worthless for that task.

Best,
Alex

--- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "nedbuntline2002" 
<NedBuntline@H...> wrote:
> I'm making the leap into B&W digital printing this year from the 
wet 
> process, and I'm assembling the knowledge and equipment I need.  I 
> have a pretty good handle on the printers and software, but need 
help 
> on the scanning side.
> 
> I do mostly 4X5 with some 35mm.  Finding a 35mm scanner is no 
> problem, but 4X5 is another story.  Outside of a $14K drum scanner, 
> about the only other ones I see are flatbed reflective scanners 
with 
> a drawer for negs.  I've been told of problems using these for 
4X5.  
> Also, I'm not sure about what resolution I should shoot for when 
> taking 4X5s and 35mm negs to 11X14 digital prints (for comparable 
wet 
> process resolution).
> 
> Can anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that 
> could provide help?
> 
> THANKS!


I can make one suggestion. I've been using an old Leafscan 45 for 
some time now with quite nice results. It is slow and really works 
best, in my opinion, with a Mac because you are able to export a 
16bit Raw file. The Windows software will not allow this and requires 
a GIPB card to work. The Mac works with the SCSI port on the Leafscan 
45. 35mm gives you a DPI of 5080, Medium format is 2,500DPI and 4x5 
is 1200DPI.  They sell from around $800.00 to 2,000.00 depending on 
luck, condition, etc. There are three sources. Ebay, and the two web 
sites I have included. They are big and weigh around 75LBS so they 
are not cheep to ship. I think they are worth the hassle though. the 
only other scanner capable of going from 35mm to 4x5 is the Imacon. I 
really great scanner but in the 10,000.00 range and up.

http://www.imagesdigital.com/index.htm . Rick Fontaine is the owner.

http://www.leafstuff.com/  Steve Helber is the owner.

P.S. if you scan the 4X5 at 1200DPI(SPI) and want to print at 300DPI 
you can get a very nice 16X20 print.


John H

I am using a flatbed scanner to scan 4x5 negatives quite successfully. Specifically I am using the Epson Expression 1680 scanner with the transparency hood. This is a rugged, pro-type scanner that goes to 1600/3200dpi optically. This scanner is a couple years old and by now there are probably better and cheaper equivalents. You can check it out at:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/product/223903/EPE1680US/REG/1152

1600dpi is plenty of resolution, actually more than you will need, for scanning in 4x5 negatives and printing them to 11x14. Before I got this scanner I had my negatives scanned in on Heidelberg and Imacon scanners at digital photo shops. Yes, scans from these high end machines are marginally better (you get to see the edges of the grain particles on the negative a bit more crisply). But for my kind of work they are not worth 60 bucks a whack. And, if you live in a small town like me, you will have to send your precious negatives off through the mail to god-knows-who.

35mm is another story. For it you will need a dedicated film scanner.

Jim Richey

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: nedbuntline2002 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2003 9:55 AM
  Subject: [Digital BW] Can Someone Tell Me Where To Go?


  I'm making the leap into B&W digital printing this year from the wet 
  process, and I'm assembling the knowledge and equipment I need.  I 
  have a pretty good handle on the printers and software, but need help 
  on the scanning side.

  I do mostly 4X5 with some 35mm.  Finding a 35mm scanner is no 
  problem, but 4X5 is another story.  Outside of a $14K drum scanner, 
  about the only other ones I see are flatbed reflective scanners with 
  a drawer for negs.  I've been told of problems using these for 4X5.  
  Also, I'm not sure about what resolution I should shoot for when 
  taking 4X5s and 35mm negs to 11X14 digital prints (for comparable wet 
  process resolution).

  Can anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that 
  could provide help?

  THANKS!


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have the Linotype-Hell Saphir Ultra 2 for some years now, and it makes
excellent scans from 4x5and 8x10 b&w negs.  Its optical res is 1200 ppi,
which will give you an uncropped image approximately 13" wide.  It is now
obsolete, and I'm sure whatever its replacement is will have higher
resolution and dynamic range.  Plus, the newer models will be firewire.  All
you need to do is make a 4x5 hinged neg carrier from black matt board, to
keep the neg up a little off the glass.  BTW, PN55 scans really well.

Regards,

  --Ken Carney
    www.kencarney.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "nedbuntline2002" <NedBuntline@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2003 9:55 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Can Someone Tell Me Where To Go?


> I'm making the leap into B&W digital printing this year from the wet
> process, and I'm assembling the knowledge and equipment I need.  I
> have a pretty good handle on the printers and software, but need help
> on the scanning side.
>
> I do mostly 4X5 with some 35mm.  Finding a 35mm scanner is no
> problem, but 4X5 is another story.  Outside of a $14K drum scanner,
> about the only other ones I see are flatbed reflective scanners with
> a drawer for negs.  I've been told of problems using these for 4X5.
> Also, I'm not sure about what resolution I should shoot for when
> taking 4X5s and 35mm negs to 11X14 digital prints (for comparable wet
> process resolution).
>
> Can anyone point me to a website, newsgroup, or Yahoo group that
> could provide help?
>
> THANKS!
>
>
>
> Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and
other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint
>
> If you wish to receive no emails or just a daily digest, or you wish to
unsubscribe, please edit your Membership preferences by visiting this same
page.
>
> Please follow these basic guidelines:
> - Include your full name with your message.
> - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
> - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep
them short.
> - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
> - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or
&amp;amp;quot;flames.&amp;amp;quot;
> - Complete your Yahoo profile.
> - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various
resources on the homepage.

>
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>