Is there a way to scan medium format slides (i.e. in mounts) on an Epson V500?

<p>I have scanned medium format film strips on my V500 but, unlike 35mm slides, there is no part of the film holders dedicated medium format slides. Unfortunately taking the pieces of film out of the mounts and putting them into the film strip section of the holder won't work because when I put them into mounts (many years ago so that I could project them) I trimmed them so that they would fit in the mounts thereby making them too narrow to fit in the holder. <br>

I am thinking of making a template out of card to locate the slides in the right place on the scanning glass (I am assuming that the software won't "object" to me not using one of the Epson holders) but was wondered if anyone had any other ideas? </p>

<p>You should be able to scan the slide right on the glass, using the holder as a guide.</p>

<p>Robin,</p>

<p >I just scanned several hundred mounted 120 transparencies for a client on my Epson 4990 which is a similar predecessor of the V500.</p>

<p >I described my needs to my 12 year old son, who is way more talented than me in every metric. He cut out a template from a small sheet of foamcore board (for art framing). I used an exacto blade to remove stray foam bits, and artist's tape to smooth away the rough edges.</p>

<p ><img src="http://www.smugmug.com/photos/i-bR5mL3Z/0/L/i-bR5mL3Z-L.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p > </p>

<p >I used blue tape to affix it to the scanner platen so the selection area was the same with each slide. With four passes, each scan went fairly quickly, and the quality was beyond the client's expectations.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >Another good reason to have kids!</p>

<p > </p>

<p >ME</p>

<p>Thank you for your replies. Glad to know that a solution like this works<br>

I notice Michael (Elenco) that your son has incorporated a lip on the template for the slide mounts to rest on. With the V500 35mm slides sit directly on the glass - the holder just locates them on the correct part of it - so I am planning to make a simpler template which does the same for medium format. I hadn't thought of taping the template to the platen to keep it in the same place - I was planning to have it pressed against the lip round the platen edge to do that but clearly taping it would be better - thanks<br>

Incidentally I know that many people have experimented with their scanner to find the best height above the glass to position the film. I have to say that with my V500 the results I have got with 35mm slides resting on the glass seem to be very sharp. </p>

<p>Have you tried unchecking the Thumbnail box in the lower part of the V500 Professional scan screen?<br>

Then you have the ability to frame as you like. I have used this for odd size slides.</p>

In my case, the thin remaining paper backing that came between the slide and the glass didn't affect the focusing

accuracy. These were 60 year old transparencies with warped mount cardboard anyway. And the images were mostly

snapshots with their own set of flaws. A little sharpening in post sufficed. Color correction was the biggest challenge,

especially on four different film types processed by different labs.

 

ME

<p>I also have the 4990 and the software retains my selections after I scan the images. I think you should be able to stack as many slides as will fit into the scanning area, make a preview scan, make your selections, and then scan. You should be able to load your next set of slides onto the scanner bed and as long as they are in the same positions as the previous scan you don't have to preview them, just scan. That can save time. You shouldn't need a holder. Try scanning a 3d object and you will get an idea of the depth of field that the scanner has.</p>

<p>This is funny because i'm going to help somebody to fix the same problem tomorrow. What i can't figured out is why Epson doesn't have one with it. As i was searching i found pictures of it.<br>

<a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=epson%20v500%20scanner%20question&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEMQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fgroups%2Fholgawpc%2Fdiscuss%2F72157626064287794%2F&ei=p3JNT6-BJsPY0QG1woHNAg&v6u=http%3A%2F%2Fdualstack.ipv6-exp.l.google.com%2Fgen_204%3Fip%3D75.158.247.139%26ts%3D1330475687902697%26auth%3Dnhp7gbghosrfa7rb2fb5iqxnxzzdtdyb%26rndm%3D0.69657684979029&v6s=2&v6t=3679&usg=AFQjCNFfCpZ-nvk75RtXTnwABMcf5U_-uA">Flickr: Discussing epson v500 scanner question in The dark corners ...</a></p>

<p>This proving to be a very helpful thread for me - my thanks to you all. The V500 is different from some other scanners in that the area for scanning film is limited to four 35mm slides, two 35mm film strips or a two 6 x6 frames so I cut out a piece of card the same size as the film holders (which only cover about two thirds of the area of the glass) and then, using the MF holder as a guide, cut a square out of the card the size of a 6 x 6 mount. <br>

I then put the card in the scanner in the same place as the holder goes, placed a slide into the square hole and selected Prescan. This didn't work! I got a message saying " Please remove the document mat and/or the document cover".<br>

I guessed that the scanner was being awkward because the holder wasn't present so I tried taking the card out and placing the MF holder on top of the slide. Closing the lid wasn't a problem - it appears to have feet which lift it high enough not to rest on the holder. This, very crude, arrangement worked.<br>

However this morning having read the posts by Jack and Michael L and the post on Flickr I now have a better method.<br>

I "unchecked" the Thumbnail box, put my piece of card on the scanner as a guide to where the slide should go and placed a slide in the square cut out. Then I removed the card and selected Prescan (I tried prescanning with the card in place but got the above error message again). This time the Prescan worked and came up with a marque to select the area I wished to scan. </p>

 

<p>How do you delete the whole of a post you've accidently submitted twice? I've deleted the text but can't get rid of the top line</p>

<p>Robin,</p>

<p>i went ot help my friend and since the thickness of the Epson V500 MF holder was about the same as the carboard mount he had for his old ektrachrome, we just put them on the glass with the MF holder on top as a guide for positioning it.<br>

It seems to work well.</p>

<p>Glad to hear it Michel. I have now scanned about 100 slides. The mounts have varied in thickness but the scans have all turned equally sharp!</p>