Strange-sized films: scanner holder required? resolution?

[kcc138]

Hello,

 

I'm trying to scan a collection of prints and negatives with an Epson 4990.

Negatives vary widely in size - some 2 x 2 3/8 in, others 5 x 2 7/8 in - and

there are dozens of different sizes. Some are glass negatives.

 

My question is: do any of the site's more experienced think I need to design

something resembling the film holders the Epson shipped with?

 

I've read that the optimal focus is slightly above the glass itself, and I'm not

sure how flat the film will stay on its own. On the other hand, it may take

plenty of trial-and-error and time to determine how to make custom holders for

each size (and from what material?). I notice the 8 x 10 "film area guide" just

lets the negative lie on the glass.

 

Also I'm a bit unsure about what resolution most people recommend - I've found

on the site that color prints only have about 300 dpi-worth of information, B &

W enlarger prints somewhat more, and most negatives cease to provide much more

information beyond 2400 dpi. I'm not planning to print these pictures too

large, not more than 11 x 14, but some of them would likely be 1/2 or 1/4 frame

crops. I'd edit the scans in Photoshop, crop and size myself, and send out to A

& I, mpix, etc.

 

Storage is cheap though, and I don't mind making excessively large files for my

purposes - especially in the event that my purposes change in the future.

 

Thanks in advance!

[stephenwood]

I had the same issue with film flatness and odd size negs (ie Polaroid T55.) I ended up going to my local frame shop and brought my 8x10 glass tray with me (i scan using Microtek i900) and he fit a piece of museum anti reflective glass on top to hold my film flat. I used a small piece of tape on the glass to ease lifting it out of the holder and it works great!

[kcc138]

Thanks for the advice; I'll see if I can get some glass to weight the negs.

[engelgrafik]

http://www.betterscanning.com

 

Just go there.