Does anyone have a good technique to manage long film strips while scanning?
Being new to camera scanning, I received my first roll of uncut 35mm film this week. What a pleasure to wind the film through the cassette instead of manipulating cut strips.
However, I had a hard time handing that long roll of film. This resulted in the yet-unfed part of the film strip dropping off the copy stand into an apparently dusty corner of my office. Also, the already-fed film gathered in its own sloppy pile. So, the first two-thirds of the strip scanned perfectly; the last one-third looked like I had photographed in a dust storm.
Iām using gloves but did not use a blower as I moved the frames through the cassette. (Yes, blowing each side of each frame would have helped somewhat.) But the real issue here is how to keep the film from going all over the place, gathering all that dust.
Iām betting that the experienced scanners on this forum have figured this out. If so, please share.
Meanwhile, Iām getting out the vacuum and dust cloths.
Thanks, Harry. Iām using Negative Supply products, so I will price out the Pro Mount/Dust Brush option.
Forgoing the full strip length in favor of more manageable cut sections could make a world of difference in keeping the filmstrip clean. The big issue with cut strips, of course, is maintaining flatness in those frames on the leading edge of the cut. If I start cutting the full strips myself, I might try to eyeball the best photos to make sure theyāre not on the edge of a cut.
Or, also yes: Finding a way to maintain the front and back of the strip in semi-tight ācirclesā on my workspace could only improve on what happened yesterday!
Actually I wasnāt clear, I meant that Iām scanning film that Iāve shot in the past. I can see the logic of scanning an entire uncut roll before filing because those āend framesā can be problematic.
The Kinetronic products tend to come with an earthing lead which seems sensible but I havenāt done any tests. People also use those anti-static guns, I have one I used for vinyl records.
I donāt know whether I am answering your question, but I have had the same problem of a roll snaking around my desk while I am cutting it into strips. It sounds counter-intuitive but I roll up the film the āwrongā way (i,e, the opposite way it was rolled in the camera) and drop it into a film cannister overnight. It certainly makes it a bit more manageable for putting through my manual mini guillotine film cutter.
Hi,
I do use my scanning setup vertical to desk to reduce the dust (camera and film holder is not horizontal to desk).
Since I started scanning vertically I do not even need a blower or brush, dust is harder to stick on the film since its always vertical. I also use antistatic gloves, clean the film holder with air duster briefly through the film strip entrance after every roll. There is also a lens hood in front of the film holder to block leaking light and dust.
I did install all my setup on a macro rail, the light source&essential film holder is connected with a arca swiss plate vertically on a ball head mount.
Rob, Simsek, and Harry - Thanks so much for sharing your techniques. Right now, Iām in the process of cleaning up a lot of knick-knacks collecting dust on my bookshelves. Also, Iām going to expand my workspace to allow more space on both sides of the cassette to better manage the film strip. So, while all that progresses, Iām scanning a bunch of old family and travel slides, which are very easy to dust with a bulb blower. (I just love it that so much of that special Kodachrome look survives even when scanned slides are captured by a modern sensor.)
Rob: Great idea on how to neutralize film curl. Simsek, Harry: Yes, antistatic gun and gloves will be part of my regimen soon. Whoa, Simsek, that vertical layout you describe sounds awesome, but Iām nowhere near that coordinated!
I got very lucky to find a used Kinetronics film vacuum/cleaner locally. Highly recommend it if youāre really, really serious. Itās magical for time saving. Takes a lot of extra little steps out of the process for most images.
Came from a Fuji Frontier scanner originally but was used by a local pro scanning his own film for a decade.
Thanks for letting me know about the Kinetronics, SSelvidge and Harry. Itās expensive, but I havenāt ruled it out. Especially since Negative Supplyās Pro Mount/Anti-Static Brush kit costs nearly as much. First, let me see how my office-cleaning project goes . . . .
I made a duster myself from two anti static carbon fiber brushes for record players, before the commercial ādustersā became available, as shown here:
For what the commercial duster can be had for these days, I would purchase one of those. Nonetheless, I spool in and outgoing film up in a metal box I happen to have, and the homemade duster does the rest. I barely have to do any dust removal in post.
Arno - Very cool. Yes, I see the double-brush mechanism in some of the photos. I also like the idea of your ācollectionā boxes. Mis-managing that loose strip was the beginning of my problem! I donāt have any film coming back from the lab this week, but when I do, Iāll be ready for it with some new gloves, a cleaner office, less cluttered workspace, and some anti-static towels and/or blower.
This forum has been just great during my first few weeks of cam-scanning. Thank you.