Preserved Topic: Scanning Transparencies? (Page 1 of 1)

Any tips?

I've put a couple of 'white' sheets of paper behind this rather large transparency and it does't really look all that great. Scanner is a Mustek 1200 III EP, if tht's of any help.

Thanx.

NoJive: I'm more used to scanning slides but I suspect the principle is similar. I can get you the details of the scanner I use (it a HP) but what I think you need is a lid with a light in it (not sure if there is a technical term for it). The one I use has an interchangeable one with an ordinary lid and so you should contact the manufacturers to see if they make version for your a model. I'm sure there are others here who can give you the technical reasons but without some kind of back lighting its going to look too dark and you will not get any of the colours coming through properly. If its a one of you may be able to mock something up using a strong lamp and some black card to mask around the edges of your transparency but it won't be great unless you try hard and get lucky (try moving the lamp so it is not directly above the picture (otherwise it will show up) and then throw a white sheet over the top.

[edit: the scanner I use is the HP scanjet4C/T]

Hope that helps,

Emps


Beware the foreparts of a woman, the hindparts of a mule, and all sides of a priest - English proverb

[This message has been edited by Emperor (edited 02-01-2002).]

Emps: Thanx for that. Going to see if I can't rig up some sort of 'top' lighting arrangement. Quite some time back I saw...on a site somewhere... some pretty interesting scanning techniques... one of which involved putting 'jelly-beans' on the scanner... mix them up... then place a shoe box over them...scan... and mix again...scan etc. Fun stuff interesting effects.

NoJive: There are people around who have experimented with playing with their scanners (and I don't mean the people who sit on them) - have a search around and see if someone has come up with a homemade transparency scanner thing!! I try something with a strong white light - pos. around the home something like a halogen lamp.

Let us know how it goes.

[edit: Had a quick look and the first link looked like what you wanted: www.image-acquire.com/scanner/viscomm/muspns1200ed.html
I was hoping for pictures of people with odd contraptions suspended over their scanners - oh well]

Emps

[This message has been edited by Emperor (edited 02-01-2002).]

Malin just managed to pull this off, scanning film positives from a 35mm slide format. The slide came in this plastic holder which could be opened up (so the film could sit flat on the bed), and we used our Philips Bright Light device lying flat on the bed. This was a ton of light! I was surprised, this is the first time I've ever seen this work, lots and lots of light seemed to be the key. The final scans required color correction afterwards in Photoshop, but the quality was pretty good.

Your pal, -doc-

Emps: Very good info there thanx. I'm suprised you didn't do a site review <lol> Looked pretty bad at my end.

Doc: Interesting light. Never seen one like that before. Looks as tho' it puts out a 'pleasant' (if that's the word) light.

This transparency thing is all part of the project I'm working on for mom-in-law... that i mentioned a while back over in multi media.

I'll let you know what I come up with.

thanx again.