Scanning

The Pros of our Film (Camera) Scanning Process

The future of commercial film scanning is here! Our film scanning process is completely safe for your film originals as the original film does not have to be fluid mounted to ensure flatness during the scanning process as it does with Drum Scanning. For roll film, we have special film adapters that allow us to scan from uncut rolls. These adapters are also fitted with special anti static brushes to keep the dust at bay. This allows us to safely move the film through the scanning stage by hand, frame by frame. And different from flat bed scanners or virtual drum scanners with their film holders, we have the option to scan full frame if needed.

The quality of these scans are amazing and can go head to head with the best drum scanners - we say this having drum scanned for over 20 years. We're to the point where we can evaluate the pros and cons of each type of scan and really come up with no winner in file quality. Yet with color negative, the film scans exceed the quality of the drum scan showing smoothness and less color noise that when drum scanned.

We use a commercial grade camera stand for stability and more importantly, our lighting source is specially made to exacting color/uniformity standards to ensure even lighting across the bed of the table, edge to edge, providing the extremely even illumination.

We can handle originals from 35mm, to Medium Format and Large Format Sheet Films up 8x10. Please call for originals larger than 8x10, we've digitized film up to 20x24.

What You End Up With

We'll provide a well balanced scan that contains all of the RAW information contained in the film, with great shadow detail and highlight information and a general color balance. Files will be loosely cropped with a general color balance. Fine cropped, custom color work or matching, retouching/enhancement, burning/dodging are available as extra services and can be estimated as needed. Scans from negatives will require a color/density guide.

Limitations with Drum Scanning

Drum scans have long been the gold standard for film scans - untouched by the Imacon and Hasselblad virtual drum scanners as well as the Creo/Kodak Eversmart Supreme flad bed scanners. Yet with drum scanners, the film has to be fluid mounted to an acrylic drum to ensure complete flatness during the scanning process (some studios actually tape the film to the drum prior to adding fluid). The drum is then placed in the scanner which spins at a very high RPM, scanning pixel by pixel. Sounds great right? And with a proper technician and handling, drum scans are indeed beautiful and hard to beat. Yet the problem with drum scanning is with the process itself - it's invasive to the film.

After the scan is complete, the originals are removed from the drum, the film then has to be thoroughly cleaned with another fluid and special wipes to remove the mounting fluid residue. When done right, the film is safe, but there is always a chance for damage. A small piece of grit on the film, light box or rag when cleaning can literally ruin a piece of film. So why take the chance? In our view, the less handling film has to go through, the better. 

Old Technology

Drum Scanners are based on old technology. They excelled with transparency film however scanning color negative has always been the achilles heel with drum scanners. And while we have developed tricks over the years in how to handle these problems, it still can be fairly difficult to get a good darkroom looking scan with color neg with a drum scanner. This isn't the case with our Camera Scanning System. Conversions are smooth as is the grain.

Also, Drum Scanners can only scan cut roll film or sheet film whereas with our Camera Scanning Process we can scan from full 35mm or 2 1/4 rolls, cut negs and/or Large Format Sheet film.

Basically our working desire is to create the highest quality scan possible while keeping your film originals as safe as possible.

Film Scanning Pricing

All scans are transferred to your USB device or hard drive at N/C. We can also provide media for transfer or an upload link to download your scans, pricing available on request and will depend on the total size of the job.

Sizes listed below are approximate. For file sizes larger than listed, please fill out our estimate form to receive a custom quote for project.

Turnaround

Normal turnaround for Film Scanning is 1-2 weeks. Please Note: While we always try to return your job ASAP, actual turnaround time depends upon quantity, film formats, and current work in house. Please call for scheduling if your job or project requires a quicker turnaround, we try to accommodate when possible. Rush services are available. For Sheet Film, please add 20% to the prices below. $150.00 minimum applies on all Film Scanning orders. If you plan to order prints or other services, these costs can be applied towards this minimum.