Re: filmscanners: Filmscanning vs. Flatbedding

["Maris V. Lidaka, Sr." <mlidaka@ameritech.net>]

Flatbeds can and have been used for "macro photography" and to great
advantage, and to create original works of art as well.  Just protect the
glass surface.

Maris

----- Original Message -----
From: "Arthur Entlich" <artistic@ampsc.com>
To: <filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 4:56 AM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Filmscanning vs. Flatbedding


|
|
| Alan Tyson wrote:
|
| > Just to add an alternative, broader view to the
| > discussion....
| >
| > I agree that scanning the negative always has the potential
| > for a better result, and that's what I always do myself as
| > first choice. BUT let us not forget that simple flatbed
| > print scanning has its place, because......
| >
|
| Great post, and good points.  I couldn't agree more.
|
| A flatbed is a good first step to scanning, and as you said, a much
| easier one, in terms of operations, computer hardware demands, and use
| to get to a final result.
|
| My only complaint with your statements is you are encouraging everyone
| to do this... gee, soon I'm just gonna be another regular guy that does
| digital scanning... where's the elitism there? ;-)
|
| As an aside, I interact with a lot of local artists here.  One hired me
| to take some of his very fine detailed rather small sculptures and
| photograph them and ultimately scan them for several projects he had in
| mind.
|
| I gave him a price for the work I expected to be involved, and offered
| to work "in trade" because I really like his work and also he is really
| just starting out, (first child on the way)...
|
| On a lark, before setting up some involved rigging and lighting, I
| decided to get some idea of the detail I was looking for by popping them
| on my flatbed scanner and scanning at 1200 x 1200 dpi (the scanner is
| actually a 600 dpi optical with 1200 dpi in the stepper motor direction)
|
| I did some clean up and color balancing, and a bit of sharpening, and
| printed them and showed him.  He was blown away with the results.  When
| I told him I could cut the cost of the project by over 50% using this
| approach (no film, no trips to and from the lab, no film scanning) he
| was chortling.
|
| As it turned out, a few pieces became more challenging (had white and
| black in them) but overall the job went well.  Now, he has some other
| ideas, and I also told him due to the basic simplicity of the method, I
| can do one or two at a time, at minimal overall cost, and he now has
| several other ideas in mind, for which we'll collaborate.
|
| He was dead-set against flatbed when he hired me because a friend had
| done some for him, and they frankly looked like heck.  I'm using a
| medium priced (back when it came out 2 years ago) UMAX consumer grade
| scanner that today goes for under $100 CAN here.
|
| Of course, it is my Photoshop and photographic skills that make me able
| to get the results he needs from a flatbed, but never underestimate a
| flatbed scanner for reflective art.
|
| Art
|
|