In the world of flatbed scanners, there are a lot of options for the software that runs the show. Some popular software options for the most common flatbed scanners are EPSON Scan, ViewScan, and SilverFast. I use EPSON Scan for my film on MacOS with a V600. I decided to write this post as a way to help out analog shooters getting started with film scanning since the options can be pretty daunting. Many photographers start scanning with the V600 because it's a great mix of convenience, quality, and cost. Look at the following screenshots; the numbers in this post correspond with what you need to click.
Using epson scan for 35mm & 120 film
To scan film, you'll need to remove the reflective document backing on the lid of the scanner. Open the scanner and pull up on the white cover under the top lid. It'll slide off and you'll see a clear strip of glass. This is needed to light your negative so the scanner can see the film. Run some compressed air over the scanner bed and load your film into the tray. The emulsion (opaque) side of your film should be facing up for both 35mm and 120 film.
Dust and curling film are the biggest threats in the scanning process. Flat film will always makes better scans, and extremely curly film can cause unsightly marks on the finished product. If you have the chance, pick up an antistatic cloth from Ilford to help control dust. Gently wipe the negatives with the cloth and remove any dust left over with compressed air before putting the film holder on the scanning bed. Dust on 120 film isn't terrible but it can ruin 35mm scans.
Place your loaded film holder on the scanning glass and line up the "A" tab with the corresponding spot for 35mm film or the "B" tab for 120 film . This tells the scanner what film holder you have and what size negative it should look for. Open the EPSON Scan software and select "Professional Mode" (1) from the dropdown in the top right of the window. Use the following settings (not saying these are the best, but it's what I use):
- (2) Document Type: Film
- (3) Film Type: Color Negative Film (or B&W Negative Film)
- (4) Image Type: 48-bit Color (16-bit Grayscale for B&W)
- (5) Resolution: 3200 dpi
- (6) Unsharp Mask: On
The unsharp mask is subjective, but I find scans without it can't be salvaged in Lightroom. Digital ICE is something you might want to consider using (this only works on color negatives) but it'll increase scan time. It works by using an infrared light to find and fix scratches on the negative, but I prefer to do that myself in Photoshop.
Look at the bottom of the EPSON Scan window and click "Configuration" (7). There's some things you'll want to change for a better preview scan to work with. Go to the "Preview" tab and set these options:
- Quality Preview (check this box)
- Thumbnail Cropping Area (move slider to "Small")
Quality Preview gives you a better idea of what your scans will look like in the next step, and setting the thumbnail cropping to "Small" will make the program trim the least amount of your image when scanning. You don't have to do this every time as your settings will save.
Click "Preview" (8). This will give you an overview of the negatives you put on the scanner. Go frame by frame and look at the images. Under the "Frame" (9) heading there's tools to rotate and flip your images if some of them aren't oriented correctly. You can also do this in Lightroom/Photoshop, but I usually just do it in the Preview window.
Next, you'll want to check the exposure of your images. Under the "Size" (10) heading, change the preview to show individual images. In the EPSON Scan panel, find the button that looks like a histogram (11). Click through your images and use the histogram tool to set the white and black points if they need adjustment. The button to the left of the histogram resets the automatic exposure, in case you need to undo your settings. Now that your images are loaded, correctly exposed, and free from dust it's time to scan. Go back to the multiple images view and click "Scan" (12). Change the file type to TIFF (*.tif), select your output destination, and click "OK". Let the scanner work its magic and soon you'll have high quality images to work with in Lightroom/Photoshop.