P3D Re: Scanners

["KENNETH LUKER" <kluker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I am wondering if anyone can recommend a film scanner that works well with
> realist format mounts.  I've been looking at the HP PhotoSmart scanner but
> haven't been able to try one to see if it would handle the format of my
> slides.

I bought a PhotoSmart scanner last week.  The first thing I scanned 
was a mounted stereo pair.  I fed the mount into the slide slot, one 
end at a time.  Worked fine.  I sent the scanned images into Stereo 
Image Factory and manipulated them there.  The PhotoSmart does a 
preliminary scan, lets you adjust the masking and exposure, and then 
when all is adjusted, does a final scan with the adjustments applied. 
 You can let the machine decide on the scanning resolution based on 
expected final size of the photo, or you can override by choosing 
either 1200 dpi or 2400 dpi.  

> BUT the big question of course is - how about the  usablility
> for scanning traditional realist pairs - would you have to unmount
> them? Could you scan both sides at once, or have to do one at a time
> and post process them via Photoshop or something similar. And what
> is the TRUE resolution on slides (as opposed to the 2100 dpi or so
> claimed resolution - is that interpolated or actual?).

The PhotoSmart has three modes:  Prints, slides, negatives.  The 
original is inserted into the front of the scanner, where rubber 
rollers grip it and feed it past the stationary scanning optics.  
Prints up to five inches wide go into the slot, but when negative or 
slide mode is chosen, a tenon with precision-width slots rises at the 
center of the slot, allowing you to insert an original with only the 
selected width.  The negative slot could be used for unmounted 
transparencies, but the software will still think the original was a 
negative.  You can reverse it in photo-shop.  The negative slot will 
pull in a filmstrip of four or five exposures, and you can choose on 
which exposure you want to perform the final scan.  The film stays 
inside the device until the final scan, and then is ejected out the 
front.  I haven't tried scanning a single unmounted exposure--I don't 
know if the film chip would be handled and aligned properly.  I'll 
try that this weekend.

> I'm interested in comments on the PhotoSmart scanner. Apparently there is a 
> rebate offer right now which brings the price in at about $300.  

I found a $100 rebate coupon on the HP site, but haven't sent it in 
yet.  There is also a $100 coupon for the PhotoSmart Printer.  
 
> does anyone know of a major computer or warehouse chain that is carrying
> them so you can buy one 'off the shelf' (the better for looking at one prior to
> purchase).

I bought mine at OfficeMax, but the one they had on display seemed to 
be an older model, without the variable slot and with a slightly 
different shape.  I'm not sure about that.  At any rate, I think 
their floor model wasn't working.  They just  told me to take the new 
one home and try it for thirty days.  
 
_______________________________________________________________
Kenneth Luker
Marriott Library Systems and Technical Services
KLUKER@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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