Slide Scanning Faq

• Can I make enlargements from my scans?

  Once your slides are scanned, most photo labs can print your images on traditional photographic paper or you can print your own images on an inkjet printer.

• What resolution is best for me?

  We offer slide scanning at three levels of resolution, small, medium and large. These are based on using progressively larger portions of the Kodak Trilinear color image sensor, not on digital resizing of the image.

  Generally small resolution is good for when you only need a small print or web image. It is also useful for when for institutions that only want a set if small index images. Both the medium and high resolution sizes exceed the maximum resolution of a resolution of a High Definition (1080i) display so you will not see a difference viewing the images on your TV unless you crop or zoom in on your Computer or Media Player (video signal source). The medium resolution is good everyday uses such as viewing on a HDTV, sharing images over the Internet, getting prints made up to 11″x14″s, and posting large images on a website. From professional use, for making very large print, or for “zooming in” on a section of an image we recommend the high-resolution setting.

  The highest resolution option is around 54 Megapixels, which exceed the maximum resolutions that can be produced from digital SLRs at this time. Differences in the quality of the camera and lens used to photograph the original are going to be most noticeable with this option. The large file size gives the client the most flexibility to make huge prints, and to view the image at larger resolution when digital display technology advances. For the most critical archival work we recommend the high resolution scan setting, however the medium resolution setting is meets the standards in the National Archives and Records Administration guidelines as “alternative minimum” ( ~18MB TIFFs, 24-bit, with a pixel array of approximately 2000 x 3000 pixels or more)

  http://www.archives.gov/preservation/technical/guidelines.pdf.

• What is the maximum recommended print size for each resolution.

  Assuming that the slides were shot in focus with quality camera system:

  The maximum size recommended print size for large scans is 24″X36″ *

  The maximum size recommended print size for medium scans is 11×14″ *

  The maximum size recommended print size for small scans is 4″5″ *

  * Larger prints could be made but at this point, but greater enlargement will not expose new details. Contact us for digital blow up options for even larger prints. Out of focus images, or images shot with a less expensive camera or lens may have a lower recommended printing size. Printing sizes are based on a 300 or 360 Pixel per inch output source (computer monitors tend to display ~160 pixels per inch).

• Why have your slides scanned?

  This will allow you to edit, print, and share your images.

  Also, a digital image can be persevered indefinitely; it will not mold, fade, or change color over time. A digital image can be copied and shared with 100% integrity. Images can be stored at multiple locations providing a secure back up of your precious images.

  Even under ideal conditions, color slide film degrades over time, while much can be done to restore faded or shifted colors digitally, there is always a level permanent and irreversible damage associated with aging color film.

  Scanning can restore faded slides to close to their original appearance.

• How can my slides deteriorate over time?

  Deterioration is a problem with color slides. Colors tend to fade and shift over time. This is less of a problem with Kodachrome® slides and black and white slides than it is with other film types. All film can mold if exposed to excess moisture.

• Should I scan my own slides?

  You could, but in almost all instances, a Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner will produce better results. Besides, consumer slide scanning equipment is time-consuming to operate. The savings would greatly outweigh the time invested.

• How experienced is your staff of image specialists?

  We have been doing slide imaging and scanning for over twenty years.

• What equipment do you use to scan slides?

  We scan slides on the Kodak HR500+ Professional Scanner. We believe this to be the best solution for scanning large quantities of slides at extremely high quality and affordable prices.

• What is the difference between your slide scanning system and the ones that I can purchase online?

  We scan slides on the Kodak HR500+ Professional Scanner system. When new, this sold for $120,000. It is totally unrealistic to think that an inexpensive consumer slide scanner can produce the same level of quality.

• How does your slide scanning system compare to what other companies are using to offer services at your price range?

  We scan slides on the Kodak HR500+ Professional Scanner system. When new, this sold for $120,000. Most of our competitors use consumer slide scanners.

  Professional scanning systems are better at transferring the subtle gradients from the film image to the digital image, preserving shadow detail, preserving colors, retaining the sharpness of the original and capturing minute details. Our scans hold up better to enlargement, and will have a cleaner “low noise” look or feel.

• How well does your slide scanning system handle cardboard mounts?

  Yes, our system works well if every slide mount except for possible issues that might occur when scanning glass mounted slides with the digital ice feature. Our scanner won’t damage your cardboard mounts the way that consumer slide scanners can.

• Can you scan odd size slides?

  Yes. We can scan any size slide that will fit in a Kodak Carrousel® Slide Tray. This includes slides with the small square film chip, slides with the standard 35mm rectangular film chip and 127 slides with their giant square film chip.

• Do you scan black and white slides?

  Yes. We can scan black and white slides but we will need to turn off Digital Ice® dust removal technology, as it is not compatible with black and white film.

• I have heard that it is hard to scan Kodachrome® slides, why is that?

  Kodachrome® slide film is fundamentally different than other slide films. So, it needs to be color calibrated differently and it needs a more sophisticated approach to digital dust removal.

  For digital dust removal to work on Kodachrome® slide film, an infrared channel must be added to the color image sensor. The HR 500+ is one of the few scanners equipped with special infrared channel dust removal technology that fully is compatible Kodachrome® slide film.

• Are you able to produce good results from Kodachrome® slides?

  Yes.

• What is Digital ICE® technology and how does it remove dust, smudges and scratches from my slides?

  Film is electrostatically charged. This causes film to attract dust, which is difficult to remove completely by blowing and brushing.

  Our Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner has Digital ICE® technology version 4. This version of Digital Ice® consists of both software and the addition of an infrared channel to the scanner hardware. It compares the four separate color channels, red, green, blue and infrared to detect and digitally remove dust, smudges, scratches, watermarks and other defects from the film image.

  The main advantage of version 4 over earlier versions of Digital Ice® technology is that it works on Kodachrome® slide film

• Is that true that earlier versions of Digital ICE® technology used on many consumer slide scanners do not work with Kodachrome® slide film?

  Yes, version 4, the one on our Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanning system, is the first version of Digital ICE® designed for use with Kodachrome® slide film.

• Do you outsource your work to other countries?

  No. All of our work is done in our own shop, in the United States.

• What kind of environment will my slides be scanned in?

  Our work is done in a color-controlled environment that features calibrated color reference monitors, advanced colorimeters, color reference film targets, color-calibrated film viewers, precision color management software, and special office lights. Its not feasible for the average consumer to go to these lengths to produce quality scan.

• How does your slide scanner capture images?

  Our Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner consists of a large-format digital camera focused on the slide’s film plane. The slide is illuminated from the other side by a narrow, high-intensity, fiber-optic light source.

  The large-format digital camera uses a Kodak CCD-based Trilinear sensor. This sensor is larger then those found in consumers scanners. It is 6,002 pixels long, allowing it to record exceptionally high-resolution 54 megapixel images.

  Each sensor pixel is 6 microns (or 0.0002 inches) on a side. This is one of the largest size pixels of any scanner or digital camera sensor. This allows the pixel well to hold more electrons before it becomes full. This gives it greater sensitivity and exceptionally low image noise in addition to the high resolution mentioned earlier.

  The slide is secured on a stage mounted on four precision linear bearings riding on a pair of heavy, polished steel rails. A heavy precision lead screw moves the stage while the sensor captures data a line at a time.

  The heavy construction of the stage allows it to move smoothly in the 0.0002-inch increments required for accurate scanning.

  Low-end scanners use lightweight construction that compromises image quality by allowing vibration to occur. This causes variable inaccurate pixel location that makes the image fuzzy in one direction.

  The line-scanning sensor in our scanner has four lines of pixels. One line of pixels captures red, another captures green, a third captures blue and a fourth captures infrared.

  The Digital Ice® automatic dust removal technology uses the data from all four channels to detect and remove dust, smudge, fingerprints, watermarks, scratches and other defects from the image.

  The Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner’s line-scanning sensor captures a red, green and blue component for every pixel of the scanned image. This produces superior image relative to digital cameras of the same resolution.

  Digital cameras use area-scanning sensors that only capture one color per pixel, instead of three. They interpolate the remaining colors from adjacent pixels. This can create color anomalies on hard edges.

  Because it captures all three components of every pixel the Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner won’t add any new color anomalies to the scanned image.

• Why is heavy scanner construction essential to image quality?

  To produce an accurate scan, the scanning stage must be moved in pixel-width increments. Since the pixels are 0.0002-inches wide, the scanning stage must move smoothly in 0.0002-inch increments.

  If it doesn’t move smoothly, vibration will cause the stage to be in the wrong place while pixels are being read. Even a thousandth of an inch of vibration would cause a pixel reading to be off by five pixels. This would make the image fuzzy and noisy in the lateral dimension.

  Heavy construction is only one way to prevent vibration. Heavy construction makes every component stiffer and stiffer structures vibrate less.

  Our Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner is heavily constructed. This allows it to read pixel data accurately without vibration.

  The slide is secured on a stage mounted on four precision linear bearings riding on a pair of heavy, polished steel rails. A heavy precision lead screw moves the stage while the sensor captures data a line at a time.

  The heavy construction of the stage allows it to move smoothly in the 0.0002-inch increments required for accurate scanning.

  Low-end scanners use lightweight construction that compromises image quality by allowing vibration to occur. This causes variable inaccurate pixel location that makes the image fuzzy in one direction.

• Can your film scanner capture the subtle gradients in the original film image?

  Film has a remarkable ability to capture subtle gradients. Our Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner is capable of faithfully transferring these subtle gradients to the digital image.

• Why is the HR 500+ scanner able to faithfully transfer subtle gradients from film to the digital image?

  The best light source, image sensor, and electronics were used in the HR500 to create most accurate, low noise, digital representations of analog media.

  The HR-500 was built from the ground up to produce the best quality possible from a machine of its type. It uses a larger more heavily system that includes a bright, UV and infrared filtered lightsource that has been specially tailored to the spectrum of the precision Tri Linear CCD. A separate lightsource is used to capture the infrared channel, and optical filters are used to adjust the primary lightsource for negative scanning. 

  The CCD used in the scanner is known as Trilinear CCD image sensor, it features three rows of light sensitive photo diodes each sensitive to red, blue, or green light. The sensor moves across the image recording data one line at a time. Each pixel is measured independently by red, green, and blue light sensors, unlike tradition CCD arrays that use red green and blue sensors in a Bayer grid that relies on color interpolation to simulate what the image should look like. Trilinear sensors only work on stationary scenes with continuous light sources, but they produce better, “more pure”, “cleaner” image than Bayer grid based systems.

  The CCD is actually the part that builds up, stores, and transfers the data from the photodiode. The ISO of a CCD sensor can be altered by adjust the clock rate;

  Both CCD and CMOS technology use photodiodes to measure light.

  In a CCD sensor, the photodiode sends an electric signal that is built as a charge or packet and then transferred down out of the CCD where the packets are converted into “bits” of electronic DATA. With CCD’s, the ASA can be changed by adjusting the rate in which the CCD spend building a charge from each pixel (clock rate).

  In a CMOS sensor everything is done “on-the-fly”, each pixel has its own amplifier and convertor that turns the signal from the photodiode into bits of data before it leaves the sensor. CMOS systems tend to be cheaper because then less hardware to convert the data, however the technology is less mature and a lot of money is spent developing the newest CMOS systems.

  CCD’s have higher dynamic range and lower noise then CMOS sensors, but do not work as well when used at high ASA. CCD’s need more light to build a charge, but the charge is more accurate then the amplified voltage technology that CMOS sensors use. 

  With proper lighting there is no need to amplify the signal in CCD’s. This eliminates amplifier mismatch (a problem with CMOS sensors). Also, because each pixel does it’s own charge to voltage conversation with CMOS solutions; the uniformity of the CMOA output signal is lower then when it is in the CCD where conversation is done with a single convertor outside of the sensor.

  Recently CMOS has gained popularity as an alternative to using CCD technology to transfer the data from the photodiode. As we understand it CMOS is becoming a bit better in low light situations but CCD’s still produce the best with scenes that are bright enough to use lower ASA’s.  Because we can control the exposure time, and the light source is very bright CCD technology is better then CMOS for film scanners.

  The tri-linear sensor used in the HR500 is larger then the ones used in consumer scanners, and the CCD grids used in digital SLR cameras.

  There are many sensor format sizes in today’s digital SLR cameras. The smallest commonly used DSL sensor size is the DX format, which has a diagonal dimension about 2/3 that of 35mm film. “Full frame” use an image size that is close to the size of 35mm film. In addition many companies make medium format digital camera backs for serious professionals. Medium format digital backs offer more sensor real estate, which gives them space to convert into resolution as well as supply more light to create a purer cleaner signal. There is also a format knows as large format digital which also utilizes a Trilinear sensor to create an image or “scan” of a scene. The scan process in large format digital is not instances so it can only be used for certain applications. The sensor in the HR500, is a 6000 line, 72mm, large format digital sensor. The sensor uses 12 micron pixels, which is big for a digital sensor, this means it captures more light and creates a purer signal then much smaller 4, 6, or 8 micron sensors. Kodak put the best lenses they could get into the HR500 scanner; still by using 12-micron pixels they make it easier for the lens to keep up with the resolution of the sensor. In addition the electronics that handle the signal are very important to the quality of a scanner. That is another area where consumer scanners have to “cut corners” to keep costs down.

  The HR 500+ uses CCD sensor technology in combination with superior electronics. The CCD sensor technology allows it to do a better job of capturing the subtle colors of the original film image than scanners based on CMOS technology would be able to. The superior electronics extends this advantage.

  When an image is exposed, the light causes electrons to go into the sensor’s pixel wells. After the exposure is made, the electrons in the pixel wells are counted to determine how much light hit each individual sensor pixel. CCD sensors have larger pixel wells that can hold more electrons before they become full. This is like having more tick marks on a ruler. It lets the sensor measure light levels more precisely. This, in turn, allows CCD sensors to measure subtler gradations, which is key to producing superior scans.

  This is why the four makers of high-end professional digital cameras, Leica, Hasselblad, Sinar and Phase One use CCD sensor technology. CCD technology enables each pixel to discern colors in a more subtle way, leading to a richer image with more subtle details. This is especially true of dark colors and shadows, which give digital imaging its greatest challenges.

  In addition to making the CCD-based sensors in the HR 500+, Kodak makes the CCD-based sensors in Hasselblad and Leica professional digital cameras. Dalsa makes the CCD-based sensors used in Phase One and Sinar professional digital cameras.

  The Hasselblad website compares the Kodak-CCD-based Hasselblad to the CMOS-based top-of-the-line Canon SLR. This comparison demonstrates why Madison Avenue requires that all of their photographs be shot on professional medium format digital cameras. Hasselblad Image Quality

  Zoom in a little on each image. Look at the Hasselblad picture on the left. Notice the subtle, life-like transitions that occur in both the brightly lit and shadowy regions. Now, look at the Canon picture on the right. Notice that the subtle transitions are gone. The light colors are pushed into a narrow band. The dark colors are pushed into another narrow band. Notice how, compared to the Hasselblad picture, the Canon picture looks harsh and unnatural. This is why professional photographers pay $40,000 for a Hasselblad camera system.

  The Hasselblad picture looks a good deal more like a film image than the Canon picture does. This is what makes film beautiful”¦ the ability to capture subtle color transitions. The Hasselblad’s larger CCD pixels are able to hold more electrons. This makes them more precise. This allows them to discern subtle colors that the Canon’s sensors simply cannot discern.

  Like CCD-based sensors, film has the ability to record subtle gradients, but only a scanner with CCD-based sensor can preserve these gradients.

  Because it is based on Kodak CCD sensor technology, like high-end professional cameras, the HR 500+ is better able to preserve the subtle colors in the original film image. This results in a better-looking image, regardless of resolution.

• Does your slide scanner reproduce good shadow detail?

  Yes. Our Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner produces superb shadow detail and/or detail in dark-colored regions. This is critical to image quality.

• Does the scanner mechanism affect image quality?

  The sensor pixels in the Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner are only 6 microns wide. That is 0.0002 inches, or about 1/30^th the width of a human hair. Even so, these are the largest pixels of any line-scanning sensor.

  To be able to accurately read the image data, the scanner must be able to move the stage accurately in increments of 0.0002 inches for each data sampling.

  To maintain this level of accuracy requires and extremely stiff and precise stage rails, an extremely precise leadscrew and an extremely precise stepper motor.

  The Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner weighs 120 lbs. It has the stiff, precise mechanism required to move the stage at this level of accuracy.

• Does better automation affect image quality?

  The Kodak HR 500+ is the only high-end slide scanner that was designed to produce high-quality results while being productive enough to make quality slide scanning an affordable service for the general public.

  The scanning process is highly automated. In addition the process of color correcting the scan is highly automated and the process of rescanning is highly automated. This allows the operator to effortlessly create top-quality scans all day long. The hr500 scanner was also design with professional calibration and color management features that allow us to make sure your scans come out perfect.

• Why did Kodak make the HR 500+ Professional Scanner?

  During the 1990s, digital imaging systems were introduced for making professional-quality photographic prints, but digital cameras had not yet reached professional quality standards.

  Wedding, school and sports photographers wanted to take advantage of digital retouching and digital imaging, but they still wanted the level of quality that they could only achieve with film cameras.

  Wedding photographers almost always charge more than a thousand dollars to photograph a wedding. Many charge several thousand dollars to photograph a wedding. Likewise, school and sports photographers charge similar amounts though spread out over a larger number of customers.

  As a result, professional photographers demand the highest standards of quality. At the same time, they collectively shoot an enormous volume of images.

  As a result, the photo labs that served these photographers needed to be able to make many tens of thousands of top-quality scans every day.

  Bremson developed the HR 500 Professional Scanner to meet this need. Kodak bought Bremson for their scanner technology. Then, Kodak bought the software developer, Applied Science Fiction for their Digital Ice® digital dust removal technology. Then, Kodak combined these two technologies to create the Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner.

  By 2005, digital camera technology had advanced to the point where most wedding, school and sports photographers adopted digital cameras. The need to scan large volumes of wedding, school and sports photographs quickly began to disappear.

  By then, Kodak had already sold the HR 500+ Professional Scanner system to all of the photo labs that serve wedding, school and sports photographers, so there were no more customers for the HR 500+ Professional Scanner. As a result, Kodak discontinued the HR 500+ Professional Scanner in 2005.

  Today, most wedding, school and sports photographers have gone digital, but there are a few holdouts that still use the Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner.

  One of the holdouts, whose company employs ten photographers, told me that digital SLRs still couldn’t deliver the quality that he requires, so he is staying with Hasselblad film cameras and scanning on the Kodak HR 500+ Digital Scanner.

• Are your scans “archival” grade?

  Yes. Museums, libraries, historical societies, stock photography agencies, colleges, universities and publishing companies prefer the Kodak HR 500+ Professional Scanner for digitizing their archives.

  18MB TIFFs, 24-bit, with a pixel array of approximately 2000 x 3000 pixels. That 3000 pixels across the long dimension meets the “alternative minimum” in the National Archives and Records Administration guidelines described in part four of the 200,000 slides series. See http://www.archives.gov/preservation/technical/guidelines.pdf.

• Can you produce DVD slide shows from my images?

  Yes we can, but you might get better results by buying DVD slideshow software and making your own DVD slideshows. That way, you can select the images, transitions and music that you want.

• What is your turn around time?

  Call 1-800-311-9543 for our current turnaround time.

• Do you offer a rush turn around time option?

  Yes. For a 50% surcharge we can usually offer same week turnaround. For 100% surcharge, we can usually offer same day turnaround. Call 1-800-311-9543 to verify that this is possible before sending your job in.

• Some of my slides are physically dirty or have mold issues. Can you clean my slides as well as scan them?

  Much of these defects are automatically corrected by our Digital Ice® automatic dust removal technology. We also hand clean slides as needed.

• What can be done to restore my faded, improperly exposed, improperly developed, improperly store prior to developing or otherwise damaged slides?

  We can usually restore much of the original color.  

• TIPS FOR PLACING AND PREPARING YOUR ORDER

• How should I pack my slides?

  You should protect your slides and other film as best you can. Slides should be boxed or at least put in a plastic bag. If you have them packed in Kodak Carrousel® Slide Trays, we recommend sending them to use in the slide trays.

• Is there a way that I can organize my slides that would be helpful for the scanner operators?

  It would be helpful for the slides to arrive grouped by film emulsion (Ektachrome®, Kodachrome®, Fujichrome®), mount (thick, thin, cardboard, plastic) types and film chip sizes (small square film chips, regular 35mm film chips or large square film chips).

  This makes it easier for us to optimize the settings for your images and reduces the chance that we will accidentally scan a slide with the wrong settings.

• Is it possible to have my slides scanned in a certain order?

  Yes. We automatically do this if you send your slides in packaged in Kodak Ektapro Carrousel Slide Trays. Otherwise, send in specific instructions with your job.

• What are the advantages to sending you slides in Ektapro Carrousel® Slide Trays?

  We can scan them in order. There is less work for you.

• If sending you slides in one or more 80 slide Ektapro Carrousel® Slide Tray(s), how can I separate single carrousel into two or more groups?

  Just leave a space between the groups.

• Should I clean my slides before sending them to you?

  No. Without proper chemicals and equipment, cleaning can do irreversible harm to the slides.

• Can I estimate the number of slides scanned and have us settle the difference after the job is completed?

  Yes.

• OTHER COMMON QUESTIONS

• How much is the cost of return shipping?

  We will charge you the actual amount of shipping.

• Is worldwide shipping available?

  Yes.

• Can you alter my images after they are scanned?

  Yes.

• Do you offer Gift options?

  Yes. You can prepay for someone else.

• Can I pay by check?

  Yes.

• What if I don’t know the exact number of slides that I want scanned?

  We can send you a total bill after scanning.

• What should I do with my images after they are scanned to protect and archive the files?

  You may want to order duplicate copies of the DVDs and store them in a safe place. For a slight premium, we offer 24 Karat Gold DVDs that have a 100-year life. You many also want to order duplicate slides and store them in a safe place.

• Can you make a set of low-res files for sharing over the Internet in addition to my larger-size slide files?

  Yes, we can use Photoshop to make an extra set of low-res files for you. There is a small additional cost for this service.

• Can I order duplicate slides at the same time that I place an order?

  Yes. We offer duplicate slides at $2.50 for the first duplicate, $2.00 for the second duplicate, $1.50 for the third duplicate and $1 for the fourth duplicate.