Epson 4490. How to scan theatre images?

[jonasv]

I've a question - I've recently shot ten rolls at a threatre and I need to scan them.

The subjects are well-lit, but the backgrounds (usually 3/4rds of the picture) are pure black (thus the neg is transparent). My scanner (Epson 4490) won't correctly pick up the different images from the negative strip and it will crop right in the middle of images which is a real pain. I'm currently using the default "Epson Scan" software, importing images from Photoshop CS2.

Is it possible to 'cut' the images myself, either when previewing, or afterwards - ie being able to scan the whole strip (4 images) as a panorama, and then separating the images in photoshop?

Is there other - preferably free - software that allows this? I hear about VueScan etc but I'm not sure what these do. I really need a scanning solution as I don't want to do 300+ darkroom prints and then scan these prints.

thanks a lot in advance!

 

[pedro.m.reis]

I have an 4180, and the software lets me make my own masks if i want.
Just look in the preview button (i think) if you can choose another method of preview....

 

[Gid]

I've got the 4990 and if you switch to professional mode there's a little arrow next to the preview button which enables you to select thumbnail or normal mode. Select normal and you can define you own frames.

 

[jonasv]

Aha! I see now. Never noticed the little bugger before.

Thanks for the quick help, Pedro and Gid!