JChrome
Street Worker
Hello RFF'ers. I'd humbly ask for some assistance.
When I am scanning, there's this odd white (overexposed) mark on the corner of my negatives.
Notice in the lower left hand corner of the left image.
Here's the closeup:
Now, I know it's not in the negatives because when I switch them, the same mark stays in the same place (lower left hand corner of the left image).
I've looked at the glass on the scanner, but could not find any corresponding marks in that area (on the top glass or the bottom). Does anyone have any notion of what might be occurring?
Many thanks!
When I am scanning, there's this odd white (overexposed) mark on the corner of my negatives.
Notice in the lower left hand corner of the left image.
Here's the closeup:
Now, I know it's not in the negatives because when I switch them, the same mark stays in the same place (lower left hand corner of the left image).
I've looked at the glass on the scanner, but could not find any corresponding marks in that area (on the top glass or the bottom). Does anyone have any notion of what might be occurring?
Many thanks!
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
That looks very much like a light leak in your camera!
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
something's blocking your film gate or scanner window. Note that since it's bright, it is UNDERexposed (just like the film holder except where it has small holes, there it gets OVERexposed).
Since it's not dragged along the whole frame vertically, it means it's not the scanning sensor thatis moved upwards.
So it must be either on the film holder or on your scanner glass sticking out into the frame.
Since it's not dragged along the whole frame vertically, it means it's not the scanning sensor thatis moved upwards.
So it must be either on the film holder or on your scanner glass sticking out into the frame.
JChrome
Street Worker
Thanks! Yes, I suspected as much but it's not on the glass. I've checked all over it and cleaned it multiple times. It's also not on the film holder... hmmm...
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Is the position constant relative to the frame? Then check the camera! If moves when you scan the same negative after shifting it in the scanner, it must be in the scanner. One possible culprit for very odd errors in scanners are ribbon cables, as these may only get into the way in one position during the scan!
nickthetasmaniac
Veteran
benmacphoto
Well-known
Looks like an issue with the film holder.
I would check the film holder to see that it is properly intact and nothing is stuck on it.
I would check the film holder to see that it is properly intact and nothing is stuck on it.
Papercut
Well-known
I wonder if it might be something (partly transparent?) out of place inside the scanner guts -- i.e., underneath the glass surface.
The odd thing for me is that from the close up crop it is seems the sensor is still reading some information from the negative in that underexposed spot (texture from the rock and foliage is still barely visible), so it's not a complete blockage.
The odd thing for me is that from the close up crop it is seems the sensor is still reading some information from the negative in that underexposed spot (texture from the rock and foliage is still barely visible), so it's not a complete blockage.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Re-read the last bit of the OP
No, that does not exclude it - the holders do not expose 100% of the image area, the same light leak might be visible on one side, but covered on the other. It would be more conclusive if the position stays the same relative to the frame rather than to the negative.
xvvvz
Established
What format are you scanning? Do you get the same mark when scanning other formats? Is the film buckling in the holder at that exact spot and thus causing a wave in the film that bends the light? Have you tried scanning without the snap down frame in place in the holder (the scan will be less sharp but it is a test to give us some direction). Try to place the film directly on the scanner bed without a holder in the exact same position and make a scan.
The other poster's question about maybe an internal reflection is an interesting one.
The other poster's question about maybe an internal reflection is an interesting one.
Bille
Well-known
Is this on everything you scan?
Dwig
Well-known
Check the lid's bottom surface. Something there may be shadowing the light source.
BLKRCAT
75% Film
Looks like reflections from the film holder to me.
brbo
Well-known
Reflections show as darkening of the inverted negative image.
As this is not on the negative (as verified by OP), something is blocking the light path. Holder or something inside the scanner...
Scan a white sheet of paper covering the entire scan bed (in reflective mode). Should probably confirm/rule out the problem is inside the scanner.
As this is not on the negative (as verified by OP), something is blocking the light path. Holder or something inside the scanner...
Scan a white sheet of paper covering the entire scan bed (in reflective mode). Should probably confirm/rule out the problem is inside the scanner.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
And if that is not conclusive, scan the full area without anything (whether holder, film or paper) in it, in transparency mode, to exclude the light source!
JChrome
Street Worker
Lots of great suggestions. Thanks all!
So, to put the argument that it's not in the negative to rest, here's a scan of the film holder (in positive mode) without any film in it.
And, to further drive the point, here's a 6x9 shot I just took with the lovely 50mm Biogon on the Mamiya Press (completely different camera than the original one which shoots 6x12) at the beach, showing it in the lower left hand corner:
But I figured it out. I scanned my 35mm holders with nothing in them and they came out clean. It had to be in the holder. But everytime I checked it, nothing was there. I looked at the holders again and there's this foam padding that's being shmooshed down when scanning:
Notice the foam thing kind of curled over close to the camer. Excuse the crappy iphone photo.
Thanks for all of the help and suggestions. The mystery hath been solved. To celebrate, here are some 6x12 shots without the stupid foam thingy in the scan! I simple have to bend it the other way and close the lid quickly!
So, to put the argument that it's not in the negative to rest, here's a scan of the film holder (in positive mode) without any film in it.
And, to further drive the point, here's a 6x9 shot I just took with the lovely 50mm Biogon on the Mamiya Press (completely different camera than the original one which shoots 6x12) at the beach, showing it in the lower left hand corner:
But I figured it out. I scanned my 35mm holders with nothing in them and they came out clean. It had to be in the holder. But everytime I checked it, nothing was there. I looked at the holders again and there's this foam padding that's being shmooshed down when scanning:
Notice the foam thing kind of curled over close to the camer. Excuse the crappy iphone photo.
Thanks for all of the help and suggestions. The mystery hath been solved. To celebrate, here are some 6x12 shots without the stupid foam thingy in the scan! I simple have to bend it the other way and close the lid quickly!
Last edited:
sepiareverb
genius and moron
fecking foam.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Scanner chat aside ... and I'm glad you found the problem, this is a lovely photograph.
Papercut
Well-known
Victory! Glad it was something easy (no repairs)!
JChrome
Street Worker
Scanner chat aside ... and I'm glad you found the problem, this is a lovely photograph.
Many thanks.
Vertical shots with the 6x12 can be difficult to pull off but I really enjoy them when I can. That's a shot of the top of Pulpit Rock in Norway.