Scanning Essentials
Introduction
Are you scanning at home? Here are some accessories that should be on your shopping list in order to ensure a smooth scanning experience.
Cotton Gloves
Never ever handle your negative with your bare hands. If you leave a smudge, a lot of effort is needed to clean it (with the potential of damaging the material). Get a few pairs of high quality cotton cloves (they are inexpensive!) and keep them clean by washing them frequently.
Light Table & Anti-Static Brush
A light table is essential for two things - selecting the negative stripe to scan and checking the negatives for dust and contaminations. While it is important to have a high-quality light source for camera scanning, a basic light table will do when you employ a dedicated film scanner.
Pay attention when selecting an anti-static brush. If the bristles are too hard, they will scratch the negatives on a microscopic level - believe me, it happened to me. I therefore highly recommend the renowned Delta 1 camel hair brush - don’t cheap out and buy a generic one from the art supplies store. Aside from that, I would only use an anti-static brush on the negative if truly needed - try using primarily an air blower to get rid of the dust.
Air Duster
Besides a small manually operated air blower like the Giottos Rocket Blaster, I can recommend getting a quality compressed air duster (check out the link).
Film Cleaner & Microfiber Cloth
It is quite common to find minimal residue on the film material - especially on the shiny non-emulsion side. Depending on the scanning resolution and scanner, even small contaminations might show up on the final image. Just like the anti-static brush, the film cleaner has the potential of damaging the film beyond repair. Only use the best products and dispose of the cleaner if in doubt about its chemical integrity. I recommend using the “Made in Germany” Tetenal Graphic Arts Filmcleaner for professional results.
When applying the solution to the film surface, it is imperative not to rub the negative or apply excessive pressure, but to only gently wipe it with a microfibre cloth. You can use a generic one, but make sure to wash it frequently and keep it clean. Small dust particles on the cloth have the potential of scratching your negative permanently.
Baseball Cap
You’d be surprised how much stuff coming from your head lands on the film - wearing a cap of sorts prevents humongous amounts of dust from getting on the negs. This is my secret pro tip for you, believe me, it is a game changer!
