- Best Photo And Negative Scanner For Mac
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Jan 10, 2017 It comes with software for Mac and Windows PCs called SilverFast SE Plus 8. What’s nice about it is that you do a quick pre-scan and the software lets you tweak the image more to your liking, kind of like doing a couple of simple Photoshop enhancements or adjustments to a RAW file before you commit to the full, high-resolution scan. Scan images or documents using your Mac. If you have a scanner or a printer with a scanner, you may not need any special software to scan an image. Before you scan, you need to open your scanner. Then, follow the instructions for either a document-feeding scanner or a flatbed scanner. Width of negative in inches. scanning resolution in dpi = size in pixels. Size in pixels / printing resolution (usually 150-300 dpi) = print size in inches. For example, let’s say you’re scanning a slide that is 1.5 inches wide, and you choose to scan at 1000 dpi: 1.5 inches. 1000 dpi = 1500 pixels. Apr 29, 2020 Best scanning software of 2020: apps to digitize your paper documents By Will Dalton, Jonas DeMuro, Brian Turner 29 April 2020 Convert your paper archive to digital PDFs. VueScan is inexpensive third party scanning software which supports many (if not almost all) film scanners, and many flatbeds too. Visit www.hamrick.com. One feature is that if you don't have any drivers for your scanner, and if your scanner is supported, in many cases it will work. Try the free trial. There are versions for Windows, Mac,.
Software developer Abe Fettig has a winner on his hands. His newly developed app FilmLab makes it easier than ever to turn film negatives and slides of various sizes into digital files without having to touch a scanner, understand wet mounting, or really do anymore more than point and shoot with your smartphone.
Fettig says he created the app for himself. “When I got into shooting film, I started imagining software that would make it easier and more fun to scan and share my negatives with other people,” he says in the Kickstarter video. “About six months ago I started working on FilmLab as a side project, and now I have a working prototype.”
And that prototype is impressive in its sheer simplicity. It really is as simple as point and shoot. No more difficult than scanning prints with a smartphone app like Google’s Photo Scan. Check out the walkthrough video below to see how it works:
As you can see, the process is incredibly simple. Whether you’re scanning 35mm negatives or slides, or 120 film, all you have to do is set the negatives on a light table, point the app at the negative, tap, and tap once more.
The app automatically detects the frames in your photo and converts them into positive live-previews that you can zoom in on. Then, when click the capture button, it captures several RAW images that are then combined into a single photograph that’s ready to save or share on social media.
What’s more, if you want even higher resolution scans, you can load any digital photograph into the app. So instead of using your phone, you can use your DSLR and a macro lens to shoot high res pictures of the negatives, and FilmLab to quickly convert to digital positives.
Scanning film is still one of the most prohibitive aspects of getting into film photography, and FilmLab seems to address that in the simplest, easiest-to-use package possible. We don’t think it’s an exaggeration to call this app a game changer.
Here are a selection of sample scans captured with the prototype build. Mac fan control app download. Fettig expects the quality of the automatic exposure, color, and white balance to improve a bit between this prototype and FilmLab 1.0, but you get the idea:
Since giving away a free app as a “reward” isn’t possible through the app stores, you can support the project one of two ways: by donating $3 to the app’s development and getting access to ongoing updates, or by donating $18 for access to the first Beta builds, previews of new features, and continuing beta updates that will let you try new features out before else gets to.
When the app finally launches, Fettig’s tentative plan is to price it as a subscription service at $2/month, with a one month free trial (see update) because this, “gives people a chance to try the app for free, which is important to me, and makes it inexpensive for people who only need to do a short-term project digitizing film.”
To find out more about FilmLab or support the app for yourself, head over to the Kickstarter campaign by clicking here. The finished product should be ready by late Summer or early Fall.
UPDATE: In response to backer feedback, FilmLab creator Abe Fettig has decided to change the pricing from the subscription model he was considering. Here is his update in full:
One of the great things about launching FilmLab here on Kickstarter has been the smart, helpful feedback I’ve been getting from backers. And one thing I’ve learned so far is that the subscription pricing I was planning for the app was a bad fit for some people. I’ve been working to see if I could come up with something better, and I think I have. This new pricing model especially works out better for Kickstarter backers, so if you’ve signed up for one of the beta rewards, read on!
I have a few basic things I’m trying to achieve with pricing:
- For active film shooters and people with large amounts of film, offer a great product at a reasonable price, with no restrictions.
- For people with small/occasional projects, offer lower pricing that makes sense for what they’re doing.
- Let people try FilmLab before they pay for it, so they know what they’re getting.
- Work within the restrictions imposed by the app stores.
- Make FilmLab reasonably profitable, so I can continue to improve and support it long term.
So with those goals in mind, here’s the new pricing model:
- FilmLab will be free to install. Anyone can use it as a digital loupe to view their film and inspect film frames up close, for free.
- When you install FilmLab, it will include the ability to save a limited number of output images at no charge. That way people can fully test out the app, and see what kind of output their personal smartphone is capable of producing for their own images.
- If you’re doing a small project and want an affordable way to use FilmLab, you can purchase the ability to create more output files, with bulk pricing. From what I’ve found in my experience testing FilmLab, you tend to view a lot of images but only save the ones you like. So this will be an inexpensive option for those that prefer it.
- Alternatively, you can choose to buy FilmLab Pro, a one-time paid upgrade which gives you unlimited output files for life, plus power-user features like additional manual controls, lossless output, proof sheet capabilities, etc. The price for the FilmLab Pro upgrade will be $29.95 at launch. (Depending on demand and other factors, I may raise or lower the price over time.)
And for Kickstarter backers, I have good news: If you’ve signed up for one of the beta channel rewards, then in addition to the promised year of free beta access to FilmLab Pro, you’ll also get a discount that allows you to buy the final version of FilmLab Pro for only $4.99 after its released on the public app store. (This is something I didn’t know was possible until yesterday, but it turns out that I can offer a special price on an in-app purchase without violating App Store guidelines). No subscriptions, no limitations on use, and backers get rewarded by getting FilmLab Pro at a big discount.
I hope these pricing changes will make FilmLab work better for more people, while still financing my continued work on the app. Thanks again to everyone who took the time to send feedback! I’m looking forward to learning more from this great community going forward.
Image credits: All photographs by Abe Fettig and used with permission.
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https://apparelkeen120.weebly.com/professional-screen-capture-software-mac.html. Scanning film is probably the least attractive part of shooting film, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect this stage. Nowadays, we all want to share our analog images online, and the only way to do that is by digitizing our negatives one way or another.
If you want to get the most out of your negative, then you should choose your scanner carefully, as it’s probably THE most important link in the chain after capturing the image. But picking the right scanner can be tricky.
Scanners can be as cheap as a dinner for 2 or as expensive as a car, but today we’ll be looking at what are considered mid-range film scanners. We want to avoid the low-range (under $100) as they deliver poor quality scans that you’ll have to rescan at some point. We will also avoid the high-range simply because we can’t afford it (yet!).
Thunderbolt software update mac os sierra. The mid-range is ideal for sharing your images online, medium sized prints and archiving.
But before we compare the different models I’ve selected, let me explain what should be considered when looking for a scanner.
Format
It’s crucial to choose a scanner that will be able to hold your negatives. If you plan on scanning only 35mm, no problem; most scanner will be able to scan this film size. On the other hand, if you are or will be shooting Medium Format or Large Format at some point, you should note what formats your scanner is capable of handling.
The type of scanner will also influence the negatives you can scan with. For example, most flatbed scanner can handle 35mm or 120 negatives (Medium Format) and some can even scan 4×5 (Large Format). You’ll also be able to scan old pictures with it for example.
Beware that most dedicated film scanner are often limited to one format. The most common is of course 35mm, but some will accommodate 120 as well.
Resolution
If you are thinking about doing large prints, consider a scanner with an high resolution. This is measure in DPI (Dots Per Inch). Of course, the higher the better, but don’t let yourself be fooled by some manufacturers who claims extremely high DPI.
For this be effective, the sensors and optics should be both optimized to achieve this density of details. Unfortunately, most of these +7000 dpi scanners are just marketing nonsense. 3600 dpi is usually more than enough for us, and going beyond that will just make image size unnecessarily big without bringing in more details.
Color Depth
This one applies for color scans, of course, but also for B&W. Color depth measured in bits, and determines the capabilities of a scanner to capture the nuances of colors or grays on a negative.
Usually, we consider 24 bits sufficient to capture most of tonalities, but modern scanners can go up to 48 bits. Below 24 bits, the transition between colors won’t be as smooth as they are in reality. This could result in what’s called “banding” and color or gray shades could look like this.
Dmax
Not as well-known, but nonetheless important, Dmax determines the scanner’s capability to capture details in the darker areas of a negative. It’s important to consider this factor for images with high contrast. The higher the value is, the more details your scanner will pull from the shadows.
The value for highlights is measured in Dmin. In this case the smaller the value is, the more details you will get in bright parts of an image.
In other words: Dmax and Dmin represent the dynamic range a scanner is able to see. We measure the dynamic range by evaluating the difference between the Dmax and Dmin. The bigger the difference, the wider the dynamic range.
As you will see later, most manufacturers don’t provide the Dmax rating of their scanners. I’m not sure why this is, but I trust a manufacturer more if they’re not afraid to provide this info.
There are other factors you can consider, but these are the main ones and I want to avoid going too far in the technical jargon. If you are not afraid of technical terms and want to dig deeper and learn more about how scanners work, I can recommend this site.
Now that we have a global idea of what makes a good scanner, let’s look at a few models I’ve selected within the $200 price range.
Epson V600 or V550
We’ll start with what I think is the most-used scanner among film photography enthusiasts (also the one I have). If you’ve already asked for recommendation about a scanner, chances are someone mentioned this one.
It takes its fame thanks to the flexibility it offers and an admirable quality in comparison to its price.
Best Photo And Negative Scanner For Mac
Film formats: 35mm and slides, medium format from 6 x 4.5cm up to 6 x 22cm
Resolution: 6400 dpi
Color Depth: 48-bits
Dmax: 3.4
Resolution: 6400 dpi
Color Depth: 48-bits
Dmax: 3.4
Pros
- Very good image quality for this price range
- Compatible with multiple formats
- Digital ICE feature for dust and scratch removal (both films and prints)
- LED light source requiring no warm-up time and energy saving
- Scan prints up to 21.59 x 29.72 cm (8.5″ x 11.7″)
Cons
- Negatives holders look a bit flimsy.
- Epson Scan software looks outdated and is not user-friendly. Users tend to use VueScan instead.
- Slow to scan depending on the settings and features selected.
Conclusion
If you only shoot film occasionally, and need to scan a few prints and documents from time to time, then Epson’s V600 or V550 is the perfect scanner for you. For the more advance photographers that need faster scanning, it may not be the ideal.
Canon CanoScan 9000F MKII
Here is another one that you often hear about. It offers very similar specs to the Epson, which makes it Epson’s direct competitor in terms of quality and price.
Film formats: 35mm and slides, medium format from 6 x 4.5cm up to 6 x 9cm
Resolution: 9600 dpi
Color Depth: 48-bits
Dmax: Unknown
Resolution: 9600 dpi
Color Depth: 48-bits
Dmax: Unknown
Pros
Film Negative Scanning Software
- Good image quality, but can be improved by changing the holders or wet mounting.
- Compatible with multiple formats, but Epson seems to offer more holding options.
- FARE (Film Automatic Retouching and Enhancement) technology to remove dust and scratches.
- LED light source requiring no warm-up time and energy saving.
- Scan prints up to 21.59 x 29.72 cm (8.5″ x 11.7″).
Cons
- Negative holders don’t place the film in the optimal focus range.
- Software seems complicated and doesn’t offer enough controls. VueScan is again recommended.
- Resolution of 9600dpi is probably not realistic.
Conclusion
I would place this one slightly behind the Epson in terms of image quality and ease of use (because of the holders) but it remains a very decent flatbed scanner.
Wolverine Data SNAP20
Now we’re looking at a different kind of scanner. It’s more a dedicated film scanner, although it can still scan prints up to 12.7 x 17.78cm (5″ x 7″).
Film formats: 35mm and slides only
Resolution: 20 Megapixels (no dpi provided)
Color Depth: 36-bits
Dmax: Unknown
Resolution: 20 Megapixels (no dpi provided)
Color Depth: 36-bits
Dmax: Unknown
Pros
- Stand alone device that can be used without computer
- Very fast scanning
- Compact size
Cons
- Can only scan 35mm negative or small prints
- Not the best image quality
- Control over settings limited
Conclusion
Best Photo Negative Scanning Software
It doesn’t shine by its flexibility or high quality, but it get the job done. If you scan only 35mm and/or have a lot of slide film to scan and don’t worry too much about image quality, then it may be the right scanner for you. Not recommended for serious photographers though.
Pacific Image PrimeFilm 7200
We’ve finally arrived at a real, dedicated film scanner. It works only with 35mm negatives or slide film—you won’t be scanning prints with this guy.
Film formats: 35mm and slides only
Resolution: 7200 dpi
Color Depth: 48-bits
Dmax: Unknown
Resolution: 7200 dpi
Color Depth: 48-bits
Dmax: Unknown
Pros
- Decent image quality
- Compact size
Cons
- Slow to scan
- Hardware seems unreliable in some cases
- Dust & Scratch Removal doesn’t work as well as competitors
- Software is again not the best, and VueScan is recommended instead
Conclusion
Best Film Negative Scanner For Mac
Of course, you can’t expect the best quality in this price range, but if your main usage will be online publishing and small printing (up to 16 x 20″ shouldn’t be a problem) then it’s a good alternative to bigger flatbed scanners.
Plustek OpticFilm 7600i
I saved this one for the end, because it has been discontinued and replaced by a newer version (more expensive). We are slightly off-budget, but it can be found second hand within our price range. It is, again, a dedicated film scanner, but it offers a serious step-up in terms of quality.
Film formats: 35mm and slides only
Resolution: 7200 dpi
Color Depth: 48 bits
Dmax: Unknown
Resolution: 7200 dpi
Color Depth: 48 bits
Dmax: Unknown
Pros
- Multi-Exposure functions for higher image quality
- Multiple Sampling feature to reduce noise
- Shipped with Silverfast software
- ISRD (Infrared Smart Removal of Defect)
- Solid hardware
Cons
- Limited to 35mm
- More expensive that the average mid-range film scanner
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Conclusion
If you shoot 35mm and are not planning to get into medium format soon, this is the scanner I would recommend. It offers the highest performance and feature set compared to other scanners in this price range.
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I hope this short guide helps you find your dream scanner. Finally, before doing your first scans, I suggest having a look at this article where you can learn more about my scanning workflow and how to maximize the quality of your images.
About the author: Vincent Moschetti is an Ireland-based photographer who is in the middle of a year-long experiment where he’s shooting only film photography. You can find more of his work or follow along on this adventure by visiting his website or following him on Facebook and Instagram. This post was also published here.
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