Scanning for Sprockets

This is a long overdue tutorial on how to use your scanner software to scan in 35mm negative film to include the sprocket holes. This is relevant when you are using toy cameras like the blackbird,fly or have a Holga or Diana modified to take 35mm film (or if you have a 35mm back to fit these cameras) for example.
I'm using a Canoscan 8400f to scan my negatives, but hopefully there will be some common points of reference if you are using a different scanner and/or different software. *note: You may be able to see what I'm doing better by going to the full screen view.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• how-to
• scanning film
• sprockets
• photography
• toycameras
• 35mm
• tutorial
• film negatives
• www.theplasticlens.com

[birdybath2004]

Great tutorial! It helped quite a bit! Just wondering, did you use any of the film trays? If so, which ones? I scanned mine without it, and the photos don't appear as sharp as I'd like them to (basically, they're blurry). I can't tell if it's the film or the way I'm putting it onto the scanner. Thanks again!

[theplasticlens]

@birdybath2004 - by 'film trays' do you mean the negative holders? I made a custom holder out of stiff cardboard, using the 120 film/negative holder as a template and rubber bands to support the film. You can use the provided medium format holder if you like (again, you'll probably need to use rubber bands or other support to stop it sagging in the middle) The 35mm negative holder won't work as it masks the sprockets.

[johnnymitch74]

can you explain the steps from 2:30 to 2:39 better? i have no idea how to do that.

Thanks!

[theplasticlens]

@johnnymitch74 - The section from 2:30 to 2:39 simply show the way the scanner will 'read' the black parts of the sprocket holes and automatically adjust the tone, which gives an undesirable cyan cast to the image. This happens if you try to set the scanning boundaries to the margins of the whole negative (including sprockets) as the scanner automatically tries to adjust the tone for the selected area. One of the primary purposes of this tutorial is to show how to avoid that problem/colour cast

[peteq1972]

I got a HP8250 scanner, i just removed the film neg holder as if to scan slides, taped the film in to place accross the gap and scanned it, hey presto, pics with sprocket holes :) no prob.

[gessi74]

I just bought the CanoScan 9000F (the older sister of 8800). I am very happy with my purchase. Please I need a clarification of your useful video: immediately after the negative scanned two horizontal lines appeared in the bottom cut just the first frame. How do you get it?

Thanks

Steve

[ehs0809]

haha. this is awkward, but I tried scanning my negatives again and it didn't work out. same problem as before - they are not turning out to be blueish as seen at 2:30 .. they turn out to look brownish. I totally forgot what to do.. could you help me, please?

[theplasticlens]

@ehs0809 - sorry I didn't gotten around to replying, but I'm glad you worked it out!

[ehs0809]

@ehs0809

GEEZ! FINALLY FOUND OUT HOW IT WORKS!

before posting my cry for help, I tried for almost 2 hours!

JUST FOUND OUT HOW IT WORKS, THOUGH!

So I don't need help anymore!

LOVE YOUR VIDEO, EVEN THOUGH IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO WORK IT OUT!

[ehs0809]

I do have the same scanner and I was all excited. However, I fail right away! First of all, the program shown in your video at 1:21 does not appear on my screen! Therefore, I don't see the white area. Moreover, if I scan my negatives without a supporting scanning mask, they turn out to be brownish.. Not blueish. If I do put in the 35mm mask, the sprockets won't appear.

WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?

PLEASE HELP! I totally freak out on this.