Digital BW, The Print

> Portra 400BW should scan well on just about anything.  The Portra
> films are
> optimized for scanning, and as color negative films, their
> density range is
> low, easing the load on the scanner.

That all may be true, (and I agree with using color negative films over
slide films),
I must point out, that when you scan, your scanner has a particular density
range that it can capture, let's say 3.6, and the scanner will always
capture that range, no matter what the range of your film is.  The unused
range is simply thrown out, via your setpoints.

My suggestion to maximize your data capture is to use a film (I suggest
negative film, though it has a lower density range than slide, it has better
tonality...as in captures more tones) that is just below the density range
your scanner can handle, and learn to use it well.

Austin