Digital BW, The Print

>>Unfortunately, there IS a problem with edge to edge sharpness. A 
>>glass holder would be desirable, but I don't think such a thing 
>>exists for this scanner.

Just a thought: has anyone tried glass slide holders for slides? I 
realize this would introduce other problems, but if you didn't get 
the dreaded newton rings, it might be worth the effort in some 
cases. This problem is much worse on the medium format Nikon, mf 
film being so much flimsier, etc. At least there you do have a glass 
carrier available. Ernst Dinkle once posted a link to detailed 
instructions showing how to take a MF strip holder and convert it to 
a glass carrier; perhaps the idea could be applied to a 35mm carrier?

I have a simpler (though not as effective) way to deal with the 
problem. I use 2" lengths of miniature 'I' beams or square tubes 
(model-making construction components picked up at a hobby shop) 
tacked down between frames and at any unsupported ends to hold the 
film a bit flatter. They are held down by double-surfaced sail-
maker's tape, which is aggressively tacky, and lasts through many 
applications if kept out of the dust. The tape is available from 
canvas/sailmaking shops, or in art supply stores in smaller rolls.

As I said, this isn't as effective as a glass carrier, but it helps 
a lot and is much less trouble than keeping six surfaces dust free.

Hope this helps

Steve Karafyllakis

http://www.stevekphoto.com