Digital BW, The Print

I would recommend that you go to a user group for your specific scanner - I belong 
to the Coolscan 8000-9000 yahoo group; wet mounting is talked about all the time. 
The subject comes up also on the Epson 4870/4990 group.

Wet mounting is a process used in drum scanning that has been applied to dedicated 
film scanners like the Nikon LS 8000 or flatbeds like the Epson Perfection series.

The arguments for wet mounting are that you reduce the effects of film grain while 
minimizing dust and scatches. The evidence is difficult to show online due to monitor 
resolution - it is the kind of thing you would have to see in person.

The thing that scares me is puting flammable fluids into my only scanner, without 
enough proof that wet mounting is actually superior enough to dry. There is also 
clean-up to do afterward. Anytime you soften grain, you risk some detail loss, 
depending on how it is handled and if it matters for your subject. For me detail is 
critical, so I keep the grain.

 - Troy

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Marsolais" <bob@m...> 
wrote:
> I know this is a bit off topic, but I saw mention earlier this week on 
> this forum of "wet mounting" as a way of improving scanner output.  
> What is this, how do you do it, and where can I get more information?
> 
> Thanks!