Highest Quality Capture: Workflow Phase I - Black and White in Photoshop CS4 and Photoshop Lightroom - page 64

X. Scanning Capture: an Overview
Scanners have truly become an indispensable bridge between the traditional
photographic medium and the new digital world, making it possible to
convert our i lm, slides, and i ne art prints into the digital format. Scanning
devices have become far more enticing with the astounding technological
advancements achieved over the last few years, which have made scanners
more af ordable and available to the average photographer. Just like a digital
camera, most scanners rely on charge-coupling devices (CCDs) to capture and
translate images from i lm, slides, or prints into the digital format.
How to Set Up for Optimal Scanning
While there are far too many scanners and software packages on the market
to go any great detail with specii c products, there are a few basic rules on
how to achieve the highest quality black and white output with whatever
hardware you prefer.
Types of scanners
Drum Scanners
These scanning devices produce the highest quality capture and conversion,
but are still rarely found outside of service bureaus because they can cost tens
of thousands of dollars and are very labor-intensive to use. A drum scanner
uses a photo multiplier tube to capture images instead of a CCD as most other
scanners use. Prints or i lm are placed inside a rotating glass drum where a
bright light is rel ected of prints - or illuminated through slides - recording
the light through a photo multiplier tube. Drum scanners of er the highest
resolution, best color, can digitize very large size prints, and have a far greater
capacity for capturing i ner detail in shadow and highlight regions than any
other type of scanner. Most service bureaus charge per scan according to the
scan size dimensions, which can become fairly costly for a large quantity of
originals.
Film Scanners
Film scanners are designed specii cally to scan i lm from 35 mm, 2 1/4 to 4x5
depending on the type of scanner and how much you want to spend. Film
scanners of er the next best quality digital capture to a drum scanner, and are
a good investment if you need to do a high volume of scanning. Film scanners
typically of er very high resolutions because negatives/i lm have a much
higher dynamic range than prints and have to be enlarged substantially,
much like a negative enlarger.