Scanning negatives - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/11/2008 07:53:28 PM · #1

I have been asked by a customer to scan a heap of 35mm negatives. I have recently purchased a good quality scanner and am keen to give it a go. This wil be the first time that I will be doing a bulk job for someone so I am not sure what to charge. What I would like to know is what other people charge. Do you charge per strip or just hours worked. Scanning isn't something you can set up and leave, you are constanly taking one lot out and the next lot in. My scanner does 2 strips at a time, I dont know how that compares with other scanners but I guess the limit of two strips needs to be factored into it.

Thankful for any feedback I get.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

02/11/2008 08:51:32 PM · #2

I've never charged for it but scanning negs is time consuming, so might want to keep that in mind when setting a price.

02/11/2008 09:05:40 PM · #3

Yeah, I thought maybe just working out roughly how long it takes me in hours and just charge an hourly rate. Hey, my time is money!

Nikon AF Nikkor 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5

02/11/2008 09:20:41 PM · #4

Another question, technical this time. I am doing 2 strips at a time. At the moment the ones I am doing have some kind of liquid residue mark on them. It doesn't seem to be showing up on the scans unless it makes it less clear, if so it's only slight. I am using gloves and giving them all one wipe, front and back with a lint free cloth. Is there anything else I should be doing.

electrolost

Nikon D200

02/11/2008 09:31:42 PM · #5

i asked that question at my local phot shop and they wanted $8 per negative so I said wow and left

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

02/11/2008 09:39:28 PM · #6

Originally posted by electrolost:

i asked that question at my local phot shop and they wanted $8 per negative so I said wow and left

Seems like at that price I'll have enough to buy a new camera soon!!!

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

02/11/2008 10:32:45 PM · #7

Hit google but there are places that will do it. Base some prices on those but they will obviously be faster..... I dunno as I scan a lot more slides then negs; but you can preview & scan a strip at a time (prob 4 frames) but the scan time depends on the scanner you use. The other biggie is what do you want to do with all the scratches on the negs from the "labs" where this stuff is developed - there will be a lot depending on where they had it processed?

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

02/11/2008 10:52:37 PM · #8

Originally posted by robs:

The job is just straight scanning. My scanner (Epson Perfection V500 PHOTO) has the ability to account for some dust and scratches so I am using that function. I am guessing that the customer only wants to have them on CD. I will encourage him to bring them back to me if he wants to print any and then I can do a quick touch up on the ones he wants to print.

There are 230 strips with an average of 4 per strip and I can scan 2 strips each scan and it saves into his folder on my laptop. I have done approx 80 strips so far.

Greetmir

Nikon D60

02/11/2008 10:57:40 PM · #9

As far as rate is concerned ... I would just charge an honest hourly rate taking into consideration that you ARE performing a technical service that not everyone can do and a custom personal service at that. At the very least keep track of your time and consider this multiplied by your hourly rate as a minimum charge for the job IMO.

Regarding the liquid residue problem ... a wipe with a solution of 8 parts warm water to one part glycerin (available cheaply from your local pharmacy) with a very clean flannel cloth can do wonders and even make tiny scratches disappear. Although this works great, it takes a bit of practice. The secret is to hang the neg first and not to be too stingy with the liquid (make your cloth more than damp but not dripping) and wipe the neg slowly and semi firmly with one pinched squeeze (both sides at once), then let dry at room temp (not too quickly or in direct sunlight). Experiment with negs that are not important first and you can decide if this method is or is not for you. When done correctly and confidently, this has saved many negs that have been slightly damaged or improperly rinsed in processing shops for me.

Good luck and enjoy

(Edited for typos and spelling errors)

Message edited by author 2008-02-11 23:00:50.