Emulsion side up or down for scanning?

[rott]

Ok, film buffs, do I put the emulsion side up or down for scanning? Refresh my memory... the emulsion side is the dull side, right? Another way to recognize it is that it's the side where the film identification is read backwards. Is there an easy way to remember all this stuff? Does it matter, really, in scan quality?

Thanks!

[TXhummer2]

On my Epson flatbed scanner with lid-light, I put emulsion UP. So this really depends on your scanner more.

[degolf]

Hello,

I follow same rule as printing. Eml should be away from the light source. You are using a trans scanner so the eml is down. This also puts the Eml next to the glass which is the critical focus plane. You can remember if you say glossy side towards the light and you will always have the image going the correct way when printing. Edge marks on 4x5 are up and to the right when you have the Eml facing you so when you lay it down on the glass the edge marks will be to the left. The scanner is focused at the point of the top of the glass which is where your eml should be. If not you have the thickness of the trans out of focus. Also remember that if you put the base side to the glass you can get newton rings and sometimes with the eml too. That is like gas and water mixed. You get strange rings in your image. Professional print shops use a special powder to keep from getting these rings.

Hope this helps.

[TXhummer2]

Like I said, it depends on the scanner more. I thought (like printing, remembering my b&w darkroom days) what you said was true, then did not follow the Epson directions. There was only one difference in the scanned image: it was backwards. No "rings" with the film/transparency either direction. This is an Epson Perfection 2400 Photo flatbed scanner.

I now follow the scanner guidebook.

[rott]

Yeah, the Epson manual says emulsion side (dull side) up, but if you read forums and others' personal experience, most say to do emulsion side down for exactly the reasons degolf says.

I find that the neg sits flatter (doesn't sag against the glass) if I do it emulsion side down too.

Ok, so for my memory...and in regards to scanning on a flatbed neg scanner with 120/220 roll film:

• Emulsion side is the dull side
• Emulsion side is opposite the "readable" filmstrip id text
• Scan emulsion side down, which is opposite Epson's instructions

[TXhummer2]

Someone who did a graduated distance from glass test on the Epson 2450 found otherwise:

EPSON 2450 discussion

[rott]

You're right, that article says emulsion side up. Hmmm, google search results in a pretty wide variety of opinions. I guess I should just do some tests myself. Thanks all! Anybody else have personal experience? And yes, I'm using an Epson 2450.

[TXhummer2]

I'm gonna try differing levels of "padding" under the film/slide holder. I really believe that the "diffused" light source in the 2400/2450 negates the need for emulsion down, IMHO.