1035 22nd Avenue Unit 18 Oakland, CA 94606
DRUM SCANNING
Why Drum Scanning is the best:
Drum scanning is the finest quality, highest resolution method available to scan your transparencies and negative film. We use the best two drum scanners available – the Heidelberg Tango and the Aztek HiResolve 8000. Each drum scan is performed on a custom basis to retain your film’s delicate highlights, deep shadow details, smooth gradients, and excellent grain rendition. These scans are the best possible starting points for fine art prints. Scans are available up to 11,000 dpi for 35mm film, and 8000dpi for all formats up to 8″ x 10″ film.
WHAT TYPES OF FILM CAN YOU DRUM SCAN?
We’ve scanned many types of film, from 126mm all the way up to 11″ x 14″ sheet film.
- Black and white negatives
- Slide and transparency film
- color negatives
- Kodachrome
- 126 and subminiture Minox
- Panoramic film from cameras like the Widelux and 6x17cm back
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EXPERT TECHNICIANS
Our drum scan operator has been drum scanning film since 2005 for artists and photographers around the world.
48-BIT DEPTH
All our scans are delivered in 48-bit (also called 16-bit in Photoshop) for maximum flexibility in editing.
UP TO 11X14″ FILM
We can scan film from subminature cameras all the way up to 11×14″ sheet film. We can also scan X-pan film.
BEAUTIFUL DETAILS
You’ll be amazed at how much clean detail can be revealed in your scans. Our drum scanner records subtle shadow and delicate highlight details.
DRUM SCANNING PRICELIST
35mm Film
| Scan Size | Resolution | File Size | Max Print Size | 1 scan | 2-10 scans | 11-25 scans | 26-50 scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| small | 4000dpi | 125 MB | 13" x 20" | $35.00 | $32.55 | $29.75 | $28.00 |
| medium | 8000dpi | 500 MB | 26" x 38" | $50.00 | $46.50 | $42.50 | $40.00 |
| large | 11000dpi | 1 GB | 35" x 50" | $100.00 | $93.00 | $85.00 | $80.00 |
645cm - 6x6cm Film
| Scan Size | Resolution | File Size | Max Print Size | 1 scan | 2-10 scans | 11-25 scans | 26-50 scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| small | 4000dpi | 375-600 MB | 30 x 30" | $50.00 | $46.50 | $42.50 | $40.00 |
| large | 8000dpi | 1 GB | 60" x 60" | $100.00 | $93.00 | $85.00 | $80.00 |
6x7cm - 6x9cm Film
| Scan Size | Resolution | File Size | Max Print Size | 1 scan | 2-10 scans | 11-25 scans | 26-50 scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| small | 4000dpi | 600 - 750 MB | 40" x 48" | $65.00 | $60.45 | $55.25 | $52.00 |
| large | 8000dpi | 2.3 - 3 GB | 60" x 70" | $130.00 | $120.90 | $110.50 | $104.00 |
6x17cm Film
| Scan Size | Resolution | File Size | Max Print Size | 1 scan | 2-10 scans | 11-25 scans | 26-50 scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| small | 4000dpi | 125 MB | 13" x 20" | $35.00 | $32.55 | $29.75 | $28.00 |
| medium | 8000dpi | 500 MB | 26" x 38" | $50.00 | $46.50 | $42.50 | $40.00 |
| large | 11000dpi | 1 GB | 35" x 50" | $100.00 | $93.00 | $85.00 | $80.00 |
4x5" Film
| Scan Size | Resolution | File Size | Max Print Size | 1 scan | 2-10 scans | 11-25 scans | 26-50 scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| small | 4000dpi | 125 MB | 13" x 20" | $35.00 | $32.55 | $29.75 | $28.00 |
| medium | 8000dpi | 500 MB | 26" x 38" | $50.00 | $46.50 | $42.50 | $40.00 |
| large | 11000dpi | 1 GB | 35" x 50" | $100.00 | $93.00 | $85.00 | $80.00 |
5x7" Film
| Scan Size | Resolution | File Size | Max Print Size | 1 scan | 2-10 scans | 11-25 scans | 26-50 scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| small | 1200dpi | 700 mb | 30" x 40" | $75.00 | $71.25 | $67.50 | $64.50 |
| large | 2000dpi | 1.8 GB | 52" x 65" | $125.00 | $116.25 | $106.25 | $100.00 |
8x10" Film
| Scan Size | Resolution | File Size | Max Print Size | 1 scan | 2-10 scans | 11-25 scans | 26-50 scans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| small | 1200dpi | 700 mb | 30" x 40" | $75.00 | $71.25 | $67.50 | Contact for Quote |
| large | 2000dpi | 1.8 GB | 52" x 65" | $125.00 | $116.25 | $106.25 | Contact for Quote |
| extra large | 2666 dpi | 3.2 GB | 72" x 90" | $200.00 | $190.00 | $180.00 | Contact for Quote |
Frequently Asked Questions:
WHAT IS A DRUM SCANNER, AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?
A drum scanner is the best scanner for capturing the dynamic range, tonal quality, detail, and sharpness of negative and transparency film. These professional machines, like our Heidelberg Tango drum scanner, have the ability to make exact reproductions. Our Tango drum scanner weighs 550 pounds and stands five feet tall, while our Aztek (the smaller scanner) weighs 140 pounds.
Your film is fluid-mounted to an acrylic cylinder (the drum) and sandwiched between optically clear Mylar. The fluid mounting increases highlight and shadow detail in your scans. It improves fine detail while removing much of the dust & scratches, emulsion blemishes, etc) in your film, and reduces film grain. There’s no way to simulate the improvements fluid mounting your film offers – you can only fluid mount film with drum scanners and some flatbeds, not with an Imacon or Noritsu scanner. The end result is drum scans that are cleaner and sharper, without feeling like the scans have been sharpened with a filter. This process is especially beneficial for areas of the film that require enhanced detail.
After mounting, the drum is loaded into the scanner, where it spins at high RPM as the scan head (also called the “periscope”) travels up and down in a series of extremely precise micro-steps, slowly yet faithfully recording the film’s details line by line. A medium format negative may take up to 2 hours of scanning time.
WILL MY SCANS BE READY TO PRINT?
The prices listed are for raw base scans. A raw scan is not a print-ready file (i.e a file that has been cleaned of dust/scratches, retouched and edited for print on a specific paper). Order a raw scan if you’d like a high resolution drum scan to edit yourself for printing.
Additional scan cleanup/dust-busting, or editing (also called mastering) to prepare images for printing is charged at our normal hourly rate in 1/4 hour increments. Contact the studio for a quote.
WHICH DRUM SCANNER IS THE BEST DRUM SCANNER?
Excellent question! We are lucky to have two drum scanners in our studio. We prefer the Heidelberg Tango for transparencies and most negative scans. The detail it pulls from highlights and shadows is clean and effortless, and the grain is beautiful.
Our Aztek HR8000 allows us to scan large format film at a higher resolution, but that doesn’t always translate into meaningful improvements in your prints. Aztek’s software can sometimes help with extremely thin negatives.
We’re always happy to suggest which scanner is best for your particular project.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DRUM SCANNING FILM?
Brad (Candela’s owner, guy who does almost all of the drum scanning) has been operating drum scanners since 2005 and has owned or operated Heidelberg Tangos, Primescans, S3900, Imacon Flextights, Nikon Coolscans, Epson flatbed scanners, and Aztek HR8000s.
Brad was trained in drum scanning by Bob Cornelis of Color Folio, and has drum scanned film for clients all around the world, including Richard Misrach, Todd Hido, Roger Minick, Debra Bloomfield, and many more!
I NEED MY ARTWORK SCANNED - SHOULD I USE ORDER A DRUM SCAN FOR THAT?
If you have copy art (slides taken of your artworks), order drum scans to start the printing process. If you have existing artwork (paintings, drawings, maps, etc) that you want digitized, please use our artwork scanning service.