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Open-Licensed Instructional Guides for Learners
Lesson: Scanning 35mm and Medium Format Film
Using an Imacon Flextight Film Scanner
Summary of Process
1 Make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and is turned on before starting computer workstation.
2 Launch the FlexColor software application to perform the image scan.
3 Properly load the developed film into the provided film scanner tray.
4 Make sure the appropriate scanning preferences are selected within FlexColor prior to performing a scan.
5 Perform a Preview scan prior to an actual file scan to make sure all preferences have been selected correctly.
6 After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device (flash drive, CD, etc.) for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks.
Before You Begin
Before beginning to perform an image scan with the scanner, review these instructions prior to logging onto the workstation and utilize them as a reference during the scanning process. If during the scanning process you find that you have questions, ask your instructor or the Technical Assistant on duty for additional assistance.
Turning On the Scanner and Computer Workstation
Before launching the scanner software and proceeding to perform an image scan, the scanner itself must be turned on and finished with its power-on test process. It is important to note that with the Imacon Flextight II model scanner, as with all SCSI devices, that the scanner is to be turned on prior to starting the computer workstation itself. Failure to start any SCSI-interface device prior to starting the workstation it is connected to will result in the device not being recognized by the workstation itself and not syncing properly with the workstation software.
To turn on the Imacon Flextight II scanner, make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and follow these steps:
1 Remove the dust cover that is draped over the scanner and dust cover plate that is over the scanner’s light table. Be sure to place the dust covers back over the scanner when not in use to prevent internal optical components from collecting dust.
2 Locate the front of the scanner.
3 When facing the front of the scanner, the power button is located in the lower-right corner of the front scanner body. Press the red power button to power on the scanner. Once the scanner performs its power-on test, which takes approximately 30 seconds to complete, the scanner is ready for use. At this point, the green power light on the scanner will be flashing.
4 Turn on the computer workstation that the scanner is connected to. Allow the workstation to complete its boot process.
5 When launching the FlexColor scanner software, it will load the appropriate firmware needed for the scanner to operate properly. When the firmware has been successfully loaded, the green power light will quit flashing and will remain in a state of constant illumination. (See the sections “Launching the Scanner Software Via the Dock” or “Launching the Scanner Software Via the Applications Folder” below for additional information)
Launching the FlexColor Software Via the Dock
To launch the Hasselblad / Imacon FlexColor software via the Mac OS X Dock, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the FlexColor software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner and Computer Workstation” for additional information)
2 Launch the FlexColor software by clicking its icon within the Dock located at the bottom of the Mac OS X Desktop.
Launching the FlexColor Software Via the Application Folder
To launch the Hasselblad / Imacon FlexColor software via the Mac OS X Application folder, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the FlexColor software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner and Computer Workstation” within this section for additional information)
2 To launch the FlexColor software, click on the Go menu within the Finder menu, and select Applications from the menu options that appear.
3 When the Applications folder window appears, double-click on the FlexColor folder icon located in the list of applications that appear.
4 When the FlexColor folder opens, double-click the FlexColor application icon to launch the application.
Loading the Film Into the Scanner
Once the scanner and computer workstation have been turned, as well as completing the launching of the FlexColor software, the next step is to load the film into the scanner. For best results, the film must be placed flat into the film holder and aligned properly within the film holder apertures.
To properly load film into the Imacon Flextight II film scanner in preparation for a scan, follow these steps:
1 Locate the film holders that accompany the film scanner. Select the appropriate holder for the type of film you will be scanning. The scanner includes holders for single 35mm frames, 35mm film strips, single Medium format frames, multiple Medium format frames and single Large format frames.
2 Place the film holder onto the scanner light table using the film holder guides available along the left and right side of the light table itself. The flexible, magnetic side of the film holder must face upwards.
3 Gently slide the film holder into the slot at the top of the light table, about ¼ inches (or ½ centimeters). The film holder slips into place very easily using its magnets, so be sure to be gentle when sliding the film holder into place and do not press too hard. To remove the film holder, simply slide it back out.
4 Lift the top flap of the holder and place the film into it (emulsion side down), making sure that the film is properly aligned within the holder aperture. The original film frame(s) must completely fill the aperture, and edges of the film cannot be showing within it. Moreover, the edges of the original film should not extend past the edge of the holder itself.
5 Lay the top, magnetic layer of the film holder down flat over the film. The magnetic layer will hold the film in place as it passes through the scanner.
Selecting Adobe Photoshop as the Default External Viewer
FlexColor is a scanning application that is independent from all other manufacturer scanning software and photo editing applications. This has enabled FlexColor to earn its reputation for performing fast, reliable scan jobs when using the Flextight line of scanners. However, some users are accustomed to using a TWAIN driver to perform a scan directly from a photo editing application, such as Adobe Photoshop, so they have the convenience of having a scanned image ready for editing without having to import an image from a separate scanning application.
While FlexColor is not designed for use with a TWAIN driver within a photo editing application, FlexColor does provide the ability to select a default viewing application. When a scan job is completed within FlexColor, you can instruct FlexColor to automatically launch Adobe Photoshop or another application and have the scanned image ready for viewing and editing.
To select Adobe Photoshop as the default external viewer application for editing purposes once a scanning job has been completed, follow these steps:
1 If you have not already done so, launch the FlexColor application. (See the sections titled “Launching the Scanner Software via the Dock” or “Launching the Scanner Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
2 When the FlexColor application window appears, click the FlexColor menu and select Preferences from the menu options that appear.
3 Click on the Scanner tab located in the upper-left corner of the Preferences window.
4 When the Scanner options appear, find the Open Saved Images Using: preference option and place a check within the checkbox provided. Then click the SELECT button accompanying this preference option.
5 After clicking the SELECT button, a Finder window will appear prompting you to select the application. Within the Finder window, click on the Applications folder located in the left sidebar underneath Places. Locate the Adobe Photoshop application icon, single-click on it to select it and then click the OPEN button. Adobe Photoshop is now selected as the default external viewer / editing application.
6 Click the OK button to close the Preferences window and to return to the main FlexColor application window.
Performing a Scan Using the Imacon FlexColor Software
To perform a basic scan using the FlexColor software, follow these steps:
1 Place the film you wish to scan into the scanner. (See the section titled “Loading the Film Into the Scanner” for additional information.)
2 If you have not already done so, launch the FlexColor application. (See the sections titled “Launching the FlexColor Software via the Dock” or “Launching the FlexColor Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
3 When the FlexColor application window appears, locate the Setup popup selection menu in the upper-left corner of the application window and select the appropriate film type that corresponds to the original film you will be scanning. For example, select Negative RGB Standard when scanning standard 35mm color negative film or B&W negative standard when scanning standard 35mm black and white film.
4 Next, locate the Frame popup selection menu in the upper-left corner of the application window. Using this popup menu, select the appropriate film or aperture size that corresponds to the original film you will be scanning. For example, select 24x36 when scanning standard 35mm negative film or 60x60 when scanning medium format film.
5 Locate the Mode popup selection menu in the upper-left corner of the application window. Make sure the mode type RGB is selected from the popup menu provided when scanning color film or mode type Grayscale when scanning black and white film.
6 Click the PREVIEW button, located in the upper-left corner of the application window. The Flextight scanner will proceed to perform a Preview scan of the image.
7 After a Preview scan has been performed you make adjustments to the preview image to account for the size and resolution you intend your final, print image to be. Choosing the right size and resolution for your final scan is important at this stage. If either the size and resolution of your final scan is too small, your prints could come out pixilated, or having jagged edges and the overall image looking fuzzy. If the final scanned image is too large with respect to image size and resolution, then you end up spending unnecessary extra time performing the final scan, as well as editing the image due to the excessive amount of data being stored that isn’t necessary.
To adjust the resolution prior to performing a final scan, locate the PPI popup selection menu located within the Size selection area of the application window. The Size selection area is located along the left side of the FlexColor application window. When scanning color 35mm negative film, select 300 from the popup menu list. When scanning black and white 35mm negative film, select 600 from the popup menu list.
Along with making adjustments to the resolution of the image, you also need to make adjustments related to dimensions or size of the final scan. Looking at the image preview area within the application window, the area inside the dotted-line box shown in the Preview window is the area that will be included in the final, saved file. To make adjustments to this area, place your mouse pointer on one corner of the dotted-line box. When the mouse pointer is on top of the dotted-line box, it transforms itself into a target icon. At this point, hold down the mouse button (the left mouse button if using a two-button or three-button mouse) and drag the box to include or delete areas you wish to include in your final, saved file. Repeat this process for each corner of the dotted-line box, if necessary.
You can fine-tune your selection area by reviewing the values displayed in the Height and Width fields and/or entering new values within those fields. These fields are located within the Size selection area of the FlexColor application window, and the values displayed by default are in centimeters. You can use the following conversion chart to determine the values you may need to enter in centimeters for the most popular photo and paper sizes.
8 Once you have made all necessary size and resolution adjustments using the preview scan performed, click the SCAN button to begin performing the final scan. Depending upon how large the resolution and size you selected in Step #7, the scan may take a couple of minutes or as much as one hour to perform. If you selected Adobe Photoshop or another image editing application as the default external viewer prior to performing the scan job, the image will automatically open in that application once the job is completed. Otherwise, once the scan job has been completed, you can locate the final scan image file within the Scratchpad folder located on the Desktop. From there, you can select which application you would like to view and/or edit the image.
Completion of Image Scanning
Once you have completed the scanning of an image, you are ready to utilize the image file for your intended purpose (ie editing within a photo editor, printing the image, importing image into a slide presentation, etc.).
After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device, for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks. If you are in a digital lab or other work environment where multiple users are using the workstation you performed your scan on, be sure to save your image file to a removable storage device when completed as your scanned file may get deleted. Suitable removable storage devices include USB flash drives / thumb drives, external USB / FireWire hard drives, CD-R / CD-WR disks, or DVD-R / DVD-RW disks.
Be sure to replace the dust cover plate over the light table, as well as the scanner dust cover itself, when the scanner is not in use. This is to prevent internal optical components from collecting dust and damaging the sensors.
Summary of Process
1 Make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and is turned on before starting computer workstation.
2 Launch the FlexColor software application to perform the image scan.
3 Properly load the developed film into the provided film scanner tray.
4 Make sure the appropriate scanning preferences are selected within FlexColor prior to performing a scan.
5 Perform a Preview scan prior to an actual file scan to make sure all preferences have been selected correctly.
6 After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device (flash drive, CD, etc.) for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks.
Before You Begin
Before beginning to perform an image scan with the scanner, review these instructions prior to logging onto the workstation and utilize them as a reference during the scanning process. If during the scanning process you find that you have questions, ask your instructor or the Technical Assistant on duty for additional assistance.
Turning On the Scanner and Computer Workstation
Before launching the scanner software and proceeding to perform an image scan, the scanner itself must be turned on and finished with its power-on test process. It is important to note that with the Imacon Flextight II model scanner, as with all SCSI devices, that the scanner is to be turned on prior to starting the computer workstation itself. Failure to start any SCSI-interface device prior to starting the workstation it is connected to will result in the device not being recognized by the workstation itself and not syncing properly with the workstation software.
To turn on the Imacon Flextight II scanner, make sure the scanner is plugged into a power source and follow these steps:
1 Remove the dust cover that is draped over the scanner and dust cover plate that is over the scanner’s light table. Be sure to place the dust covers back over the scanner when not in use to prevent internal optical components from collecting dust.
2 Locate the front of the scanner.
3 When facing the front of the scanner, the power button is located in the lower-right corner of the front scanner body. Press the red power button to power on the scanner. Once the scanner performs its power-on test, which takes approximately 30 seconds to complete, the scanner is ready for use. At this point, the green power light on the scanner will be flashing.
4 Turn on the computer workstation that the scanner is connected to. Allow the workstation to complete its boot process.
5 When launching the FlexColor scanner software, it will load the appropriate firmware needed for the scanner to operate properly. When the firmware has been successfully loaded, the green power light will quit flashing and will remain in a state of constant illumination. (See the sections “Launching the Scanner Software Via the Dock” or “Launching the Scanner Software Via the Applications Folder” below for additional information)
Launching the FlexColor Software Via the Dock
To launch the Hasselblad / Imacon FlexColor software via the Mac OS X Dock, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the FlexColor software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner and Computer Workstation” for additional information)
2 Launch the FlexColor software by clicking its icon within the Dock located at the bottom of the Mac OS X Desktop.
Launching the FlexColor Software Via the Application Folder
To launch the Hasselblad / Imacon FlexColor software via the Mac OS X Application folder, follow these steps:
1 Make sure your scanner is turned on before launching the FlexColor software. (See the section titled “Turning On the Scanner and Computer Workstation” within this section for additional information)
2 To launch the FlexColor software, click on the Go menu within the Finder menu, and select Applications from the menu options that appear.
3 When the Applications folder window appears, double-click on the FlexColor folder icon located in the list of applications that appear.
4 When the FlexColor folder opens, double-click the FlexColor application icon to launch the application.
Loading the Film Into the Scanner
Once the scanner and computer workstation have been turned, as well as completing the launching of the FlexColor software, the next step is to load the film into the scanner. For best results, the film must be placed flat into the film holder and aligned properly within the film holder apertures.
To properly load film into the Imacon Flextight II film scanner in preparation for a scan, follow these steps:
1 Locate the film holders that accompany the film scanner. Select the appropriate holder for the type of film you will be scanning. The scanner includes holders for single 35mm frames, 35mm film strips, single Medium format frames, multiple Medium format frames and single Large format frames.
2 Place the film holder onto the scanner light table using the film holder guides available along the left and right side of the light table itself. The flexible, magnetic side of the film holder must face upwards.
3 Gently slide the film holder into the slot at the top of the light table, about ¼ inches (or ½ centimeters). The film holder slips into place very easily using its magnets, so be sure to be gentle when sliding the film holder into place and do not press too hard. To remove the film holder, simply slide it back out.
4 Lift the top flap of the holder and place the film into it (emulsion side down), making sure that the film is properly aligned within the holder aperture. The original film frame(s) must completely fill the aperture, and edges of the film cannot be showing within it. Moreover, the edges of the original film should not extend past the edge of the holder itself.
5 Lay the top, magnetic layer of the film holder down flat over the film. The magnetic layer will hold the film in place as it passes through the scanner.
Selecting Adobe Photoshop as the Default External Viewer
FlexColor is a scanning application that is independent from all other manufacturer scanning software and photo editing applications. This has enabled FlexColor to earn its reputation for performing fast, reliable scan jobs when using the Flextight line of scanners. However, some users are accustomed to using a TWAIN driver to perform a scan directly from a photo editing application, such as Adobe Photoshop, so they have the convenience of having a scanned image ready for editing without having to import an image from a separate scanning application.
While FlexColor is not designed for use with a TWAIN driver within a photo editing application, FlexColor does provide the ability to select a default viewing application. When a scan job is completed within FlexColor, you can instruct FlexColor to automatically launch Adobe Photoshop or another application and have the scanned image ready for viewing and editing.
To select Adobe Photoshop as the default external viewer application for editing purposes once a scanning job has been completed, follow these steps:
1 If you have not already done so, launch the FlexColor application. (See the sections titled “Launching the Scanner Software via the Dock” or “Launching the Scanner Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
2 When the FlexColor application window appears, click the FlexColor menu and select Preferences from the menu options that appear.
3 Click on the Scanner tab located in the upper-left corner of the Preferences window.
4 When the Scanner options appear, find the Open Saved Images Using: preference option and place a check within the checkbox provided. Then click the SELECT button accompanying this preference option.
5 After clicking the SELECT button, a Finder window will appear prompting you to select the application. Within the Finder window, click on the Applications folder located in the left sidebar underneath Places. Locate the Adobe Photoshop application icon, single-click on it to select it and then click the OPEN button. Adobe Photoshop is now selected as the default external viewer / editing application.
6 Click the OK button to close the Preferences window and to return to the main FlexColor application window.
Performing a Scan Using the Imacon FlexColor Software
To perform a basic scan using the FlexColor software, follow these steps:
1 Place the film you wish to scan into the scanner. (See the section titled “Loading the Film Into the Scanner” for additional information.)
2 If you have not already done so, launch the FlexColor application. (See the sections titled “Launching the FlexColor Software via the Dock” or “Launching the FlexColor Software Via the Application Folder” for additional information.)
3 When the FlexColor application window appears, locate the Setup popup selection menu in the upper-left corner of the application window and select the appropriate film type that corresponds to the original film you will be scanning. For example, select Negative RGB Standard when scanning standard 35mm color negative film or B&W negative standard when scanning standard 35mm black and white film.
4 Next, locate the Frame popup selection menu in the upper-left corner of the application window. Using this popup menu, select the appropriate film or aperture size that corresponds to the original film you will be scanning. For example, select 24x36 when scanning standard 35mm negative film or 60x60 when scanning medium format film.
5 Locate the Mode popup selection menu in the upper-left corner of the application window. Make sure the mode type RGB is selected from the popup menu provided when scanning color film or mode type Grayscale when scanning black and white film.
6 Click the PREVIEW button, located in the upper-left corner of the application window. The Flextight scanner will proceed to perform a Preview scan of the image.
7 After a Preview scan has been performed you make adjustments to the preview image to account for the size and resolution you intend your final, print image to be. Choosing the right size and resolution for your final scan is important at this stage. If either the size and resolution of your final scan is too small, your prints could come out pixilated, or having jagged edges and the overall image looking fuzzy. If the final scanned image is too large with respect to image size and resolution, then you end up spending unnecessary extra time performing the final scan, as well as editing the image due to the excessive amount of data being stored that isn’t necessary.
To adjust the resolution prior to performing a final scan, locate the PPI popup selection menu located within the Size selection area of the application window. The Size selection area is located along the left side of the FlexColor application window. When scanning color 35mm negative film, select 300 from the popup menu list. When scanning black and white 35mm negative film, select 600 from the popup menu list.
Along with making adjustments to the resolution of the image, you also need to make adjustments related to dimensions or size of the final scan. Looking at the image preview area within the application window, the area inside the dotted-line box shown in the Preview window is the area that will be included in the final, saved file. To make adjustments to this area, place your mouse pointer on one corner of the dotted-line box. When the mouse pointer is on top of the dotted-line box, it transforms itself into a target icon. At this point, hold down the mouse button (the left mouse button if using a two-button or three-button mouse) and drag the box to include or delete areas you wish to include in your final, saved file. Repeat this process for each corner of the dotted-line box, if necessary.
You can fine-tune your selection area by reviewing the values displayed in the Height and Width fields and/or entering new values within those fields. These fields are located within the Size selection area of the FlexColor application window, and the values displayed by default are in centimeters. You can use the following conversion chart to determine the values you may need to enter in centimeters for the most popular photo and paper sizes.
| Print or Paper Size (in inches) | Dimension Conversion (in centimeters) |
| 4 x 6 | 10.16 x 15.24 |
| 5 x 7 | 12.7 x 17.78 |
| 8 x 10 | 20.32 x 25.4 |
| 8.5 x 11.0 | 21.59 x 27.94 |
| 11 x 14 | 27.94 x 35.56 |
| 11 x 17 | 27.94 x 43.18 |
| 11.7 x 16.5 | 29.718 x 41.91 |
| 13 x19 | 33.02 x 48.26 |
| 13 x 32 | 33.02 x 81.28 |
| 16 x 20 | 40.64 x 50.8 |
| 17 x 22 | 43.18 x 44.88 |
| 20 x 30 | 50.8 x 76.2 |
| 24 x 30 | 60.96 x 76.2 |
| 24 x 36 | 60.96 x 91.44 |
8 Once you have made all necessary size and resolution adjustments using the preview scan performed, click the SCAN button to begin performing the final scan. Depending upon how large the resolution and size you selected in Step #7, the scan may take a couple of minutes or as much as one hour to perform. If you selected Adobe Photoshop or another image editing application as the default external viewer prior to performing the scan job, the image will automatically open in that application once the job is completed. Otherwise, once the scan job has been completed, you can locate the final scan image file within the Scratchpad folder located on the Desktop. From there, you can select which application you would like to view and/or edit the image.
Completion of Image Scanning
Once you have completed the scanning of an image, you are ready to utilize the image file for your intended purpose (ie editing within a photo editor, printing the image, importing image into a slide presentation, etc.).
After performing a file scan, make sure the image file has been saved to a secure location, such as a personal removable storage device, for safekeeping and for transporting to another workstation for performing image editing tasks. If you are in a digital lab or other work environment where multiple users are using the workstation you performed your scan on, be sure to save your image file to a removable storage device when completed as your scanned file may get deleted. Suitable removable storage devices include USB flash drives / thumb drives, external USB / FireWire hard drives, CD-R / CD-WR disks, or DVD-R / DVD-RW disks.
Be sure to replace the dust cover plate over the light table, as well as the scanner dust cover itself, when the scanner is not in use. This is to prevent internal optical components from collecting dust and damaging the sensors.