Nikon Woe Gone

The Nikon medium format scanner arrived, and has gone.

It was dead on arrival. That’s the risk you take with secondhand equipment but luckily the vendor was one of the decent people on eBay and we were able to resolve the issue very quickly. But that’s not what I wanted to say. While it was here I contacted a Nikon authorised repair shop and asked for a ballpark figure for fixing it - this is the story.

The unit powered on and went through its POST (power on self test). Green slow flashing lights to begin then a short series of rapid green flashes before returning to solid green. I have been told by the Nikon repair man that any pulse of rapid green flashing during POST indicates a fault. Flashing at the end indicates logic board issues.

My computers could tell a Nikon Coolscan 8000 was attached but nothing could be done to bring it to life.

The Coolscan 8000 has a main computer board holding its logic and that was most likely the cause of the failure. To replace that would cost some £350, plus, £100 labour plus shipping / transport there and back. Oh, and don’t forget VAT now back up to 17.5%. So the repair bill could easily be over £500. That’s not far short of what these units sell for on eBay anyway. Compare that with the cost of a comparable top-flight Epson and draw your own conclusion, I did.

Nikon Coolscan Medium Format Scanner

We’ve just taken delivery of a new Nikon scanner, the big brother of the Coolscans we have used for the last couple of years to scan 35mm slides and negatives.

Medium format scanning has proved to be a steady source of business for us, and as so many professional photographers used this type of material we need to deliver top quality scans. Thankfully the Epson has done that, but the price is time. Of course a medium format scan into a tiff file results in a big file, and that takes a long time. Getting three or four scans out in an afternoon isn’t unusual, particularly when we use Digital ICE.

A couple of weeks ago we were approached by a pro photographer wanting a substantial archive of M/F slides and negatives scanned. It would be a great project, but at Epson speed it would take a very long time. So that’s why we’ve decided to invest in the new scanner. I’m hoping we’ll be able to offer a better service to our M/F clients.

Google Wave

Some months ago I applied for a Google Wave account. I had read an article saying Google had created something which was intended to be what email ought to be if it were invented today (not some decades ago when I joined the computer industry). So that’s to be Google Wave - email for 2010.

Well, today my invite came through. I feel like the owner of the first phone must have felt. It’s great technology but I’ve got nobody to call. So instead I’ve been looking at the various tutorials Google have put on Youtube. I’m in part excited and confused. There’s been only one element I’ve completely understood - photo sharing.

For the vast majority of clients for whom we scan photos returning their images by post or courier is fine, but for some it’s urgent. For many our service is the first step on the way to doing something creative with their scans. In many cases that’s an online photo album.

For over a year we’ve been using drop.io - yes that’s actually a web address. There you can quickly create a website onto which you can upload a whole range of things, photos, text etc etc. We’ve used this with great success when people have wanted scans back quickly. What’s more, it is free.

Lately, and mainly in connection with our free photo scanning offering, I’ve looked into more powerful photo sharing functions. I looked at the sites offered by Kodak, Nikon, Flickr and others such as SmugMugs. For the mix of features 1Scan clients will need we decided to go with Zenfolio.

Back to Google Wave. One of the most impressive elements of their demos is the ability to share images in real time. As with any demo, it demonstrates well; how it goes in practice I don’t know. But I’m keen to try. So if you’re a Google Wave-r add me in - jeff.underwood@googlewave.com

Let’s Wave.

Zenfolio

For the last few weeks we've been working on a major enhancement of our services, and central to that is an online photo storage service called Zenfolio.

What we're planning is to deliver scanned images not just via CD or DVD as we do now but to put clients scans onto a secure website. This will deliver a longterm backup of your photo scans should the CD be lost or damaged, it will quickly and simply allow friends and relatives to view an online photo album containing those scanned photos.

Additionally this will facilitate easy access to a range of gifts customised with your photos - gifts such as mousemats, T-shirts, jigsaw puzzles. And there's also a wide range of standard prints, enlargements and canvas prints.

More soon.

Resolution for Photobooks

Earlier today we were asked what is the best resolution for a client wanting photos scanned for an online book printing service called Blurb.

Having checked their website they recommend a resolution up to 300 dpi. Our standard resolution is 600 dpi - what should we do?

Actually I think the service would be more than able to print from our 600 dpi scans, but the easier solution is to scan at 300 dpi. Problem solved. So, if you are using an external service and want 300 rather than 600 dpi, just let us know.

Don't, if you value your photos ....

How do you know that was you, the kids and Aunt Mabel on holiday in 1981? Probably by writing on the back of the print. No problem there - until you reach for a ballpoint, felt tip marker pen, or many other nasty devices.

First, the ink can easily permeate the backing material on the print and react with the dyes that make the image. Resulting in staining and unsightly marks on the photos.

Second, the ink can take a very long time to dry. So if that print is put back in the stack the ink can be transfered onto the face of the print above it in the pile. Same result, another print spoiled.

If you must write on the back of a print (and the temptation is probably irresistable) please stick to the humble pencil. Don't reach for a biro or a marker pen.

Your scan, my scan, one scan?

I could bore for England on the subject of scanning. There are no short answers in my book when it comes to scanning.

But I struggled to know where to begin when I was asked a simple question - why is your scan different to mine? This was asked by a client, we scanned around 500 old photos last week. He was kind enough to say he liked ours better and wanted to know how he could match them should he scan his own images at home.

Well - scanner hardware varies, the image capture and light generating components all have a bearing on final scan. Then there's the software, and the intention of the tech / marketing guys who set everything up. Of course the scanner operator can over-ride the settings. Put it all together and there's an infinite variety of options available.

Here's my take. I think our bulk scanning service offers a warmer colouring than your originals may have. The Epson flatbed is noticeably colder in comparison.

The Nikons are much more objective on negatives, producing an image much closer to the data on the negative. Slide scanning is (I think) giving slightly deeper colours; Kodachromes can be very warm in comparison.

So what? Not a lot really - but please ask us to do some samples for you, using your material, then you can draw your own conclusions.