What's this line across my scans?

DigitalRelish

DigitalRelish

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Just received my scans of 11 mixed rolls of 35mm (exposed in multiple cameras) from AG Photo lab. Great turnaround getting them back to me within a week, but many of my images show a horizontal line running across them approximately one third from the bottom edge as per the two example crops attached. The line appears more prominently on underexposed, grainy images and is in the exact same place.

I've emailed AG Photo lab to ask, but wanted to get some feedback from you good folks.

Napkin%2013-02-16%2011.53.01%20a.m._zpsfebrzhpe.png
 
Have you checked the negs on a lightbox with a loupe to make sure the line isn't present there?

If this is from a Fuji Frontier minilab, it could be dirt in the scanner. Happens to me in work and you end up having to dismantle the scanner and give it a clean then run a re-calibration.
 
Kei said:
Have you checked the negs on a lightbox with a loupe to make sure the line isn't present there?

If this is from a Fuji Frontier minilab, it could be dirt in the scanner. Happens to me in work and you end up having to dismantle the scanner and give it a clean then run a re-calibration.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I can't find my loupe. I might try checking with a macro lens later.

The lab use a Noritsu, apparently.
 
I always have to do this long-hand in my head, but - black line, so white on the negative, so lack of emulsion density. So, something scraped off a line, either in the scanner, or in the camera? If it were dust or something blocking the scan, it'd be white.

I know I managed to scrape a long line the entire length of a negative from what I think was a bit of crap in the film gate of the 135 cartridge.
 
The signs point to the scanner, no?
  • 11 rolls of 35mm film
  • mix of colour and black and white film
  • shot on different cameras
  • The line is in the same position across every image where it's visible
  • The line is brown in the colour images and dark grey in the black and white images
 
Sorry, I did miss the multiple cameras bit by scrolling down to the photos.
 
Common across different cameras, different films - so yes, something at the dev / scan stage.

It can happen! Time to hone your retouching skills.
 
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It's too straight to be a scratch, so definitely a scanner problem. It might be a defective pixel. I'm glad it's not your own scanner. I'd ask the lab to do the scanning again.
 
The negatives look fine as far as I can tell. I'll await a response from the lab. Thanks, folks!
 
Hi there - we have dropped you a line back (no pun intended!)

Just for everyone else - this is a spec of dust in the scanner path. The Noritsu scanner transports the film across the scanning head and sometimes a very small spec of dust can create a "trail", as shown in the images. Most of the time, it's possible to see it from what is known as the "judgement display" where we balance the colour and contrast etc. But, the screen is quite small with 6 images on display at any one time (although it is possible to enlarge them if required) - so, unfortunately, it's possible to miss such a line on some rare occasions.

Our policy is always to re-scan the film at your convenience.

Matt
 
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AgPhotographic said:
Hi there - we have dropped you a line back (no pun intended!)

Just for everyone else - this is a spec of dust in the scanner path. The Noritsu scanner transports the film across the scanning head and sometimes a very small spec of dust can create a "trail", as shown in the images. Most of the time, it's possible to see it from what is known as the "judgement display" where we balance the colour and contrast etc. But, the screen is quite small with 6 images on display at any one time (although it is possible to enlarge them if required) - so, unfortunately, it's possible to miss such a line on some rare occasions.

Our policy is always to re-scan the film at your convenience.

Matt
Click to expand...

Great post Matt
 
AgPhotographic said:
Hi there - we have dropped you a line back (no pun intended!)

Just for everyone else - this is a spec of dust in the scanner path. The Noritsu scanner transports the film across the scanning head and sometimes a very small spec of dust can create a "trail", as shown in the images. Most of the time, it's possible to see it from what is known as the "judgement display" where we balance the colour and contrast etc. But, the screen is quite small with 6 images on display at any one time (although it is possible to enlarge them if required) - so, unfortunately, it's possible to miss such a line on some rare occasions.

Our policy is always to re-scan the film at your convenience.

Matt
Click to expand...
Thanks for your help with this, Matt. Everything will be in the post later today.
 
AgPhotographic said:
Hi there - we have dropped you a line back (no pun intended!)

Just for everyone else - this is a spec of dust in the scanner path. The Noritsu scanner transports the film across the scanning head and sometimes a very small spec of dust can create a "trail", as shown in the images. Most of the time, it's possible to see it from what is known as the "judgement display" where we balance the colour and contrast etc. But, the screen is quite small with 6 images on display at any one time (although it is possible to enlarge them if required) - so, unfortunately, it's possible to miss such a line on some rare occasions.

Our policy is always to re-scan the film at your convenience.

Matt
Click to expand...
Sounds identical to the fuji frontier (SP-2000) scanner I use in work. Little bit of dust gets inside and can wreak havoc. Same six images on a tiddly little 15" monitor is difficult to spot the line if it's faint.
 
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