SCANNING / film SCANS
The drum scanner gets its name from the large acrylic drum on which the original artwork is mounted for scanning. Drum scanners capture image information with photomultiplier tubes or PMT. A PMT scanner can capture up to 3 times the clarity of even the newest CCD scanners, with the exception of the modern XY 48 bit designed scanners yet a drum scanner is still superior.
The first image scanner ever developed was a drum scanner in 1957. Drum scanning takes skill. The scan is only as good as the operator. Drum scanning for film can be done with or without mounting oil. Modern mounting oil does not harm film how ever it is not recommended for frigile or old images. We use an AZTEK drum scanner capable of 6000dpi optical and 48 bit [total] resolution.
A CCD scanner, charge-coupled device (CCD) array, CCD is a collection of tiny light-sensitive diodes, which convert photons (light) into electrons (electrical charge). Most new scanners today are CCD type scanners. They have improoved vastly in the past 10 years.
Our current high quality flatbed & film scanners are of the best designed of its kind. The SCANVIEW F8plus. Unlike many flatbed designs, the F8's design is direct. In other words, it uses no mirrors to see the image. Only a decerning eye can tell the difference from this scanners quality to a drum-scan. We use this scanner for fragile film and flat art; 5000dpi up to 48 bit. Our medium range scanners are maintained AGFA and SONY machines. These are the best of the best medium range machines made.
