One-Minute Reads about Film Photography

Improve performance with wet mounting. A Two Minute Tutorial.

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First a question. Would you spend USD 200 to significantly increase the quality of your flatbed scans (Canoscan 9000, Epson V… etc.)?

If no….thanks for reading. If YES, read on!

This is not a paid endorsement but a product I use in my scanning.

I started using Aztek Kami SMF 2001 mounting fluid on a Canoscan 9000 and was amazed at the increase in acutance, sharpness, and contrast. Background: I used oil-mounting processes on drum scanners in the far past and its just too messy to bother with. But I found this amazing product and use it on all my scanning, having graduated to a Kodak iQsmart2 that gives me near drum scan quality with the fluid mounting technique. The increase in optical resolution on any scanner is impressive.

Here’s a video of the product, and I recommend buying a starter kit as found on their website, followed by process steps to explain how to use it.

These are the steps I use:

1. Clean the glass. Do this before every scan. Goes without saying (but I said it.)
2. Put a SMALL amount of Kami fluid on the glass where you will place your negative or slide (removed from holder) film.
3. Quickly place your film on the glass over the fluid (quickly because it evaporates pretty fast.)
4. Air dust the film lightly, then put a SMALL amount of Kami fluid on the film.
5. Cover the film with clear acetate (photo grade that is part of the fluid scanning kit).
6. Use photo pad to press down and move out any air bubbles.
7. After you scan, pull the acetate off and watch the fluid evaporate. Remove film. The acetate can be reused (I tape a sheet to my scanner as a hinge and just fold it back.)

Done! Scan and enjoy some impressive improvement over dry scans. It may take a few tries to get it right and developing a technique that works best for you.

Aztek Kami Flatbed Starter Kit

• gregory gammon / www.vinylfye.com