Such a great idea to use a flash for this. I think I have to figure out how I can try this method too. Right now I am using a copy stand and two similar light sources for digitizing my Polaroids.
Great video. I love the reasoning behind this technique. A drop shadow is a great way to present a 3d object on a 2d plane like a book. As much as I like this I’ll stick to my v600. Flatbed scanning is perfect for me and my workflow. Edit: you should take a look at William Egglestons Polaroid book. The photos in that book have lacquer or something over where the plastic would be on the Polaroid. Adds texture and depth to the photo on the page.
Definitely the best way to digitise them, have been doing this for years myself as well. I Ve also found scanning also tends to add little pressure areas when the film gloss is pressed against the scanning glass, and your black tones don’t always seem the cleanest.
For instant film, I do a mix of using the Polaroid app as well as using the scanner on the top of my printer. The latter is my preferred method for quality but even then I’ve always struggled to get the level of depth and detail out of my Polaroids that you get seeing them IRL. I know Polaroid used to make enlargements back in the day and I’d love to try my hand at them. I also have so many Polaroids I’ve love to throw into a zine or a photobook one day!
I use a flatbed scanner for my Polaroids. I don’t shoot a lot of Polaroids, so I do it out of convenience. I like your method, though, and will give it a try.
interesting. I have been using a v700 to scan my instant film for a long time and its always taken away that bit of soul from it, might try this method and see how that goes.
Wow never heard about this method and it looks great! Thanks for sharing! Since you mentioned the pixel shift function to get a high resolution scan: do you notice it on your film scans compared to a more "traditional" scan?
That, OR you could get the Instant Scan Adapter from Brooklyn Film Camera, scan 4 images at a time and do the rest in Lightroom, or whatever - Affinity works just as fine and for 1/10 of the price :) Not an ad.
@@mattdayphoto You can put a small mirror on the surface where you are placing the polaroids. It makes it super obvious if you are off. Once you can get the middle of your lens (reflected in the mirror) to line up with the middle focus point perfectly, your sensor should be extremely close to parallel with the scanning surface. The nice thing about this is that your table can be off level a bit your camera will still line up with whatever flat surface you are using.
This is a Negative Supply riser, I believe it’s an older generation, they’ve updated their line quite a bit. Solid though! I’ve been using this setup for 3-4 years I believe?
Very interesting video. The issue I have, and drives me insane, is getting the correct colour balance on the pictures. I used to assume that the frame of the polaroid was actually white, but that’s not really the case. I always have to play with the white balance in LR which creates variability between batches of Polaroid scans. Any tips on this would be appreciated!
You have no idea how hyped I am for an instant film book from you!
YES, did you read my mind? So hyped for this!
Hope it’s helpful!
Such a great idea to use a flash for this. I think I have to figure out how I can try this method too. Right now I am using a copy stand and two similar light sources for digitizing my Polaroids.
This is so helpful! Thankyou! Saving for later reference.
I recently bought an sx-70 and managed to buy some film for it, to scan it, I used the flatbed but with some black paper
Great video. I love the reasoning behind this technique. A drop shadow is a great way to present a 3d object on a 2d plane like a book.
As much as I like this I’ll stick to my v600. Flatbed scanning is perfect for me and my workflow.
Edit: you should take a look at William Egglestons Polaroid book. The photos in that book have lacquer or something over where the plastic would be on the Polaroid. Adds texture and depth to the photo on the page.
Definitely the best way to digitise them, have been doing this for years myself as well. I
Ve also found scanning also tends to add little pressure areas when the film gloss is pressed against the scanning glass, and your black tones don’t always seem the cleanest.
As a photographer who also isn't the greatest at photoshop, I appreciate the honesty 😂
For instant film, I do a mix of using the Polaroid app as well as using the scanner on the top of my printer. The latter is my preferred method for quality but even then I’ve always struggled to get the level of depth and detail out of my Polaroids that you get seeing them IRL. I know Polaroid used to make enlargements back in the day and I’d love to try my hand at them. I also have so many Polaroids I’ve love to throw into a zine or a photobook one day!
Cool. Where do we buy
I use a flatbed scanner for my Polaroids. I don’t shoot a lot of Polaroids, so I do it out of convenience. I like your method, though, and will give it a try.
Very cool
I always wondered what the Polaroid scan method was. I never upload mine I just put them in the photo album. Maybe I’ll try this.
interesting. I have been using a v700 to scan my instant film for a long time and its always taken away that bit of soul from it, might try this method and see how that goes.
Use SilverFast and the proper scanning adapter
@ yeh I have both and it fine, just lacks a bit of depth
Oooh I wonder what this would be like with the Hasselblad, I can imagine the file sizes would quickly get out of hand…
Nice video and setup. Does your camera have an option to shoot tethered? I'd definitely do that if if possible.
Wow never heard about this method and it looks great! Thanks for sharing!
Since you mentioned the pixel shift function to get a high resolution scan: do you notice it on your film scans compared to a more "traditional" scan?
That, OR you could get the Instant Scan Adapter from Brooklyn Film Camera, scan 4 images at a time and do the rest in Lightroom, or whatever - Affinity works just as fine and for 1/10 of the price :) Not an ad.
I’ve bought all of those adapters. Haha. If I were gonna go flatbed, for sure.
first! love your videos, Matt!
Thank you!
the mirror method make much more sense in terms of leveling
I don’t know that one!
@@mattdayphoto You can put a small mirror on the surface where you are placing the polaroids. It makes it super obvious if you are off. Once you can get the middle of your lens (reflected in the mirror) to line up with the middle focus point perfectly, your sensor should be extremely close to parallel with the scanning surface. The nice thing about this is that your table can be off level a bit your camera will still line up with whatever flat surface you are using.
glad he could pay his bills
What copy stand is that? I've been looking for something like that.
This is a Negative Supply riser, I believe it’s an older generation, they’ve updated their line quite a bit. Solid though! I’ve been using this setup for 3-4 years I believe?
anyone watching this while scanning polaroids ? No? just me ? oh okay lol
Very interesting video. The issue I have, and drives me insane, is getting the correct colour balance on the pictures. I used to assume that the frame of the polaroid was actually white, but that’s not really the case. I always have to play with the white balance in LR which creates variability between batches of Polaroid scans. Any tips on this would be appreciated!
#FTA
Good idea and walkthrough. Too bad modern Polaroid film looks like crap.
I hope soon TH-camrs actually pay for the gear you talk about. Regain credibility.
which gear are you talking about in this video?