How to scan negatives with Epson 2480 photo?

[Alan Meyer]

I've been using this scanner for over a year to scan prints
successfully. I decided to try scanning a negative. I put
the negative into the film holder that came with the scanner,
fitted the holder onto the glass plate using the plastic pins
in the film holder that fit into holes in the plate holder,
removed the cover (which the directions appear to indicate
should be done) and tried to scan.

I tried each of the modes - Professional, Home, and Auto,
and selected B&W negative film. But every attempt works
out the same. The scanner moves across the plate, turns
the light out if it's on, rescans twice over one portion of the
film holder that includes most, but not all, of my 35mm
negative strip, and then tells me it couldn't find anything to
scan.

There is some light in the room where I do this, but not a
lot, just a 60 watt ceiling light. I don't know if there's supposed
to be more or less.

Has anyone used a 2480 to scan negatives? Any
suggestions for how to make it work?

Thanks.

Alan

 

[Ken Weitzel]

I've been using this scanner for over a year to scan prints
successfully. I decided to try scanning a negative. I put
the negative into the film holder that came with the scanner,
fitted the holder onto the glass plate using the plastic pins
in the film holder that fit into holes in the plate holder,
removed the cover (which the directions appear to indicate
should be done) and tried to scan.

I tried each of the modes - Professional, Home, and Auto,
and selected B&W negative film. But every attempt works
out the same. The scanner moves across the plate, turns
the light out if it's on, rescans twice over one portion of the
film holder that includes most, but not all, of my 35mm
negative strip, and then tells me it couldn't find anything to
scan.

There is some light in the room where I do this, but not a
lot, just a 60 watt ceiling light. I don't know if there's supposed
to be more or less.

Has anyone used a 2480 to scan negatives? Any
suggestions for how to make it work?

Thanks.

Alan

Hi Alan

You "removed the cover" ?

I hope you don't mean removed the scanner's lid, but rather
the white cover under and attached to the lid that blocks out
the "overhead" light.

If not, put the lid back on, lift it vertical, and see that there's
a white plastic foamy feeling insert there, that you can remove
with a u shaped handle furthest from the hinge end. Once removed
you'll see that you've exposed a 4 x 9 recessed light source.

Then try again

Take care.

Ken

 

[Alan Meyer]

Hi Alan

You "removed the cover" ?

I hope you don't mean removed the scanner's lid, but rather
the white cover under and attached to the lid that blocks out
the "overhead" light.

If not, put the lid back on, lift it vertical, and see that there's
a white plastic foamy feeling insert there, that you can remove
with a u shaped handle furthest from the hinge end. Once removed
you'll see that you've exposed a 4 x 9 recessed light source.

Then try again

Take care.

Ken

AH HA!

Who'd of thunk it? A hidden light source in the lid! So THATS
what the electrical connector to the lid is for!

Thank you very much! The scans look great.

Regards,

Alan

P.S.

Do you happen to know how to remove the glass plate so I can
clean under it? I remove the two screws at the back and the
glass then appears to be held by plastic tabs at the side, but
without applying significant force I can't open the tabs and I'm
afraid to apply force.

Thanks again.

Alan

 

[Ken Weitzel]

AH HA!

Who'd of thunk it? A hidden light source in the lid! So THATS
what the electrical connector to the lid is for!

Thank you very much! The scans look great.

Regards,

Alan

P.S.

Do you happen to know how to remove the glass plate so I can
clean under it? I remove the two screws at the back and the
glass then appears to be held by plastic tabs at the side, but
without applying significant force I can't open the tabs and I'm
afraid to apply force.

Thanks again.

Alan

Hi Alan...

Missed your model along the upgrade trail, so not exactly
sure that yours is the same as mine. Just looked at a
picture of yours at Epson's site, and it looks essentially
the same, so...

Confused about your reference to removing the glass; I don't
remove the glass, but rather separate the top and bottom parts
of the scanner, leaving me with the top glass bearing part
free to turn over and clean.

If we're still on the same page, then...

Unplug the lid, lift it vertical, then lift it straight up
and out. Set it aside, and find two Phillips screws bottom
of the hinge slots. Magnetized screwdriver will be handy
taking them out, and almost necessary to put them back

Remove them, then pull up very very gently on the back of the
scanner. You don't want to jerk it away, because the carriage
lock (hence the carriage) and the top portion of the scanner
are interconnected. So lift the back of the top up gently
until it's an inch or so high, then "wriggle" it over to the
right (facing the scanner) so it clears the lock. Then keep
lifting until you see you can move it without seeing the
carriage move. When you get to that point, urge the top
toward the front until it clears two (don't know what they're
called, plastic springy clips) and the whole thing will lift off.
Turn it over carefully (don't break the wires), set it down,
and clean away to your hearts content

Replace in reverse order, making sure that the carriage lock
ends up working properly. You may have to give the front
a gentle push with the palm of your hand to get the clips
to engage.

Hope this helps, and btw, I'm about 3 or 4 years into
archiving thousands of slides, and tens of thousands of
35mm negs. (photography's a lifetime hobby, these are all of
the kids and grandkids) so feel free to holler if you'd like.

Take care.

Ken

 

[Alan Meyer]

Thank you very much Ken.

I do indeed mean removing the top part of the scanner, the
plastic part that holds the glass.

I'll try your instructions over the weekend.

Regards,

Alan