Luminous Landscape Forum
Site & Board Matters => About This Site => Topic started by: Kevin Raber on January 17, 2018, 04:57:51 pm
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I just published an article on the Epson FF640 FastFoto Scanner. It's an affordable and easy to use print scanner for preserving all those old prints and snapshots you have on a closet shelf. You can read it HERE (https://luminous-landscape.com/epson-fastfoto-ff640-scanner/).
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Pretty cool, something I could use. I'm shocked how fast it scanned the photo's. Amazing.
Now what's going on with the 'framed' photo behind you to your right; the image keeps changing. Now that's pretty cool too.
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I have a story coming on those frames real soon.
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Looking to this film of this incredible scanner show your Mac Finder screen is a real mess Kevin !! 😂😇
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With six archive boxes of old photographs long neglected this looks like a real option for me. But sadly not available in Ireland or the UK yet.
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Have to ask...Jpeg only? How does the scanner handle dust and spots on the photos? I assume you need an additional pass through Photoshop/Lightroom/DXO PL to clean things up....
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It does a pretty good job on auto correct for many defects and color. And, I suppose although I haven't worried about it you may want to further enhance in PS. I'm just happy to have a digital copy. I don't encounter too much dust as the prints are clean going in the scanner.
And, my finder desktop is usually in much better shape. It's where I keep all my active projects and since the desktop syncs through icloud I have the same desktop on any of my MACs and therefore can pick up and work on any active project whether I am using my iMac Pro or notebook.
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Wow. I've been looking for something like this for a decade. Mine from Amazon will be delivered tomorrow! Can't wait.
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Nice video Kev. My wife often tells me that I have so much "junk" around here that I forget exactly what I do have!! Well along that vein, I was seriously thinking about pulling the trigger on one of these UNTIL.. senior memory kicked in and I remembered that I had purchased a ScanSnap device a couple of years back with the idea of going fully paperless here. That didn't work out and the scanner was relegated to the Black Hole known as my office closet. Time to dig it out and see how well it works..
Kevin in CT
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Thinking of ordering one too. So after scanning, do most here feel OK with trashing/recycling/shredding (what?) with the prints? Seems hard to do but counterproductive not to.
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So you need a scanner to convert all those prints you made back to digital. Riiiight :-)
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After scanning boxes of photos, I just couldn't bear to trash them. So against my beliefs. Probably why I have so many prints in boxes. I did however while scanning did an extensive amount of editing and threw away duplicates, bad shits, damaged prints etc.. I now have half the boxes I had when I started plus a whole digital archive. I have now sealed all the boxes and moved them to our storage unit. I'll let the Storage Wars guys fight over them when I am gone.
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jeremyrh, These prints were made from negatives not digital.
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At one point I considered giving my daughter a summer job by commissioning her to scan many boxes of old negatives. I decided against it, and my guess is it would have taken multiple summers of full-time work. I had machine prints made for most of the film I shot back in the day, and they are in good shape. I have been longing for a digital archive of my analog catalogue, and this method sounds like it may be the most efficient way yet to achieve this goal. The prints are cropped to either 4x6 or 3.5x5, which means the edges are lost. But at least it provides a reference.
Kevin, do you have suggestions on how to organize the output for import into a DAM? I would love to be able to reference each image to a PrintFile sheet containing the original negative. For the most part, I have kept each roll of prints intact. My PrintFile negative sheets are properly dated and keyworded. This would add more layers of complexity to the project. I anticipate that the digitization will uncover lost gems that I will want to scan properly, and do formal post-processing. It might prove acceptable to identify the proper PrintFile box, and then go hunting for the negative.
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I think you would have to think the workflow out depending on what you want to achieve. I would suggest scanning a batch (a printfile page) and then save or move those scans to a folder by the same name or identifier. For me, I did mine by year since they were mostly family photos and just about all of them had date stamps from the lab on the back. You could make a good catalog this way by taking each folder and running the contact sheet feature under automate in PS. Then save the results as a PDF that corresponds to the PrintFile page.
You could also start a new library in LR and catalog the scans. You then could keyword them and or rename them accordingly.
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WOW. I just purchased this yesterday and was wondering if I did the right thing because of the price ($650). Then I saw your review. Thanks for the reinforcement. My Fastfoto 640 is in the mail now as we speak. My idea is to scan at 600 dpi and then to save as TIFFs. When I scan on my flatbed scanner, it handles 4 prints at a time and takes forever. But I did create a LR preset that looks great when I import the scanned files into LR. So I will try importing the Fastfoto 640 scanned files into LR. Some reviews I read said the Epson FF 640 software color corrections were not very good. If that is the case then I will scan without corrections and then create my own presets in LR to be applied during importing, for example, auto tone, sharpening, vibrance, etc. Has anyone done this yet? Any suggestions?
Thanks for the timely review.
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After scanning boxes of photos, I just couldn't bear to trash them. So against my beliefs.
Thanks. That's my impression too.
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Love the new little device, except for an anomaly I cannot figure out. When it scans it numbers the first image xxx_0002.jpg, and then increments by 3. So I get 2,5,8,11.
I tried various things but can't seem to figure out why. After first installing it, worked fine. Put in a second stack, and this is what I get, and now this pattern is how it operated. Currently searching for this and I apologize for posting it here, but thought perhaps Kevin or others who decided to try the device out may have seen and resolved this.
Also surprised the files aren't tagged with a profile. Not a big problem since it appears they are standard sRGB jpegs, so most programs will handle them. just seems a bit odd.
This behavior occurred on both of my Macs after installing the software and setting up the printer.
Edit: It appears the odd behavior is related to the scanning of the back of the photographs. the scanner can scan the back and save the file, and has a setting to do so only if it detects something on the back. handy if you wrote something back 20 years ago to remind you of who was in the shot or where it was taken. If you use this feature and the back of print is blank, it correctly doesn't save the file of the back, but it seems the software decides to increment the filename of the next scan by 3 (although I"ve seen it also do 4 once and 2 once). If the print has writing on the back, that is saved in the appropriate file and the next scan is incremented correctly.
Seems repeatable me. For now I'll just manage. I'm have to see if I forward this issue on to Epson for their response.
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Having seen this, I am just about ready to get one to scan boxes of old family-type images that relatives are clamouring for. In Canada, the price is about CDN$900. I checked the Canadian Epson site to find out where to buy since my main photo supplier does not list the scene. A couple of user reviews on the Epson site show that a few people have experienced major problems with the scanner. Have any of you who have the scanner experienced any similar issues?
The Epson site reviews are at: https://epson.ca/For-Home/Scanners/Photo-Scanners/FastFoto-FF-640-High-speed-Photo-Scanning-System/p/B11B246201
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Wayne, I believe you can turn two side scanning off. That's what I have done a while back and my numbering is fine. There is a setting for that. I also keep a non-auto correction scan as well as the Epson Smart Correction.
I also have taken a number of the scans into a session for Capture One and batch corrected using auto levels. Pretty cool how that improves scans quite a bit.
In the folder where the scans go I do an evaluation of which of the two results is better and then throw (trash) the others.
The issues you may find with this scanner is the scanners ability to feed in prints that are curled. I show this in the video where I do my best to decurl images. Sometimes I find if the first print doesn't feed into the scan once you start that a slight tap on the stack of prints helps it catch.
I haven't had to clean the scanner much but with all things especially where you are scanning prints that are old, sometimes dusty etc the scanner will need a cleaning. It's pretty simple because you pop the lid and use a clean cloth. I also sometimes run through some regular copy, inkjet paper and find that helps get rid of scum if you get any on the rollers.
I have scanned hundreds if not thousands of images at this point and the issues I have had have all been due to the prints and they way I stored them, mainly curling. I just put in fewer prints and do a decurling as I show you in the video.
I have a similar scanner in my office. For years now anything that is paper that comes into my house for personal or business is scanned. Medical records, prescriptions, bills, you name it. These feed into Evernote and then I title them and put them into notebooks. For example, I have medical records notebook and car notebook. Every time I go to the doctor, get test results and prescriptions they go into my medical notebook. This has come in so handy when you visit a specialist and they ask for something like blood test results from my last physical. I can call up the document and email the PDF to the doctor.
I have become very anal with all of this but I am also so organized. I share the financial notebook with our different bookkeepers and they can then see the bills etc for certain expenses. Also, if I am ever audited I have every single receipt scanned and in the cloud on Evernote.
This works great and that is something else you can set the scanner up to do. I believe there is separate software you get from Epson for that.
Also, I believe you can open the BH links in the review and get free shipping to Canada.
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Wayne, I believe you can turn two side scanning off.
yes, you can turn it off, but many of my images have descriptions and names of those in the picture written on the back by my late wife, and so I was quite excited to see I could capture that at the same time. At this point the odd numbering thing is something I'm willing to put up with (until Epson can help me resolve it, or can fix it in the software if indeed it is a bug), because I do value that information.
Having seen this, I am just about ready to get one to scan boxes of old family-type images that relatives are clamouring for. In Canada, the price is about CDN$900. I checked the Canadian Epson site to find out where to buy since my main photo supplier does not list the scene. A couple of user reviews on the Epson site show that a few people have experienced major problems with the scanner. Have any of you who have the scanner experienced any similar issues?
I read through the 1, 2 and 3 star comments. So far I haven't seen an indication of lines on the scans I've done, and I've gone through a few 100 4x6's so far. I also haven't seen it double feed any thing. I'm holding off scanning more until I can see if I can resolve the numbering issue. I'll update as I get into this a little more next weekend.
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Thank you Wayne and Kevin. From you experience, and that of the majority of the 'reviewers' on the Epson site, the scanner works as expected.
Quite a large number of my spouse's snaps have information on the back, so I too will have to figure out a way to keep track of the front and back.
Kevin, yes B&H does have an efficient way to ship to Canada, handling all customs and retail taxes – I have bought the occasional piece from them – but I usually try to buy from the shops I know here in Toronto and Montreal. Cost differences end up being insignificant most of the time.
Thanks again.
Jean-Michel
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Kevin, thank you for the review. I wonder how the quality of the print scans compare to the scans of negatives? I have 40 years of photos piled in a drawer and most of them are in the original envelopes with film strips. I was thinking of Epson v800, but the amount of labor required is frightening. FF640 seems to be a workable solution; how would it compare to v800 labor vs quality? Thanks, Zach.
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Zach, Couldn't tell you. The whole idea of scanning negatives is completely unthinkable. When I saw this print scanning product I jumped all over it. My prints are scanned now and that is a lot of assurance to have them archived.
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Just ordered it from B&H from your link. Thanks again.
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Today I downloaded and installed the most current version of the software on Epson's support site. I believe this was different that where I was instructed to download the software in the scanner packaging materials.
The numbering seems to be correct now, i was not skipping numbers based on whether there was a back scan that was saved.
I did notice one anomaly still, when starting a batch you are asked for 3 pieces of information which is used in creating the filename. A year choice (or year range) a season or a month choice and a custom description. The first two are popup menu choices, but there is a "empty" menu choice to exclude them. However when I left the custom field blank, the scanner operated using a sequential number that was not reset between scan jobs or batches, so each folder would begin with the next number after the preceding batch. A little odd, I would rather it always start with 1. Including a name seemed to resolve the problem, so I left the month season choice blank and put that into the custom field. I may choose to use a custom field and not bother with the popups anymore.
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B&H has now lowered the price on this unit to USD $579.99. I was planning to get one, and this has added immediacy. But it makes me wonder if a v.2 is on the way. The unit came out about 16 months ago, and seems to be a best seller. Anyone have an Epson rumor contact?
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Nothing on my Radar
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Happily scanning away. Now trying to figure out what program to import/organize the 1000's of scans that make it easy to allow family members to access. Those that have jumped in and bought one of these, any comments? Messing with Apple Photos right now, thinking iCloud sharing might be a good option, but was curious what others are trying.
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I just purchased this scanner and cannot seem to find a way to specify the output file type as ".tiff". By default, it seems to use jpeg. Am I correct in assuming that the FastFoto application will only allow jpeg output? I believe the Epson Scan 2 application will allow tiff file output but it does not have many of the features contained in FastFoto. Any help on how to specify tiff output using FastFoto is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Depending on what software launches after install of the various programs you can select a TIFF. After pressing the blue button on the scanner.
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Thanks Andrew. Yes, I'm aware of the option to select TIFF within EpsonScan 2, however the EpsonScan 2 application does not provide the: Auto Enhance, Red Eye Removal and Restore Faded Colors enhancements that Epson FastFoto does. This is really unfortunate since it EpsonScan 2 does not appear to be optimized for batch processing of photos with auto enhancements which is FastFoto's strength. If I want to use those features I must use the FastFoto application which according to Epson support will only allow JPEG output.
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Nor does the software embed an ICC profile (sRGB). Sad. I did setup a watched folder to assign that but I shouldn't have to!
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B&H has now lowered the price on this unit to USD $579.99.
The sale is over at B&H. The price is back to $649.99.
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What workflow have folks used to most efficiently get all these images into a DAM/LR? I have set the FastFoto software to open the scans in Preview, and did the image rotation there, which I found took more time than the scans themselves. I think fully keywording these images is a bridge too far, so I am looking to organize them as best I can. Has anyone had a process that they are happy with?
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What workflow have folks used to most efficiently get all these images into a DAM/LR? I have set the FastFoto software to open the scans in Preview, and did the image rotation there, which I found took more time than the scans themselves.
I just saved them to my drive where all photo's reside, in their own folder, imported into LR and then did the rotations, metadata/keywording, cropping etc.
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I just saved them to my drive where all photo's reside, in their own folder, imported into LR and then did the rotations, metadata/keywording, cropping etc.
Did you leave the file name assigned by Fastfoto?
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Did you leave the file name assigned by Fastfoto?
No. I batch rename there.
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I scan each box of about 200 snapshots to a folder named with the approximate date they were taken.
Because I’m using Apple Photos so I can share them with my family via iCloud, I use exiftools to change the capture times to correspond to the year and approximate month when they were originally taken so when I import them they will fall into a somewhat correct chronological location, then import them. It’s very quick to rotate them in Photos. I then create albums and share them with my family.
I’ve been scanning at 600 dpi thinking I could get a better print from them later, but I may test that , it could be 300 dpi is more than adequate to print the same size print. 600 dpi is still pretty fast but it’s probably overkill. I was saving both the original and the “corrected” version and then going through and picking the best one, but after finding that 99% or better I was picking the corrected one, I just save the corrected version now. Much faster.
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Unless you are going to really crop, or enlarge 300PPI is more than enough.