Proper Care and Cleaning of your New Digital Film Scanner


Improper care of a digital film scanner can lead to big headaches down the road. Learn how to clean your scanner and get the most out of your investment.

After purchasing a digital film scanner and learning about how to use it, most people are usually so excited that they immediately plug it in and start using it. And while there might be a few errors that happen and moments of frustration, modern scanners are extremely user-friendly, meaning that most people can eventually figure it out by themselves and learn the process to scan 35mm slides or photos correctly in short order.

However, what many people don't realize after purchasing an item like a slide and negative scanner is how to keep their new purchase working properly. Many scanners don't come with detailed instructions for proper maintenance, leaving people to figure out for themselves who to take care of their product. This can lead to major problems if people do something they shouldn't - an innocent mistake in attempting to clean a scanner or fix a problem can ruin an otherwise good product.

One important thing to not do is use glass cleaner to clean the screen of your photo slide scanner. Products such as Windex contain many corrosive chemicals that will damage or ruin the glass over time. This is especially true of any cleaning product that involves ammonia, which is a highly corrosive agent.

Instead, a good strategy is to use a dusting aid such as Endust that is free of corrosive elements. Using a soft, lint-free cloth (static-free cloths are especially useful) you can remove the glass screen from the scanner and clean each side - getting the underside is important to clear out the microscopic bits of dust, lint and hair that can ruin scans made with 35mm negative scanners.

You can also clean the internal workings of the scanner with the same dusting aid, or use a combination of lightly-soaped water. It's important to thoroughly dry the screen and the scanner before using it again - a wet part can be trouble. Following these steps can ensure that you can get high-quality scans from your new model for a long time.

- Colin Franklin is a writer specializing in digital imaging products and issues. His work has been featured in magazines and major online news sites.

Legal Disclaimer

Our website is not responsible for the information contained by this article. Webworldarticles.com is a free articles resource thus practically any visitor can submit an article. However if you notice any copyrighted material, please contact us and we will remove the article(s) in discussion right away.


This article was sent to us by: Colin Franklin at 12032009

Related Articles

1. Tips for Purchasing Electronic Test and Measurement Equipment
When obtaining Test and Measurement Equipment there are many factors involved in the decision making process. Below are some considerations to assist you in making a favo...

2. Losing Data from a Digital Camera
Photo cameras have been around for over one and a half century now and really revolutionized the way we capture images of the world. While in days gone by a pain...

3. How to download games on your PSP
The PSP is one of the best systems you can use for portable entertainment. Yet in some respects, it is not as portable as it could be. Why? Well, to run the system, you m...

4. Tissue Culture Microscopes
Microscopes are important tools in the world of science, technology, biology, chemistry, and physics, and almost eve...

5. Cooking with a Solar Cooker
When can the Global Sun Oven be used? Like all solar cookers, the Global Sun Oven requires direct sunlight to function properly. So it is important...

6. Battery Overheat will be harmful for your Laptop
Laptop works under normal temperature,laptop's cpu doesn't work in high temperature condition,battery will become heat when it discharges,if laptop battery is overheat,it w...

7. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANALOG AND DIGITAL WATCHES
Watch is one of the most meaningful creations for human race. It is fundamentally a timepiece that is made to be worn on a person. Everyone needs a watch as everyone wants ...

8. Canon PIXMA iP1000
With a recommended retail price of just AU$89, it's easy to toss aside this unit as an el cheapo ink box that's sure to churn out low-quality prints with speeds as slow as ...

9. Canon's new entry level PowerShot A100
PMA 2002: 09:00 EST: Canon has today announced the PowerShot A100. This new model has a 1.2 megapixel CCD (1280 x 960 image size) and a fixed focal length (39 mm equiv.) F2...

10. Canon PowerShot SD990 IS
In a market saturated with point-and-shoot models, manufacturers are adding every bell and whistle in the book--touch screens, waterproofing, high-def video recording, and ...