Equipment | PhotoScan Express

Our Equipment and Capabilities

We are a small operation, but that allows us to offer personalized service, plus we can often take on projects that the "big guys" can't, or won't do. We do have a pretty good range of capabilities, and we continue to grow and change.

SERVICES WE CURRENTLY OFFER HERE IN ANNAPOLIS:

Batch Photo Scanning - For large quantities of smaller photo prints in good condition (wallet-size to 8x12), we currently have two high-speed print scanners. We regularly have customers who bring us THOUSANDS of photos to scan.
Flatbed Scanning - For fragile or damaged items and very small prints, we have professional Epson scanners.
Camera Scanning - For the best quality for large prints, photo albums, and unusual or damaged items, we use a high-resolution copy stand camera system.
Slide scanning - For large projects, we have two high-speed camera scanners that allow us to produce digital images with about 24 million pixels. The largest slide scanning project we've done (so far) was nearly 200,000 slides for a large construction company. For smaller projects, we can also use our copy stand camera setup.
Negatives - These are also done with a camera/copy stand process. We can copy almost any size or type of negative, and using specialized software, convert it to a positive digital image.
Video Transfers - We currently have the equipment in-house to convert VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, Hi8, and Video8 formats. We're working to find good vintage equipment for some other less popular formats.
Super8 and 8mm Reels - We have recently purchased equipment that converts these old movie films in real time to HD-quality digital movie formats.
16mm Movie Reels - We hand carry these film reels to our partner near BWI Airport.

THE GENERAL PROCESS:

There are many steps involved to produce high-quality digital conversions for any photo or video media. We first have to clean and prep most items, load them into special carriers or devices, scan or copy them, and then edit and process those images. The post-processing is usually the most time-consuming part of the entire project. Many items require specialized software (such as convert from a negative to a positive), and of course, images have to be cropped and adjusted for color and density. Some parts of the process can be somewhat automated with dedicated software and computer equipment, but much of it still involves hands-on editing by a qualified professional technician.