When I scan film using the film holder, my images appear soft or blurry. What should I do?

• Note: Your scanner may require an optional transparency adapter to scan film. Consult your User's Guide for more information.

  Try the following:

  • Make sure the original is sharp.

    Note: On smaller film formats such as 35 mm, it can be difficult to determine the sharpness of the original image with the naked eye. Use a loupe or magnifying glass to verify the original's sharpness before scanning.

  • Make sure the film is not wrinkled, warped, or pinched in the film holder.
  • Make sure you do not move or bump the film holder or scanner while scanning.
  • Make sure the scanner is on a flat, stable surface.
  • Change the Unsharp Mask default setting when using Epson Scan 2 in Photo Mode. This setting makes the edges of certain image areas sharper. To increase the Unsharp Mask setting, click the (Windows) or (Mac) icon next to the option and select High to add more sharpness detail to the scanned image.
  • If you are scanning older color film, turn on the Grain Reduction option.
  • If you are enlarging the image, increase the scanning resolution, if possible.
  • Do the following if your scanned images are still soft or blurry:

    Note: The effect of these features cannot be checked in the preview window. For best results, scan and save your image using a 48-bit Color Type and a TIFF Image Format.

    • In the Preview window, select Auto Focus, then scan and save your image. Review the scanned image and if it is still soft or blurry scan the film again and use Manual Focus.
    • In the Preview window, select Manual Focus, then adjust the Focus Position level from 2.0 mm to 6.0 mm. Scan and save your image, then review the scan. For best results, you may need to experiment with the Focus Position level.

      Note: Make sure you set the Focus Position to 0.0 when you place film directly on the scanner glass.