Unlock your film’s full potential with professional drum scanning. I offer high-resolution 4000 DPI drum scans using my Howtek ScanMaster 4500 drum scanner, which is designed to capture every fine detail, rich tone, and subtle texture in your negatives and transparencies. Drum scanners offer more than just high-resolution images of your films; they unlock the hidden tones and subtle qualities missed by flatbed scanners and newer pixel-shift digital camera scanning methods.
Whether you are preparing for large format printing, portfolio work, or archival preservation, my drum scanning service delivers museum-quality results.
Table of Contents
Drum Scanning Services
Your Art Deserves To Be Seen
Drum scanning is the gold standard for digitizing analog film. Unlike flatbed or consumer-grade scanners, drum scanners use a true optical scanning system combined with PMT (Photo Multiplier Tube) sensors to produce exceptional sharpness, dynamic range, and tonal fidelity.
A 4000 DPI drum scan captures an incredible amount of detail while balancing file size and usability, making it ideal for large fine art prints without producing unnecessarily large or unwieldy files.
Whether you’re scanning medium format, large format, or specialty film stocks, drum scanning provides:
- Unmatched sharpness and detail
- Smooth tonal transitions with true highlight and shadow recovery
- Superior color depth and accuracy
- Maximum print potential at large sizes
Film Types I Can Scan
- 35mm
- 120 Medium Format: 6×4.5, 6×6, 6×7, 6×9, 6×17
- Large Format: 4×5, 5×7, 4×10, Whole Plate (6.5×8.5), 8×10
Both color negatives, color transparencies (slides), and black & white negatives are accepted.
Scan Resolution and Output
- Resolution: 4000 DPI
- Color Depth: 16-bit for color scans / 16-bit grayscale for B&W scans
- File Format: TIFF (lossless)
- File Size: Typically between 200–2000 MB depending on film size
- Color Management: Files are delivered with a calibrated Adobe RGB (1998) color profile
- Delivery: Digital download link (private and secure)
Each scan includes careful preparation with forced air and an anti-static brush before scanning to minimize dust artifacts.
Basic Scanning Pricing
| Format | Price for 4000 DPI Wet Mounted Drum Scan |
| 35mm | $37 |
| 6×4.5cm | $40 |
| 6x6cm | $40 |
| 6x7cm | $47 |
| 6x9cm | $47 |
| 6x12cm | $50 |
| 6x17cm | $60 |
| 4×5 LF | $67 |
| 5×7 LF | $80 |
| 4×10 LF | $90 |
| 8×10 LF | $97 |
** A minimum order of $200 is required based on the time, cost of materials, etc.
** Volume discounts are available for larger projects — contact me to discuss your needs.
Add-On Services to Drum Scanning
A. Basic Image Cleaning & Prep
- Professional film cleaning and anti-static preparation
- Basic dust spot removal in Photoshop
- Basic Inversion of negatives (color or black and white)
- Basic color correction and exposure balancing on calibrated monitor
- Cropping, straightening, and basic retouching
- Web resolution JPG file for your website (with or without film borders)
Pricing: 35mm and 120 Medium Format: $ 10 per file, Large Format: $20 per file
B. Print-Ready File Optimization
- Professional color cast correction on inverted negatrives or transparencies
- Sharpening for specific print sizes (size supplied by you)
- Ready to print TIFF or 16-bit RGB JPG file to send to a professional printing service
Pricing: 35mm and 120 medium format: $25 per file, Large Format: $50 per file
Turnaround Time
- Standard turnaround: 7–10 business days after receiving your film
- Rush service may be available for an additional fee
I personally scan and review each image to ensure the highest possible quality.
Turn Your Art into Legacy
Email me at tim@timlaytonfineart.com to discuss your project and confirm your details and the shipping address.
Ship your film carefully packaged. I suggest using overnight service to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures and fewer hands on your precious film.
Once I receive your film, I will request payment for services and return shipping. Once the payment is received, your film will be scanned and then you will receive your private link to download your high-resolution files.
Please ship your film with appropriate protection (archival sleeves inside rigid mailers or boxes preferred) to ensure safe transit. I am not responsible for damage during shipping, so please use a trusted carrier and consider insurance for irreplaceable originals.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
My Drum Scanner Specifications
I produce all drum scans using the Howtek ScanMaster 4500, one of the finest professional drum scanners ever made. This machine delivers outstanding clarity, tonal fidelity, and resolution, making it ideal for fine art printing, exhibition work, and serious archival projects.
- Scanning Method: True drum scanning with interchangeable drums
- Sensor System: PMT (Photo Multiplier Tube) technology for maximum sharpness and tonal range
- Light Source: Twin tungsten halogen reflector lamps
- Focus Control: Manual and automatic fine focus for pinpoint accuracy
- Color Separation: Dichroic beam splitters with RGB sensors for exceptional color fidelity
Resolution and Color Depth
- Scanning Resolution: Up to 4000 DPI
- Color Depth: 12 bits per channel (36 bits total for color scans)
- Dynamic Range: 4096 levels of gray per channel
- File Format: High-quality 16-bit TIFFs (lossless)
This ensures your images retain incredible detail and subtle tonal transitions, ready for gallery-sized prints or professional reproduction.
Scanning Area and Drum Capacity
- Maximum Film Size: 11.0 x 11.8 inches (35mm film up to 8×10 large format)
- Supported Originals:
- Color negatives
- Color transparencies (slides)
- Black & white negatives
- Reflective artwork
Performance Highlights
- Drum Rotation Speed: 300–1200 RPM (adjusted based on film and resolution)
- Available Apertures: Twelve field stops for fine grain control and sharpness optimization
- Scanning Modes: Color, grayscale, or binary (for line art and halftones)
Why It Matters
Choosing true drum scanning with a PMT-based system like the Howtek ScanMaster 4500 guarantees that your film’s finest details, tonal depth, and dynamic range are fully captured.
This level of precision simply isn’t possible with flatbed scanners or basic film scanners.
Whether you’re preparing work for gallery exhibition, archival preservation, or personal printing, your scans will reflect the full quality and artistry of your original film.
