Scanning Equipment

Better Light Scanning Back

For fine art reproduction, there is no better choice for hi-resolution scanning and image capturing. More and more of the world’s highest quality fine art reproduction and museum archiving is being accomplished with Better Light scanning backs. Large format has always been the preferred camera for art reproduction — the larger the format, the better the reproduction of detail from the original. Better Light scanning backs are made for 4×5 view cameras and copy stands, and provide digital capture quality superior to large format.

Art photography equipment in our studio, which serves the Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, and surrounding states

Better Light’s pure RGB pixel data captures billions of accurate colors with outstanding detail and clarity. Superior resolution, coupled with the lack of film grain and accuracy of focus, exposure, and tone control, make Better Light’s first-generation digital files closer to perfection. Many other features of the scanning back and Better Light’s ViewFinder™ software aid in efficient and precise reproduction of all types of flat works of art, as well as three-dimensional pieces from vases to sculptures.

Photographing artwork in our Alexandria, Virginia studio

Huge Digital Files for Fine Detail and Life-Size Reproduction— The more detail that is recorded from the original, the better that detail will be maintained in any size reproduction — from a small image on the Internet to a high-quality gicleé reproduction. The Better Light system will capture every nuance in your artwork. It records subtle shifts in tone and color. It also picks up all the texture, down to the smallest brushstroke. Superior Color and Exposure Accuracy with NO FILM GRAIN— A large preview image is used to make adjustments for precise exposure, color balance, and contrast BEFORE the final image capture. Each customized exposure is based on the subject matter, lighting conditions, and method of reproduction to make the final image as accurate as possible. No guesswork as with film, and no grain, dust, or processing flaws. Sharp Focus, Corner to Corner — Better Light’s ViewFinder™ software includes a digital focus verification function that allows perfect focus on the surface of the art, measured using the actual image sensor. Other camera systems rely only on visual focus with subsequent mechanical tolerance errors that create less than ideal sharpness and some loss of detail.

Heidelberg Topaz

All negatives and transparencies are scanned on the Heidelberg Topaz. The Topaz is one of the highest quality flatbed scanners on the market. It has a 5080 dpi true optical resolution, a 4.0 d-max, and can easily accommodate materials up to 12″ x 18″ in size. The quality of its film scans rival that of any drum scanner. Unlike the drum scanner, the Topaz does not require that your film be oil mounted. This saves your film from being exposed to the chemical cleaning solution used to remove the oil from the film.

The Heidelberg Topaz flatbed scanner we use in our studio in Virginia