Negative scans and inversion

I scan all my film myself using a DSLR. I am currently waiting on a Copy stand. used contraption I 3d printed in the past, but recently got an Essential Film Holder.

I attempt to expose the histogram to the right to get the most information possible in the shadows.

I align the camera with the film by looking at a mirror though the camera and trying to have the center of the lens in the center of the

I shoot my scans by tethering the 850D to my computer and using the included software by Canon.

I use a video light set on 6500K, it’s CRI is claimed to be 95, it’s good enough for my usage at this time.

Software

I use DarkTable and it’s NegaDoctor module to process the RAW files from the camera.

If the film is black and white, I will first set color calibration to BW: Luminance Based. I will avoid using one of the preset with the name of a film stock in, though it does not matter that much as it’s all blueish grey (unless it’s film developed in Pyro or something like that)

I will have some part of the edge of the film in frame, that I will use to set the Dmin. I will also try to set the Dmax to some highlight. I will then tweak the Dmax and Scan Exposure Bias slider to maximize the amount of apparent dynamic range on the histogram.

Then any further tweak about exposure and contrast should happen on the 3rd tab that simulate the Virtual Print (the darkroom/enlarger work)