By PHOTOgraphic Staff

March 26, 2001 — Paper and film have limited lifespans, but digital images can last forever. If you've been concerned about preserving your works, Kodak's RFS 3600 film scanner may be the tool for you. Introduced in October, this machine is a professional-quality scanner that can output files as large as 50MB.

A deep optical density and wide range of resolution make it ideal for serious amateurs and professionals alike. With a maximum resolution of 3600 dpi, the scanner is capable of capturing every nuance and detail in 35mm film---positives or negatives, color or black and white. Color depth (number of possible shades) can be varied from 8-bit to 12-bit depending on the desired outcome. Kodak's proprietary Scene Balance Algorithm gives users meticulous control over color, contrast, and other variables throughout the scanning process.

Photographically documented artworks such as paintings and sculptures need to be extremely accurate, which makes the 3600 a versatile choice for galleries and museums, as well as for organizations engaged in scientific research. The 3600 offers quick scan time and batch scanning for high-volume archiving, with automated film handling capabilities. It accepts film strips from 3 to 36 frames without the need for film gates, adapters, frames, or other accessories, but cannot batch-process mounted slides, which must be scanned one at a time. Light source is a "long-life fluorescent lamp" aided by an auto-focus system that adjusts to variations caused by uneven slide mounts or film curling. With the RFS 3600, Kodak promises that "the image you scan is the image you keep."

The RFS 3600 has a "universal" power supply that will work on 100-120VAC or 220-240VAC, 50/60 Hz. Lightweight and portable, the 3600 weighs only 3.4 lbs. (1.5 kg) and measures 4.25" H x 7.75" W x 11.5" D. It is compatible with Power Macintosh computers (OS 8.5.1 or later) or PCs running Windows 98, 2000 or NT 4.0. Either type of computer should have a microprocessors running at 300MHz or faster, and should have 128MB of DRAM and 200MB of available hard disk space. The 3600 uses either SCSI II or USB interfaces.

Supplied software includes the PC TWAIN Data Source for Windows PCs and an Adobe PhotoShop "Acquire Module" for Macintosh; connected computers need Adobe PhotoShop version 5.0 or later. The Kodak RFS 3600 comes with a one-year warranty that includes telephone support and next-business-day replacement of defective units. Kodak also offers an extended service agreement.