Myriad Multi-Format Film Holder

Troubleshooting Guide

Myriad's uncomplicated design makes it easy to use and very reliable. When used as directed, there's little that can go wrong. However, dust and debris, low contrast, or reflections in images can occasionally be an issue. The following sections will help you minimise these problems.

Dust and debris

Dust and debris are a common issue with film digitising, and no film holder is completely immune. The design features in Myriad, which flatten the film and enable full-width capture, create more surfaces where dust and debris can settle. This requires a bit more care - comparable to traditional glass-insert film carriers for darkroom enlargers. It's a trade-off, but the added versatility and improved results are well worth the small additional effort.

For detailed instructions on how and when to remove debris from Myriad's surfaces, refer to the Preparation Guide and Digitising Guide - but here's a condensed summary:

• Before each digitising session, even if you don't need to adjust the film guides, remove the top panel. Use the supplied anti-static microfibre cloth to wipe the diffuser surface, film guide edges, and underside of the top panel. Then, replace the top panel and wipe the top surface.
• Before inserting a film strip, dust it off thoroughly. Remember, garbage in, garbage out.
• After digitising several frames (or, ideally, before each frame), wipe the top panel just once to remove any newly-settled debris.

This simple routine will result in images that are predominantly dust-free. Make it a regular part of your digitising process, and you'll have minimal cloning work to do in post-processing!

Low Contrast or Reflections

Under certain conditions, images digitised with Myriad may have lower contrast than expected or might include unwanted reflections. This is usually caused by stray light from a window, domestic lighting or the light panel reflecting off the camera, lens, copy stand, tripod, ceiling, or overhead light fittings.

Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to prevent this, and the most effective approach is to minimise stray light at source.

Minimising Stray Light

Stray Light from Windows: Dealing with light from a window is as easy as closing the curtains or blinds. You don't need to close them fully, as the room doesn't have to be completely dark, and you'll probably need a little bit of light to see what you're doing! Just ensure that any light coming in isn't reflecting off your equipment or the ceiling.

Stray Light from Domestic Lighting: Turn off any lighting in the room other than the light panel, especially ceiling-mounted lights. If needed, a small desk or table lamp pointing downwards can provide enough ambient light for you to work.

Stray Light from the Light Panel: This requires a bit more effort, but it's quite simple. The diagram below shows Myriad positioned on a typical light panel, with the areas where stray light is escaping highlighted in red:

To block this stray light, cut a mask from a sheet of black or dark grey card to fit the panel's light-emitting surface, with a 128x128mm square window cut from the centre:

Place the card on the light panel and secure it with tape if needed. Position Myriad so that the feet rest on the panel surface, inside the mask window. The diagram below shows the modified setup:

With stray light minimised, most contrast and reflection issues should be resolved. However, here are a few additional precautions to help minimise any remaining reflections:

Minimising Reflections

• Set up your digitising equipment in an area without any chromed or polished light fittings directly overhead.
• Use a modern macro lens with good anti-reflective coatings that allows a reasonable working distance from the film holder. A 1:1 macro lens with a focal length between 90 and 105mm is an excellent all-round choice for digitising most supported film sizes with an APS-C or full-frame camera. Avoid wide-angle lenses, as they require a very short working distance to achieve the desired magnification.
• Don't attach a filter to your lens, as its flat surface and inferior coatings can reflect light directly back to the film holder. If a filter is already fitted, remove it.
• Optionally, cover any chrome, polished steel, or other reflective fittings or badges on your camera, lens, copy stand, or tripod with black electrician's tape. If necessary, wrap the copy stand column or tripod legs in black card or paper.
• Use a brighter light panel (such as the excellent Raleno PLV-S192) to overpower reflections in the top panel.