Background: Loupe Digital’s Journey
Loupe Digital began in 2009 as a lab dedicated to serving photographers. Over time, it has evolved into a full-fledged photographic production company. Today, Loupe ® offers scanning, printing, mounting, and framing services under one roof. The studio’s clientele includes prestigious art institutions, archives, photographers, and individual artists. At its core, Loupe ® aims to provide top-tier services to those looking for meticulous digital reproductions of artwork and photographs.
Challenges with Previous Scanning Systems 
Before investing in the Digital Transitions Atom system, Loupe ® relied on an Imacon 848 and an ICG drum scanner to scan film up to 8×10. While these setups produced great results, they also came with significant drawbacks. Scanning times were a major hurdle, with some scans taking up to 30 minutes. The physical handling of delicate, decaying originals, particularly those affected by “vinegar syndrome,” posed an additional risk as they needed to be flexed to fit into the scanner.
The Imacon scanner also struggled with thin negatives, producing excessive color noise in the shadows. Additionally, maintaining these older scanning systems required an array of legacy hardware, further complicating workflow. “Eliminating SCSI from our vocabulary” was a necessary step toward modernization.
Evaluating New Scanning Systems
As Loupe ® began exploring new options, they were immediately drawn to Digital Transitions products. DT’s history in the digitization field and their integration with Phase One hardware made them stand out as strong contenders. While camera-scanning was the clear path forward, Loupe ® tested several DIY solutions, such as Fuji cameras on copy stands, before committing to the DT Atom System. They also considered systems from Cruse but ultimately decided against them due to the higher cost and slower scanning speeds associated with line-scanning sensors.
Experience with DT Atom System
The Atom system exceeded expectations in several ways. The design of the copy stand and the DT R Cam has proven to be reliable, with minimal need for adjustments. Loupe ® has been able to take on larger archival projects while improving capture speed, which has in turn boosted their profitability. The image quality from the Phase One back paired with the APO Digital lenses is superior to flatbed scanners, and in many instances is on par with top-of-the-line drum scanners.
Key Features That Set the Atom System Apart Several features distinguish the Atom system:
- Quick Transitions Between Reflective and Transmissive Scanning: Switching between these modes takes less than five minutes, allowing Loupe ® to seamlessly move between different types of media.
- Speed: The Atom system is incredibly fast. For batch film jobs, a single focus calibration allows Loupe ® to “blast through” the job with no concern of focus slipping.
- Detail Retrieval: The system captures incredible detail, particularly with slide film. By shooting slides at multiple exposures and compositing them, Loupe ® achieves an excellent balance of highlights, midtones, and shadows.
- Flexibility: Loupe ® appreciates the non-proprietary nature of the system. While they use DT’s film holders, they also have the flexibility to use their own holders and accessories as needed.
Expanding Beyond Traditional Use Cases The Atom system’s flexibility has enabled Loupe ® to expand its services beyond traditional scanning:
- Capturing both the image and handwritten notes on a 35mm mounted slide.
- Photographing encaustic wax pieces using side lighting and light from below to capture the work’s transmissive quality.
- Offering clients both flat and raking light versions of their artwork with ease.
Impact on Studio and Personal Workflow The acquisition of the Atom system has alleviated significant stress for Loupe ®. Concerns over machine breakdowns and operator error have largely been eliminated. The system’s reliability and efficiency have improved not only the studio’s output but also the peace of mind of its operators.
Conclusion The DT Atom system has brought significant improvements to Loupe Digital’s workflow.
“Our investment in the DT Atom System is paying off by allowing us to expand our traditional client base , taking on larger jobs and delivering an even better scan to our clients,” says James Senzer and Michael Tolani, Co-Owners.
With faster scanning times, better image quality, and increased flexibility, it has streamlined operations and reduced operator stress. This has allowed Loupe ® to expand its range of services and take on larger, more complex archival projects, ensuring they can continue to meet the needs of their growing clientele with confidence.
For more information on ways you could benefit from a more efficient scanning solution please contact us, and if you’re interested in working with Loupe Digital on any projects please send an email to [email protected] or call 212-533-5656