4X5 on old Epson

[Greg M]

As some of you know, I have tried to sell and/or trade this Speed Graphic outfit that I have.  Everyone was great, but I was probably too picky on what I wanted.
    I have given up on that idea and am trying to gradually learn how to use it from square 1.
   I have an Epson Perfection 4800, about five years old, that I scan 35mm negatives and transparencies on.  It also works with 2 1/4 with the special adapter.  Is there any way I can jury rig something so I can scan 4X5 on this without having to purchase another scanner ?
  Thanks in advance as I know someone's got the answer, even if it's just no !

[LarryD]

You could scan in 2 passes and stitch the parts together.

[Greg M]

I suppose that is accomplished through Photoshop ?  Would elements be able to handle that ?

[LarryD]

I am not sure I know someone else here did it recently....

[Don Day]

What size is the transparency window in the lid? You can scan anything up to that size, theoretically. I was not able to look up that model on Epson's support site, where I expected to find the specifications.  The 4870 has a 6"x9" window, which would easily take up to a 5x7 neg.

See this post--this is how I do it: http://nelsonfoto.com/v/showthread.php?p=124805#post124805

[P C Headland]

I used to do that with my 3170.

Make an adapter out of some black card stock of the appropriate thickness - use the 120 holder as a guide, remembering to include the registration cut-out.  I added a guide to mine so I could keep the negative square when sliding the negative across the holder.

I'd scan the negative in two passes, keeping the exposure the same for both scans.  Then came the stitching - I found it easier to stitch in PS than using Hugin or other dedicated panorama stitching program.

[Greg M]

That's nice to find out.  I was thinking of trying to cut out a guide from black vinyl or cardboard, putting that over the negative, laying a piece of frosted glass over the 4X5 negative, and trying the scanning.  I think I can handle that, but the negative stitching will take some practice.  Know that I know that theoretically it will work, it will just be some trial and error to figure out why.
Thanks.
Thanks for the link, Don