What went wrong?
There are lines or bands across my scans
Thin straight lines or repeating bands running across or along the scan.
Check this first
Are the lines in the same place on every scan, even on different negatives?
Likely causes
- 1.
Dust or a fault on the scanner sensor or light path
Common- How to tell
- Lines are in the same place on every scan, whatever the negative.
- Fix
- Clean the glass and calibration strip, then run the scanner's calibration.
- 2.
Scratches on the film
Occasional- How to tell
- Lines move with the negative and can be seen on the film with a loupe.
- Fix
- See the scratches entry. Infrared dust removal can hide them on colour film, but not on most B&W film.
Avoiding it next time
- Keep the scanner covered and clean the glass regularly.
Go deeper
Other scans problems
Last checked October 2026. Seen something different? Tell us.