AZTEK has been in the professional scanner solutions business for over 26 years. AZTEK and our customers have selected KAMI scanner solutions as the most effective products for cleaning and mounting films on scanners. Easy application, non-toxic, environmentally safe, competitively priced, easy cleanup are just a few of the good reasons to make KAMI a regular part of your scanning jobs. KAMI scanner supplies make your work easier, saves money and increases productivity.  KAMI is provided with every new and refurbished flatbed and drum scanner from AZTEK.  It is recommended by many OEM scanner manufacturers to enhance imaging capture.

 

 

 

KAMI Supplies Family


SMF 2001 Scanner Mounting Fluid with anti-static properties.

NEVER USE OIL AGAIN!! Scanner Mounting Fluid cuts down on diffraction of light allowing accurate sampling of film grain, evens the scanner’s focal plane resulting in better focus, less time spent on post scan touchup and provides anti-newton benefits all at once. After being mounted on the scanner with KAMI SMF 2001, when the film is removed from the scanner the SMF 2001 quickly dries clean. When removed from the scanner the film can often immediately be quickly wiped with a lint free scanner wipe and the film will be perfectly clean and ready to go right back into it's protective sleeve. SMF is extremely important for archival quality scanning and negative films. Many AZTEK customers exclusively use KAMI SMF for all of their film scanning. AZTEK mounting stations, scanner drums and flatbeds are all designed to be used with KAMI SMF.


DC 2001 Scanner Drum Cleaner with anti-static properties.

Kami Drum Cleaner is a 100% alcohol-free substance, formulated exclusively for the purpose of cleaning acrylic scanner drums. Drum Cleaner cleans the drum immediately from all residues, e.g. oil, mounting tape residue and dirt. Kami Drum Cleaner is also used at AZTEK in the depot repair department for heavy duty cleaning of scanners and parts.





SMT 2001 Scanner-Mounting Tape.

A Graphic Arts Scanner Mounting Tape, especially formulated for wet-mounting with KAMI SMF to drum and flatbed scanners using petroleum based liquids. The adhesive of this tape will not dissolve when in contact with KAMI SMF Scanner Mounting Fluid or KAMI Drum Cleaner.




RC 2001 Film Cleaner with anti-static properties.

RC Film Cleaner can be used for any type of graphic arts film, screen, transparency or c-print cleaning. For application of Diazo Film we recommend our RC Film Cleaner, which removes adhesive tape, dirt, grease, fingerprints, etc. from film.

 

AZ-42 Optical Mylar Overlay Material.

Aztek has done much testing and research to develop a Mylar that is truly optically clear. Combined with our KAMI mounting fluid products the AZ-42 Mylar will achieve the highest quality scan possible. If your tired of dealing with countless hours of touch up, and getting the highest quality scan is your objective, AZ-42 is the product for you. 




Frequently Asked Questions:

1)  Where can I purchase KAMI products?

Answer:

KAMI products are available through large photo supply distribution channels, authorized AZTEK KAMI Distributors as well directly from AZTEK.

2)  Are there some special techniques to using KAMI?

Answer:
There is a demo on the front page AZTEK's website that might be of assistance that shows technique of mounting with KAMI on a drum scanner, you may click the below links which will allow you to view various instructional videos.

(Click to view video) Drum Scanner

(Click to view video) Flatbed Scanner

(Click to view video) EPSON V750 Pro Scanner or view PDF Espon V750 Instructions in PDF

Drum Scanner
There are some slight variation to the technique seen in the online video.  When mounting film on a drum scanner on a mounting station (as seen in the online demo) using the roller as the straight edge to help get the transparencies lined up is a quick and effect way to mount. A slight variation to this method is to put a small piece of tape on the middle of the trailing edge and hold onto it as turning the drum in the mounting station or tag straight down if using a flat bed. Once you get to the end of the trailing edge tag it down to the drum or surface with the tape you have tensioned. This keeps the center of the Mylar closer to the surface causing less chance of air bubbles, as well keeps the film from possibly skewing.

Flatbed Scanner
Wet Mounting on a flatbed scanner is easy to perform. One should reference the manufactures instructions regarding wet mounting with their product.  In some instances there are after market adapters that will allow one to use wet mounting, such as the AZTEK Nikon 8000 and 9000 KAMI film adapter.  One should take caution when using wet mount fluids not to pour the fluid into the scanner.  It is recommended, if possible, to do your mounting away from your scanner. Mounting film on a flatbed scanner is similar as mounting on a drum, but on a flat surface. The only difference is that you are most likely not using a mounting station to mount the film. Some individuals use a hand roller to remove excess air bubbles before sealing the overlay material with the KAMI tape. An optically clear sheet of glass can be used on some flatbed scanners, instead of the Mylar and tape method.

3)  I hear that KAMI products causes crazing of the drum cylinder.  What is crazing and is this true?

Answer:
Absolutely not, the KAMI family of products does not cause crazing.  Thousands of users have successfully processed millions of scans over the seven plus years without any issues. Crazing are micro fractures of the drum's surface that look like very small spider cracks to the naked eye.  These cracks appear sparkly when a drum is put up to the light and will typically be viewable and seen in scan generated from these damaged drums. 

Drums that have been weakened and overheated by incorrect lath polishing either in the manufacturing process or refurbishing process will typically be damaged resulting in crazing.  When a drum is directly exposed to film cleaner such as PEC-12 or Alcohol these products would most certainly cause crazing. When KAMI is used with damaged drums mentioned the micro cracks will become very visible.  As other companies bring to market products to compete with KAMI, it would seem they are trying to grab market share by instilling fear in the hearts of the the existing KAMI user community by spreading incorrect information.

KAMI is a family of products particularly designed for use with film scanners.  For approximately seven years - thousands of users have used KAMI with their scanners with no issues. People using KAMI have done millions upon millions of scans with great success with the product.  AZTEK manufactures scanners, as well as, the scanner drums; it is a very well known fact that KAMI does not damage drums. In fact… when AZTEK builds drums the material is QA Tested for defects by the use of KAMI.

4)  I hear KAMI is Hazardous and Flammable what is the deal about this?

Answer:
KAMI is a flammable material and you should avoid smoking or having an open flame exposed to the fluid. In testing that we have conducted it was very hard to ignite KAMI, Material Data Sheets (MSDS) are readily available by request.
KAMI is the most widely used and established wet mounting product for scanning with a huge client base. This includes photographers, large corporations and government clients that adhere to strict OSHA saftey regulations here in the United States.

Note: Unlike some KAMI imitation products, KAMI does not include the toxic substance Xylene. Xylene is a toxin that affects the brain, kidneys and liver and can be hazardous to frequent users who come in contact via skin, eyes, nose or throat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylene

5)  Can KAMI be used on all scanners?

Answer:
KAMI can be used on Drum Scanners as well Flatbed Scanners.  One should reference the manufacture's instructions regarding wet mounting with their product.  In some instances there are after market adapters that will allow one to use wet mounting such as the AZTEK Nikon 8000 and 9000 KAMI film adapter.  One should take caution when using wet mount fluids not to accidentally pour the fluid in the scanner.  It is recommended to conduct the wet mounting process away from your scanner.

6)  Can KAMI be used on Nitrate Films. and will it effect touch ups on films?

Answer:
Yes, KAMI can be used with Nitrate Films. It is recommended not to use wet mounting with Nitrate Film that are damaged or falling apart. If the emulsion appears as if it is liquefying, do not use wet mounting to scan.

7)  Can KAMI be used on films that have touch ups?

Answer:
Yes, Films that might have direct touch ups on them can also be wet mounted. In testing that has been performed touch ups were not dissolved. We recommend you perform the same tests we did. First select a non-critical piece of film and mount and scan it in KAMI Scanner Mounting Fluid under AZTEK AZ-42 Mylar overlay with KAMI tape sealing the edges. Then if you find any issues like the touch up marks are being effected. I then recommend you mount the film again with KAMI, but this time with the non-emulsion side down and no overlay, tape the film down with KAMI tape to seal the solution. Create a custom density calibration for your film characterization that will remove the film base from the capture. This will then still allow for the optical quality benefits and no newton rings, while your silver nitrate emulsion and touch up marks are kept away from the all solutions. By the way the best scanner to do this is an AZTEK Plateau or any scanner with the AZTEK Digital PhotoLab Software. The Plateau Scanner or scanners with the AZTEK Digital PhotoLab Software are specially designed to have direct film characterization software thus targeting the film densities on the scanner for direct capture.

 8)  Do I need special tape to wet mount with KAMI?

ANSWER:
We recommend the use of KAMI tape with the KAMI mounting fluid as it is especially formulated to not leave residue behind when removed and it adheres in the presence of the fluid.