[rollei_list] Re: SCANNING MF
- From: Jordan Wosnick <jwosnick@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 09:25:15 -0500
Scantips is a really good site, and I "third" Mark's comments about the
learning curve involved with scanning. My perspective is that just as you
can't expect every negative to print perfectly on Grade 2 paper with an
enlarger exposure of 10 s at f/8, you can't expect every negative to scan
well without adjustments. Scans will ALWAYS require contrast and levels
adjustments to look their best.
I use an Epson 4490 flatbed and a Minolta Scan Dual II for 35mm. In my own
experience, I've found that the Epson scanning software, when used in
"Professional" mode, does a good enough job that I don't need Vuescan. The
Minolta software for the Scan Dual was another story altogether, and when I
still used a lot of 35mm film I relied very heavily on Vuescan.
Also, my understanding is that the only difference between the Epson 4490
and the Epson 4990 is that the latter can accept larger film formats than
the former (which only takes negs up to 6-cm wide). I believe the light
source and mechanics are the same.
Jordan
www.photosensitive.ca
On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 2:50 AM, Daniel Ridings <dlridings@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> In support of what Mark says, I'll pass on a link that helped me out a
> few years back. You should study the stuff, not just skim over it.
>
> http://www.scantips.com/
>
> Daniel
>
> On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 7:07 AM, Mark Rabiner <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> > Scanning work is in effect digital darkroom work.
> > Like regular darkroom work you don't waltz in and waltz out an hour later
> > with Ansel Adams prints. Takes a few tries.
> > Maybe you read a book or pamphlet. Take a class.
> > There's a learning curve.
> > And that's good because if it was that easy automatic you'd not get that
> > warm feeling of fulfillment that you get doing something that not a 4th
> > grade kid could do during recess instead of play on the swings.
> >
> > Mark William Rabiner
> >
> >
> >
> >> From: Walker Smith <doubs43@xxxxxxx>
> >> Reply-To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:34:02 -0500
> >> To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> Subject: [rollei_list] Re: SCANNING MF
> >>
> >> I don't know why the information didn't come through that I copied and
> >> pasted but I'll try again:
> >>
> >> RE: [Spotmatic] VueScan vs SilverFast
> >>
> >> Good Morning!
> >>
> >> As I think the ability to do high-quality, affordable scanning is a real
> >> asset for those of us who would like to continue using our great old
> film
> >> cameras, I'd like to offer a bit of advice on this subject.
> >>
> >> I've retired after a twenty-year career doing imaging work for an
> archives.
> >> Half way through I made the transition from large format film copying to
> >> digital for most purposes.
> >>
> >> I've digitized many thousands of images, black and white and colour, in
> a
> >> wide assortment of formats using quite an assortment of scanners as well
> as
> >> digital cameras.
> >>
> >> SilverFast and Vuescan are very different products. In my view
> Silverfast
> >> is intended to emulate the multiple functions of sofware usually
> associated
> >> with high-end pre-press scanning systems, while Vuescan is intended to
> give
> >> photographers a simple,high-qulaity tool for basic scanning. Hence the
> >> differences in complexity and price.
> >>
> >> One important lesson I've learned working with large numbers of images
> often
> >> with short deadlines is to keep things simple.
> >>
> >> In my view Photoshop is a much better tool than scanner software for
> making
> >> image corrections. All I expect of scanner software is to produce files
> that
> >> aren't screwed up for Photoshop.
> >>
> >> There are three key screwups to avoid.
> >>
> >> The first screwup is inadequate bit depth. For best results, always scan
> >> black and white negs in 16-bit mode and colour negs and slides in 48-bit
> >> mode. This gives you far more information for making tonal and colour
> >> corrections, which will help you avoid problems like blown-out
> highlights.
> >> (In Vuescan you must select bit depth in two places- Bits per Pixel on
> the
> >> Input tab and TIFF File Type on the Output tab.)
> >>
> >> The second screwup is scanning your files as JPEGs. Always save your
> scans
> >> as TIFFs. Google "JPEG compression artifact" if you want to know why.
> >>
> >> The third screwup to avoid is "clipping" of highlights and shadows.
> >>
> >> By default, most scanning software is set up to cut off a certain amount
> of
> >> highlight and shadow information. The intent is to produce "brilliant",
> >> punchy images. Unfortunately this also throws away information that can
> >> greatly improve the tonal range and richness of images. The throwing
> away
> >> process is called "clipping".
> >>
> >> One of the strengths of Vuescan is that it allows you to take control
> over
> >> clipping very simply. Most other software packages are a pain in the
> butt
> >> for this particular function.
> >>
> >> I'll cut to two basic methods that work well for me. You'll need to
> switch
> >> on the advanced "more" interface options in Vuescan to use them.
> >>
> >> Method 1- suitable for scanning large numbers of images in a hurry.
> >>
> >> Settings: Under the Color tab, select Auto Levels. Enter 0 for Black
> Point
> >> and 0.1 for White Point. Select "generic" film type. Set Output Color
> >> Space to Adobe RGB or Gray as appropriate. You can leave all other
> settings
> >> under Color at their defaults, as other corrections are better made in
> >> Photoshop.
> >>
> >> Method 2- suitable for somewhat better individual scans.
> >>
> >> Settings: Start with settings as in Method 1. Activate histogram by
> going
> >> to the Prefs tab and selecting "linear" as the histogram option.
> >>
> >> Adjust the sliders on the histogram so that they are positioned just
> outside
> >> the top and bottom of the curve. This will give you maximum image
> >> information without clipping. You will have to do this for every image.
> >> Note that the numbers in the Black Point and White Point boxes will
> change
> >> as you do this.
> >>
> >> Comments: I came up with these methods after considerable trial and
> error
> >> with Vuescan. They have worked well for me over a good many versions of
> the
> >> software.
> >>
> >> The resulting files may not be that great in terms of brightness, colour
> >> balance or contrast. The important thing thing is that they will contain
> >> the information needed to make those corrections most effectively in
> >> Photoshop.
> >>
> >> Questions welcome.
> >>
> >> John Poirier
> >> ---
> >> Rollei List
> >>
> >> - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >>
> >> - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'
> >> in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
> >>
> >> - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
> >> 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
> >>
> >> - Online, searchable archives are available at
> >> //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list
> >
> >
> > ---
> > Rollei List
> >
> > - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'
> > in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
> >
> > - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
> > 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
> >
> > - Online, searchable archives are available at
> > //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list
> >
> >
> ---
> Rollei List
>
> - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'
> in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
>
> - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
> 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
>
> - Online, searchable archives are available at
> //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list
>
>
--
Jordan Wosnick
jwosnick@xxxxxxxxx
Other related posts:
