Thanks to all for the advice, which I shall read through carefully. I think another problem is the use of the holders. I have four with the 4990, but I don't see any one particularly dedicated to MF format.
Thanks, rupert.
From: gram rupert <gramario@xxxxxx> Subject: [rollei_list] Re: SCANNING MF Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 10:44:16 +0000Hi,When scanning my MF (including Rolleiflex) stuff, I get poor results. I am using an Epson 4990 flatbed. Has anyone got any suggestions? Thanks, Rupert. ------------------------------ From: Elias Roustom <eroustom@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [rollei_list] Re: SCANNING MF Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:51:56 -0500 The 4990 is supposed to be a fantastic scanner - Carlos and I use an inferior 4490, and as you can see from the last image he posted, he's getting incredible results. You need to be more specific, what do the results look like, what type of trouble are you having. (remember... you can't post to this list, only links). Elias-----------------------------Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:26:24 -0500 From: Walker Smith <doubs43@xxxxxxx> Subject: [rollei_list] Re: SCANNING MFI'm guessing that it's your software and/or settings. I use vuescan withtwo Epson scanners; 4180 and a 4490. Here are four examples of 6x6negatives that I've scanned. Taken by my father with either a Rolleicord or 'Flex, two are over 50 years old and two are more than 60 years old.http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/doubs43/Misc/? action=view¤t=MrsPeddicordCatJun1958.jpg http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/doubs43/Misc/? action=view¤t=TwoBoysFishApril1957.jpg http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/doubs43/Misc/? action=view¤t=CreekinWinter1940s.jpg http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i99/doubs43/Misc/? action=view¤t=Winter1944-45.jpgThe following is from a previous post by a Mr. John Poirier on theSpotmatic Group that I copied and saved. It's been extremely helpful and I owe Mr. Poirier thanks for posting it. I hope it is as helpful to youand others here. Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2009 13:34:02 -0500 From: Walker Smith <doubs43@xxxxxxx> 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 filmcameras, 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 todigital 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 asdigital 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 givephotographers 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 oftenwith 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 thataren'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-bitmode. This gives you far more information for making tonal and colourcorrections, which will help you avoid problems like blown-out highlights. (In Vuescan you must select bit depth in two places- Bits per Pixel on theInput tab and TIFF File Type on the Output tab.)The second screwup is scanning your files as JPEGs. Always save your scansas 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 awayprocess 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 buttfor this particular function.I'll cut to two basic methods that work well for me. You'll need to switchon 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 Pointand 0.1 for White Point. Select "generic" film type. Set Output ColorSpace to Adobe RGB or Gray as appropriate. You can leave all other settingsunder 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 goingto the Prefs tab and selecting "linear" as the histogram option.Adjust the sliders on the histogram so that they are positioned just outsidethe top and bottom of the curve. This will give you maximum imageinformation without clipping. You will have to do this for every image. Note that the numbers in the Black Point and White Point boxes will changeas 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 thesoftware.The resulting files may not be that great in terms of brightness, colour balance or contrast. The important thing thing is that they will containthe information needed to make those corrections most effectively in Photoshop. Questions welcome. John Poirier ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:07:28 -0500 Subject: [rollei_list] Re: SCANNING MF From: Mark Rabiner <mark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Scanning work is in effect digital darkroom work.Like regular darkroom work you don't waltz in and waltz out an hour laterwith 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 4thgrade kid could do during recess instead of play on the swings. Mark William RabinerFrom: 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 MFI don't know why the information didn't come through that I copied andpasted 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 filmcameras, 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 todigital 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 asdigital 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 thedifferences in complexity and price.One important lesson I've learned working with large numbers of images oftenwith 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 thataren'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-bitmode. This gives you far more information for making tonal and colourcorrections, which will help you avoid problems like blown-out highlights. (In Vuescan you must select bit depth in two places- Bits per Pixel on theInput tab and TIFF File Type on the Output tab.)The second screwup is scanning your files as JPEGs. Always save your scansas 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 awayprocess 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 buttfor this particular function.I'll cut to two basic methods that work well for me. You'll need to switchon 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 Pointand 0.1 for White Point. Select "generic" film type. Set Output ColorSpace to Adobe RGB or Gray as appropriate. You can leave all other settings under Color at their defaults, as other corrections are better made inPhotoshop. Method 2- suitable for somewhat better individual scans.Settings: Start with settings as in Method 1. Activate histogram by goingto the Prefs tab and selecting "linear" as the histogram option.Adjust the sliders on the histogram so that they are positioned just outsidethe top and bottom of the curve. This will give you maximum imageinformation without clipping. You will have to do this for every image. Note that the numbers in the Black Point and White Point boxes will changeas 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 thesoftware.The resulting files may not be that great in terms of brightness, colour balance or contrast. The important thing thing is that they will containthe 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
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