Must... finish... scanning...

zauhar · 05-09-2012

That's how I feel.

Last year I commented glibly to a thread, saying that scanning ain't so bad. I take it back. In the intervening period of time I have

1) Increased frequency of shooting and developing
2) Gotten more critical - I usually can't accept the raw output of Vuescan
3) Gotten more irritated with dirt and lint
4) Increased my skills with PS, so now I can do more with each image

Put this all together, and see me trying to come out from under a backlog of scanning, not helped by the creaking old Mac I am using that groans under he weight of PS and Vuescan running at the same time.

So, to those of you who curse scanning, I am beginning to feel your pain. Sorry for having been so insensitive.

Maybe I will feel better once I get these final rolls finished.

I... am... almost... there... ;-(

Randy

lynnb · 05-09-2012

I feel your pain! I try to do something else while the files are scanning - but touching up dust and lint is a chore (made somewhat easier using a graphics tablet - which I find much easier for retouching than a mouse).
Look at it this way - the end result is worth it!!

JayM · 05-09-2012

After a few days of spending hours scanning it starts to get old, such as when I save up more than 20 rolls and decide to knock them out all at once. Other than that I really like it. It is a slow process that requires concentration and thought where I must face the facts of what I have done and start to plan for the future.

I like cleaning dust, cropping, and making slight adjustments. It's sort of like a useful version of puttering about the house

segedi · 05-09-2012

I have some scanning to do too... And just hooked up a Wacom tablet as I hope it will be easier to touch things up. I don,t mind scanning slides, 35mm negs, especially that darn Efke or somewhat a chore, but I can batch 12 at a time. Medium format... Even with the ANR glass I still get Newton Rings at times. And of course don't realize it until looking at the full size pics.

But despite the inconvenience, I still love film!

zauhar · 05-10-2012

Segedi, I likewise love film, in fact I love the negatives themselves. JSU, part of the problem is that my multi-tasking at the moment means Vuescan working in batch mode while I work in PS, making an image "pipeline". It is pretty efficient but tiring. I would indeed be better off with the ball game playing, but it would take even longer. ;-(

Basically I need the backlog of scanning out of the way so I can process the backlog of fifteen rolls of film (developing I find relaxing, by comparison).

Randy

gavinlg · 05-10-2012

Scanning can really suck sometimes I agree. Came back from overseas with 20 something rolls of 35mm last year and vowed never to do that again...

konicaman · 05-10-2012

Lots and lots of coffee and maybe a little Mozart in the background?

Rhoyle · 05-10-2012

In BW, I make a digital contact sheet and then only scan the images that I really want. In C41, I have it developed and burned to a cd, then rescan the images that I really want. Once scanned, I'll spend as much time as needed to get the image where I want it. That way, I'm not wasting time doing hi res scans of things that are unimpressive.

Re the boredom, I remember my father listening to elevator music when he was in the darkroom. I know that he got an enormous amount of pleasure doing that. I have since developed a taste for '60's samba music. Playing that on iTunes while scanning makes it a little more enjoyable.

And like Zauhar, I've got an ancient Mac (G4 Mac Mini, PSCS2, OS10.5.8, Vuescan) that puffs out smoke when everything's running, but it still works!

hipsterdufus · 05-10-2012

zauhar, are you scanning all of your frames at full resolution? If so, I highly recommend getting a flatbed Canoscan (or equivalent) and batch scanning at low resolution to make a digital contact sheet, as Rhoyle suggests. Then, determine your keepers and scan those at full resolution. If you've already got this workflow down, then there's no hope for you.

dave lackey · 05-10-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by zauhar

That's how I feel.

Last year I commented glibly to a thread, saying that scanning ain't so bad. I take it back. In the intervening period of time I have

1) Increased frequency of shooting and developing
2) Gotten more critical - I usually can't accept the raw output of Vuescan
3) Gotten more irritated with dirt and lint
4) Increased my skills with PS, so now I can do more with each image

Put this all together, and see me trying to come out from under a backlog of scanning, not helped by the creaking old Mac I am using that groans under he weight of PS and Vuescan running at the same time.

So, to those of you who curse scanning, I am beginning to feel your pain. Sorry for having been so insensitive.

Maybe I will feel better once I get these final rolls finished.

I... am... almost... there... ;-(

Randy

So, Randy, is your scanning taking longer than photoshopping all of the digital images? Are you as critical with digital images?

Me? I can't stand being on a computer any longer than necessary. Blame that on decades of CAD and Photoshop iterations.

Scanning? Can't afford a scanner and also hate the time required.

What do I do? Shoot, ship to Precision Camera and pass the costs on to whatever project. It is then up to the project to pay for it.

Right now, I am stockpiling what I have shot this year in hopes of sending a batch to Precision. Maybe I can afford in a month or two. No hurry as none of these are project related so paying for developing and scanning will have to wait until I can sell something, maybe a camera or lens or something.

Hopefully, I will be back on a project or two soon.

In the meantime, I am just enjoying life and shooting.