I'm in scanner hell...

steve garza · 11-15-2005

I finally bought the Konica Dual Scan I've been craving and am outting to intense use. The only problem I have so i in scanning slides from SCALA. I have beautiful, contrasty pictures shot w/ my G, but the scans are extremely dark and lose all definition. Can anyone offer a suggestion? I've played a bit with the settings on the scanner, but the manipulated scans do not do justice to the nice tonal range of the Scala. Any comments are appreciated.

Gabriel M.A. · 11-15-2005

What model is it? Dual II, III, IV?

If you're using the bundled software, the one by Minolta/Konica, you may have to reset all your previous adjustments you made with previous scans. If you're scanning for slides, you may have color automatically set in, you need to have B&W selected. Try doing all of this in Advanced mode, for the "Basic" mode won't let you do all of these adjustments.

I don't like their bundled software; it works, but when you need absolute control, it's a pain.

alliv · 11-15-2005

Try VueScan ( http://www.hamrick.com), it is good software and may help you get better scans

djon · 11-15-2005

Try scanning your film as if it was a color slide in RGB.

Have you got experience with other scanners? Which ones, which software?

djon · 11-15-2005

...and what do you mean "lose all definition" ?

Do you mean unsharp (a focus problem) or do you mean flat, low contrast (another problem)?

Gabriel M.A. · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by djon

Try scanning your film as if it was a color slide in RGB.

I think that may be the problem. You should try selecting "positive" and "B&W". Selecting color may show some unwanted sensor noise, not to mention using way more memory (48 bit->24 bit) than is needed (16bit->8bit).

dmr · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve garza

The only problem I have so i in scanning slides from SCALA. I have beautiful, contrasty pictures shot w/ my G, but the scans are extremely dark and lose all definition. Can anyone offer a suggestion?

Well, I had a few issues like that while I was climbing the learning curve at first with that thing, but ...

Here's what I found out works best for me, anyway.

Under preferences:

Auto exposure for both negatives and slides.

Auto focus at scan OFF (see below).

Color depth at 16 bit

Multi sample at 2x

Then set input resolution to 3200 on main screen.

Here's the procedure I use, both for negatives and slides, and even though it's sometimes a bit tedious, it has given me great scans.

I scan color negatives using the color negative setting and color slides using color positive setting.

First, do an index scan.

Next, prescan, followed by an auto-crop and an auto focus targeted on something in the image showing detail that is part way off center. This will re-prescan.

Then I select image correction, go to the left to histogram and adjust the R, G, and B if there are flat-lines at either extreme.

Then a scan for real, onto a huge 16 bit .tif file.

Then I take that .tif file into photoshop and adjust as needed, resize, and save either as a photoshop file or a .jpg for the web or to share.

I do any usm or anything fancy in photoshop, and keep the original .tif as is as long as the disk space is there.

I've found that for slides, if it's anywhere near a normal looking slide, you can make a great scan and the end result on the monitor will compare quite well visually with what's on the slide itself.

I'm still experimenting and learning, but I've done many slides this way and had real good luck.

Hope this helps.

dmr · 11-15-2005

Stupid question, what do you mean by a Scala slide?

Nikon Bob · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmr

Stupid question, what do you mean by a Scala slide?

I think it is the only B&W slide film out there. BTW you refocus on the prescan as do I and that can make quite a difference. Selecting an autofocus point of high contrast that is slightly off the longside centre line helps take into account the slight film curvature in the holder and the DOF of the scanner takes care of the rest.

Bob

steve garza · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabrielma

What model is it? Dual II, III, IV?

If you're using the bundled software, the one by Minolta/Konica, you may have to reset all your previous adjustments you made with previous scans. If you're scanning for slides, you may have color automatically set in, you need to have B&W selected. Try doing all of this in Advanced mode, for the "Basic" mode won't let you do all of these adjustments.

I don't like their bundled software; it works, but when you need absolute control, it's a pain.

It's the IV. Thanks!!

steve garza · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by djon

Try scanning your film as if it was a color slide in RGB.

Have you got experience with other scanners? Which ones, which software?

NO exp w/ film scanners....just the standard type. I will try the RGB suggestion.

steve garza · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikon Bob

I think it is the only B&W slide film out there. BTW you refocus on the prescan as do I and that can make quite a difference. Selecting an autofocus point of high contrast that is slightly off the longside centre line helps take into account the slight film curvature in the holder and the DOF of the scanner takes care of the rest.

Bob

You guys have given plenty of feedback....now to put your suggesitons to work. BTW...Scala IS the only B&W slide fim available and it's amazing. A little expensive but you'll be amazed at the results.

dkapp · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve garza

You guys have given plenty of feedback....now to put your suggesitons to work. BTW...Scala IS the only B&W slide fim available and it's amazing. A little expensive but you'll be amazed at the results.

Thanks for that recommendation. I've wanted to try it, but wasn't sure how good it actually was. I'll pick up a few rolls this week.

Let me know how the scanning turns out. I have the Dual IV also, and quite a bit of experience with it. If you can't get it figured out, I'll give it a go when my Scala is developed. I also have Lasersoft software with mine. I ususally use the default software, but bust out the 3rd party stuff if an image is giving me troubles.

Dave

Nikon Bob · 11-15-2005

As far as using 3rd party programs go, I have had no need so far to do so. All I have been doing is using the Min 5400's default settings to get the scan and then do any needed additional work in Elements 2.0. Mind you the 3rd party stuff might be good but I am too cheap to find out as the programs I have work well enough for me.

Bob

dmr · 11-15-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikon Bob

I think it is the only B&W slide film out there.

Thanks. I wasn't sure on that.

I've scanned B&W negatives and had good luck too.

I haven't found a case yet where the bundled software would not get a good scan. Sometimes it takes some playing around, though.

I haven't tried scanning a B&W negative (or positive) as color, but I am going to try it as some have suggested. It will be interesting to see how the 3 channels pick up the B&W image.

Quote:

BTW you refocus on the prescan as do I and that can make quite a difference. Selecting an autofocus point of high contrast that is slightly off the longside centre line helps take into account the slight film curvature in the holder and the DOF of the scanner takes care of the rest.

For the really high res, yes, focusing off the center makes a crisper image. I really didn't get the hang of manual focus the way it makes you do it. However the auto-focus seems to zero right in on it.

I still haven't figured out what those lines are during the auto-focus.

steve garza · 11-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkapp

Thanks for that recommendation. I've wanted to try it, but wasn't sure how good it actually was. I'll pick up a few rolls this week.

Let me know how the scanning turns out. I have the Dual IV also, and quite a bit of experience with it. If you can't get it figured out, I'll give it a go when my Scala is developed. I also have Lasersoft software with mine. I ususally use the default software, but bust out the 3rd party stuff if an image is giving me troubles.

Dave

Dave,
I was able to get a pretty decent scan using the bundled software. Contrast, brightness and exposure compensation did the trick. There's a example on the Contax G pages. Take a look and let me know what you think. The scan is now pretty close to the print I have of that image. Using the manual scan controls is quite easy. Bear in mind I usually shoot Scala w/ a red filter outdoors. This may have played a role in the dark scans. I'll stick w/ the bindled stuff untill I have reason for 3rd party software.

bmattock · 11-18-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikon Bob

I think it is the only B&W slide film out there. BTW you refocus on the prescan as do I and that can make quite a difference. Selecting an autofocus point of high contrast that is slightly off the longside centre line helps take into account the slight film curvature in the holder and the DOF of the scanner takes care of the rest.

Bob

http://www.dr5.com/

They claim to turn just about any B&W to chrome (diapositive, reversal, slide, whatever one wants to call it) using their proprietary process. I guess they have had some good reviews - but I have no personal experience with it or them. Just passing it along as a point of interest.

If one wanted to do B&W Slide, once Agfa Scala is gone, this might be an option.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks