Re: [APML]: Digitizing Slides. Help!

[Robin Casady <rcasady@scruznet.com>]

Chuck Vaughn wrote:
> 
> Robin Casady wrote:
> 
> >In large even tone dark areas, such
> >as a dark blue sky (read heavy use of polarizing filter), very subtle
> >scan lines will sometimes appear. It varies from image to image. Just
> >certain colors and tones show the streaks.
> 
> I don't believe I've seen this with the SprintScan. I'll have to look
> carefully. Was the Coolscan not the first of it's kind? Perhaps the
> scanners have improved.

I didn't notice this for a long time. It showed up when a file was
output on 4x5 film. I sent the scanner back to Nikon, and the reduced
the effect conserably. Most people would not notice.

Yes, at least the Nikon slide scanners have improved since mine was
made. The Super Coolscan scans at 12 bits per pixel per channel, has
autofocus, and is much much faster.
 
> >I have not done much B&W with the Coolscan, but net gossip indicates
> >that some B&W films do not work well. T-Max films are reputably
> >unusable. On the other hand Ilford XP2 is supposed to work quite well.
> >This may be true for other slide scanners.
> 
> What was supposed to be the problem with T-Max? Too dense? Except for that
> I can't imagine why it wouldn't scan properly.

The problems reported were described as "grain burn thru effect" in one
case by one user, and the Nikon Tech said, 

"To deal with the wide variety of 35mm b/w emulsions and development
methods we've incorporated a filter selection feature in the scanner
driver (hold down the OPTION key when selecting film type (mac)..on the
PC there is a combo box to select the filter type.  I'd take the advice
of Photogjack and use the XP2 film. Grain edge can be a problem with
some film. Of corse different conditions may warrant using other film
brands and speeds."

I read all this before using B&W film with the scanner, and took the
advice to use XP2. It work fine for what I was doing. BTW XP2 can be
processed in C41 chemistry. That means you can take it to your local One
Hour Photo. I have no information on its reciprocity characteristics.
Might be useful for the Moon.

I checked the Nikon Super Coolscan board on AOL and didn't find any
mention of problems scanning B&W negs. The new scanners may not have
this problem. 
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Robin Casady
http://www.casadyg.com
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