Best Practices for Digitally Scanning RA4 Prints

ac123

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I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for best practices in creating a digital scan of an RA4 print.
I prefer to create a final print in the darkroom, as opposed to negative scan, but need to digitize some of these final prints for website, sharing online, etc.

Currently I scan on a flatbed V700, in Vuescan, and there is a slight color shift from the print to the scan, which is to be expected but I am hoping to minimize.

Generally is matte or glossy paper better suited for digital color vibrancy in scanned prints?
 

fgorga

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Is your digital workflow fully color managed? That is, have you profiled your monitor and scanner and know how to incorporate the resulting ICC profiles into your software?

If the answer to these questions is "yes" then you are using "best practices". If the answers are "no" then I would start by profiling your monitor and then, if needed, profiling your scanner.

Also, remember that you have exactly zero control of how photos look on other folks screens. Thus, being close on your screen may be 'good enough' for files displayed online.
 

MattKing

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For scanning, I prefer a semi-matte paper surface - something like the Kodak N surface.
For black and white, Ilford's Satin RC paper scans really well.
 

koraks

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ac123 said:
Currently I scan on a flatbed V700, in Vuescan, and there is a slight color shift from the print to the scan, which is to be expected but I am hoping to minimize.
Click to expand...

You could profile your scanner with an IT8 target and also calibrate your monitor. This should get you pretty close to the 'real thing' - at least it did work for me and my old Epson 4990.

ac123 said:
Generally is matte or glossy paper better suited for digital color vibrancy in scanned prints?
Click to expand...

Glossy scans better in my experience. Matte prints can yield millions of tiny white specks on flatbed scans due to reflections from the actual paper surface. Colors are pretty much the same.
 

MattKing

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It probably should be mentioned that the surface texture issues might be at least partially scanner dependent.
 

koraks

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MattKing said:
It probably should be mentioned that the surface texture issues might be at least partially scanner dependent.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's a valid remark. Most flatbed scanners in use today are CCD-based scanners and they have inherent problems with irregular/granular, reflective surfaces like silk or matte RC paper. CIS-based scanners apparently perform better in this regard, but they've become quite scarce.
 
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ac123

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Reviving this thread for a moment - wondering if anyone has heard from Wolf Faust in the recent months?

I placed an order through his email/sent via PayPal and never heard back. Also did not respond to any emails, and just now when I checked his website it appears to be taken down. Unfortunate as it seems he is the sole manufacturer of RA4 IT8 targets?
 

koraks

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mertonne

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Sorry to revive the old thread, I just wanted to ask ac123, did you get any response from Wolf Faust in the end? If so, how long did it take? I’ve been waiting for eleven days, and I’ve got no response to my e-mail either.
 

mertonne

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Thanks for the info, I know there are more options out there, actually I’ve already bought another one from Danes Picta, which is also reasonably priced, so I may have two targets in the end. ;-)
 
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