Epson 4990 Questions.

[Alan Edward Klein]

I use a Mac running Sierra (10.12.x) to keep compatibility with Adobe CS6. My version of Epson software is Ver. 3.07A. Attached images show the version, and typical scan controls. As someone else pointed out, finalization is done in another program, for me Photoshop.

View attachment 245786 View attachment 245787

You're clipping. Once clipped during the scan, you can't restored it in post processing. Keep the levels (white and black points) outside the histogram. Also watch the black rebate. It shows up in the histogram and can confuse auto settings and where to manually place the black point.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

One other point. Since you;re using PS, you;d be better off keeping the scan as neutral as possible. If you screw up the settings during the scan, you can;t correct it in post. You then have to rescan. A waste of time. For example, you have the center slider at 1.91 for contrast. You'd be better off leaving it at 1.0 and adjusting in post. Why lock yourself in during the scan? It limits your flexibility afterwards. The Epsonscan adjustments are only acting like a post processing program. They can;t change the actual scan capabilities of the scanner. Those don;t change.

 

[George Collier]

Alan - I'm aware of clipping - notice that in the levels display (histogram), the input appears clipped, but the output level below shows a lower than max value, in fact lower than the input level. This is normal for this software, I don't know why it isn't more logical. But the software also has a nice local value display (not seen in my screen cap), showing the level of any location where the curser is hovered. So the highest value can be verified. The high point you see is actually outputting at much below 255.
About curve adjustments, I was advised by a friend, quite knowledgeable and experienced in scanning that if you prioritize some parts of the scale for optimum separation, best to place these in a straight, or steep part of the curve for scanning. To your point, you can't improve on some kinds of gradation after scanning, as scanning data comes from a continuous tone original. Photoshop is working with an already digitized (stepped) image. Or put another way, if you need a portion of the tonal curve articulated, and you increase it too much post scanning, posterizing can result. I used to see this in the early days of computer graphics in the printing business.
I'd like other opinions about this, I may be out of date.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

So George now I'm really confused. So I see what you're saying. So how does one pick the right input and output settings?

 

[George Collier]

Yeah, Alan, I'm not sure if there is a "correct" method. I just installed a V850, with the Epson Scan 3.9.4, which is very similar to what I ran on the 1990. I also have Silverfast, but haven't installed it yet, still playing with the scanner.
My approach with the Epson software has been to adjust the input and output points to achieve a full range - something should be near 255 and something near 0. I can do this by adjusting either the input or output sliders in the Histogram tool and I don't know which is better. I also check various places with the densitometer tool which I have set for a 3 pixel sample (opened from the bottom of the Preview window). After establishing the ends, I slide the midpoint till the image looks right to me and use the curve tool if I need to. I don't like the way the highlights are separated at the moment, curve seems a bit flat there, so I'm still working on this. I may try Silverfast. Is Silverfast considered to be better software?

 

[MTGseattle]

I didn't want to start a new 4990 thread as it looks like a few people might still be using them.

.

This is what Image Capture looks like.

View attachment 245699

I'm not sure if the quote feature worked properly, but is the standard 120/220 holder for this machine the one with 3 openings that are approx 56mm high by 122mm wide? So, 2 6x6cm frames in each "opening."

If I load the above holder with 3 strips of film so that I have (6) 6x6 frames to scan, then select the "thumbnail" option in epson scan, I get 8 images split on the film frame lines, instead of each full frame. Does that make sense?

I can get decent scans using "preview," and then doing the "marquee" and scan, but the odd division of the frames in "thumbnail" is really confusing.

 

[gone]

I always had to use PS to get scans up to snuff w/ any scanning software I used. Even on my Nikon Cool Scans. It seemed easier to get it right that way vs trying to do it through the scanner's software. Of course, "right" is in the eye of the beholder. Laying the neg on a light table and looking at it w/ a loupe tells the tale.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

I use the 4990. I long ago lost the film holders. I just lay the negatives on the glass, emulsion side down, and scan. The scanner’s DOF is enough to make this work.

I couldn’t find Epson software compatible with my MacBook so I use Vuescan, which is plenty capable of driving the scanner. I make adjustments to the scan file using Affinity Photo, because I refuse to be bilked by Adobe for Photoshop.

 

[Kino]

The Epson software is OK for manual scans of single images, but it drives me crazy in that if you change the cropping even slightly after making adjustments, it resets all values to default and you have to readjust.

The "automatic" scans of multiple images is not good for much more than a crude form of proofing.

 

[koraks]

the odd division of the frames in "thumbnail" is really confusing.

A long time ago, I played with the thumbnail option on the 4990. Only briefly, because like you, I found it had a will of its own and in the end didn't make things any easier. Just manually select the frames you want to scan and live happily ever after

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I didn't want to start a new 4990 thread as it looks like a few people might still be using them.

.

I'm not sure if the quote feature worked properly, but is the standard 120/220 holder for this machine the one with 3 openings that are approx 56mm high by 122mm wide? So, 2 6x6cm frames in each "opening."

If I load the above holder with 3 strips of film so that I have (6) 6x6 frames to scan, then select the "thumbnail" option in epson scan, I get 8 images split on the film frame lines, instead of each full frame. Does that make sense?

I can get decent scans using "preview," and then doing the "marquee" and scan, but the odd division of the frames in "thumbnail" is really confusing.

In Professional scan mode, select the Configuration button at the bottom. When the new Configuration window opens up, click on the FIlm tab for medium format size for your film. Then select the film size you;re scanning: 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8 or 6x9. In any case, that's how I do it with my V600 and V850, and Epsonscan software. Also, if you do decide to use the Marquee mode, after you do the first one, you can copy the marquee for the rest of the pictures. You don;t have to redraw the marquee for each one.

By the way, the Color tab allows you to set adjustments to Automatic or manual color in conjunction with the first page selections or use ICC target or No Adjustments at all (scan flat). Good luck.

 

[brbo]

In Professional scan mode, select the Configuration button at the bottom. When the new Configuration window opens up, click on the FIlm tab for medium format size for your film. Then select the film size you;re scanning: 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8 or 6x9. In any case, that's how I do it with my V600 and V850, and Epsonscan software.

Btw, this setting is not available when running 4990 with the latest Epson Scan (3.04) that supports 4990.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Btw, this setting is not available when running 4990 with the latest Epson Scan (3.04) that supports 4990.

Have you tried the latest Epsonscan download just in case it works? I don't see why the 4990 is different than their other scanners as long as the correct and latest scanner driver is loaded.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Has anyone checked with Epson to see if this selection should be available?

 

[brbo]

You can't use Epson 4990 with Epson Scan newer than 3.04A and so the Film Size tab is not available in the Configuration.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

Vuescan works better than the Epson software and has been around forever. Why fuss with Epson Scan?

 

[MTGseattle]

For me personally, Iknow the machine is an older one. I got mine to work with my laptop and our desktop (both windows machines) running the epson scan software. It was practically plug&play. I saw no reason to fuss with another software. My statement will likely be negated by the next OS update, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

@Alan Edward Klein I feel like a dope, I think that's the one tab I never messed with for some reason. Thank you.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

For me personally, Iknow the machine is an older one. I got mine to work with my laptop and our desktop (both windows machines) running the epson scan software. It was practically plug&play. I saw no reason to fuss with another software. My statement will likely be negated by the next OS update, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

@Alan Edward Klein I feel like a dope, I think that's the one tab I never messed with for some reason. Thank you.

No problem; there's stuff about all programs I use that I don't know about including Epsonscan.

But I'm a little confused. Someone else said this was not available. Did you have the film size selection tab with the 120 sizes available per my photo? Which Epsonscan version are you using?

 

[MattKing]

Scanning software interacts with different models of scanner differently, and often offer different functionality depending on the scanner.

 

[MTGseattle]

I checked mine: I'm on epson scan 3.04a as well. No film format selection for me.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I checked mine: I'm on epson scan 3.04a as well. No film format selection for me.

The latest Epsonscan software for Windows is V.3.9.3.5. That's what I use with my V600 and V850. It has the medium format film size selection.

If you go to this link's pulldown window, you can select the operating system (Apple and Windows) that you are using to select the latest Epsonscan software. For Windows, it's called Epsonscan 2.

Epson Perfection V850 Pro | Support | Epson US

epson.com

 

[MattKing]

I checked mine: I'm on epson scan 3.04a as well. No film format selection for me.

The latest Epsonscan software for Windows is V.3.9.3.5. That's what I use with my V600 and V850. It has the medium format film size selection.

Most likely the more recent versions of the software aren't compatible with the older scanners.
They don't bother/are unable to make the new options work on the dwindling numbers of older hardware.
We have seen other threads and posts that confirm this with older Epson and other hardware.
Vuescan and Silverfast may or may not be able to provide current functionality on older hardware.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Most likely the more recent versions of the software aren't compatible with the older scanners.
They don't bother/are unable to make the new options work on the dwindling numbers of older hardware.
We have seen other threads and posts that confirm this with older Epson and other hardware.
Vuescan and Silverfast may or may not be able to provide current functionality on older hardware.

He won't know until he tries it.

 

[MattKing]

He won't know until he tries it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the download utility for EpsonScan requires you to identify the scanner in order to download and install the update, and if you identify something other than the scanner you have, it won't function with your scanner.
Essentially, the scanner driver is customized to your scanner.

 

[brbo]

I suspect a couple of thousands of folks with the scanner (me included) tried it. As said before in this thread, I DOES’T WORK.

You can install all the versions you want (for any Epson flatbed scanner). If you have more than one version installed you must select your scanner before Epson Scan is started. If you select 4990 it loads Epson Scan 3.04A.