Epson Scan 2 discrepancy between preview and final scan

Paula G · Jul 17, 2023

Hi. Using Epson V750 with Epson Scan 2 software. I'm having a color and contrast shift between the preview and the final scan, with both prints and transpancies. It's more pronounced when I use an IT8-generated icc profile with ColorSync than when I use the more basic Color Control option. I will post samples from the Color Control version below. Is there some default setting I'm not seeing that is preventing a correct translation between viewing the Espon Scan preview and the final scan? I've viewed the final scan with Preview on my Mac monitor, and in Photoshop, and it doesn't change. Thanks.

_T_ · Jul 18, 2023

I have limited experience with epson scan but i know it is fairly opaque when it comes to the way it captures, transforms and records the data from the film.

You could try, as I see you have, setting the software to use the default icc profile in order to see a more accurate depiction of what the final result will be (not ideal as you have purchased a target that will not be used) but even so the preview might not exactly match the final result.

If you are not happy with the results my recommendation would be to switch to silverfast. A license for silverfast comes free with your scanner and although it does have a steeper learning curve than epson scan it has way more options and I don’t anticipate that you will have this problem of your previews being significantly different from your results.

All you need to get your copy of silverfast is the serial number of your scanner.

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 19, 2023

Paula G said:
Hi. Using Epson V750 with Epson Scan 2 software. I'm having a color and contrast shift between the preview and the final scan, with both prints and transpancies. It's more pronounced when I use an IT8-generated icc profile with ColorSync than when I use the more basic Color Control option. I will post samples from the Color Control version below. Is there some default setting I'm not seeing that is preventing a correct translation between viewing the Espon Scan preview and the final scan? I've viewed the final scan with Preview on my Mac monitor, and in Photoshop, and it doesn't change. Thanks.

I'm not familiar with Epson Scan 2 as it's for Apple. I use Epsonscan, a different Epson program, on my Windows system with both my V600 and V850 Epson scanners. However, here are some thoughts.

Prescan does not scan at full resolution set for the Full scan.

Prescan in Epsonscan 2 may not use the settings except in full scan mode although they do use them on Epsonscan. Check to see if there is some setting that activates the full settings during prescan.

Finally, I save most of my edits for post scan software program like Lightroom. The only setting I might set for the scan is to set black and white points (levels) for the scan. But all other settings, contrast, color, shadows, sharpening, etc, are for later. I scan raw or flat. If you set all these settings for the scan the final results are frozen with those settings. If you want to change them, you have to rescan wasting a lot of time. It's easier to scan flat and only once leaving adjustments for later. Then if you don't like the results, just adjust the settings in your posts scan program. You don't have to rescan. OF course, I don't use ICC IT8 etc. So I don't know how that effects all of this.

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 19, 2023

_T_ said:
I have limited experience with epson scan but i know it is fairly opaque when it comes to the way it captures, transforms and records the data from the film.

You could try, as I see you have, setting the software to use the default icc profile in order to see a more accurate depiction of what the final result will be (not ideal as you have purchased a target that will not be used) but even so the preview might not exactly match the final result.

If you are not happy with the results my recommendation would be to switch to silverfast. A license for silverfast comes free with your scanner and although it does have a steeper learning curve than epson scan it has way more options and I don’t anticipate that you will have this problem of your previews being significantly different from your results.

All you need to get your copy of silverfast is the serial number of your scanner.

Epsonscan is not opaque. You can scan flat (raw) and save adjustments for your post scan editing program. Or you can use Epsons many sliders and adjustments to do the editing when scanning. I don;lt recommned the latter approach for reasons covered in my previous post. Keep it simple. and cheap. Silverfast costs a lot and epsonscan is free with the scanner.

Paula G · Jul 19, 2023

_T_ said:
I have limited experience with epson scan but i know it is fairly opaque when it comes to the way it captures, transforms and records the data from the film.

You could try, as I see you have, setting the software to use the default icc profile in order to see a more accurate depiction of what the final result will be (not ideal as you have purchased a target that will not be used) but even so the preview might not exactly match the final result.

If you are not happy with the results my recommendation would be to switch to silverfast. A license for silverfast comes free with your scanner and although it does have a steeper learning curve than epson scan it has way more options and I don’t anticipate that you will have this problem of your previews being significantly different from your results.

All you need to get your copy of silverfast is the serial number of your scanner.

Thanks, T. I used SilverFast when I originally got the scanner, many OS's ago and really liked it (the targets came with that package), but didn't want to pay for the updated version (you get what you pay for, right?). A friend recommends VueScan. EpsonScan 2 seems a little less intuitive than EpsonScan, but is ok quality; it just seems like there is some setting I'm missing. I don't remember having this issue with Silverfast, but it was a long time ago.

Paula G · Jul 19, 2023

Alan Edward Klein said:
I'm not familiar with Epson Scan 2 as it's for Apple. I use Epsonscan, a different Epson program, on my Windows system with both my V600 and V850 Epson scanners. However, here are some thoughts.

Prescan does not scan at full resolution set for the Full scan.

Prescan in Epsonscan 2 may not use the settings except in full scan mode although they do use them on Epsonscan. Check to see if there is some setting that activates the full settings during prescan.

Finally, I save most of my edits for post scan software program like Lightroom. The only setting I might set for the scan is to set black and white points (levels) for the scan. But all other settings, contrast, color, shadows, sharpening, etc, are for later. I scan raw or flat. If you set all these settings for the scan the final results are frozen with those settings. If you want to change them, you have to rescan wasting a lot of time. It's easier to scan flat and only once leaving adjustments for later. Then if you don't like the results, just adjust the settings in your posts scan program. You don't have to rescan. OF course, I don't use ICC IT8 etc. So I don't know how that effects all of this.

Thanks, Alan. EpsonScan did seem easier to use than EpsonScan 2. I don't recall getting the option for raw or flat in either, though; could you tell me where that happens? One thing I've noticed in both programs (I don't recall with Silverfast) is that the preview image inside the crop window, in which I assume my filters are being applied, is different than the part of the scanner bed outside the crop area. Is this the "flat" scan? I will keep looking for a setting applying my filters to the preview; all I really want is predictability.

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 20, 2023

Paula G said:
Thanks, Alan. EpsonScan did seem easier to use than EpsonScan 2. I don't recall getting the option for raw or flat in either, though; could you tell me where that happens? One thing I've noticed in both programs (I don't recall with Silverfast) is that the preview image inside the crop window, in which I assume my filters are being applied, is different than the part of the scanner bed outside the crop area. Is this the "flat" scan? I will keep looking for a setting applying my filters to the preview; all I really want is predictability.

By flat or raw, I mean keep all scan adjustment settings off that change things like sharpening, contrast, colors, brightness, shadows. Just set the resolution and type of film. The only setting I might adjust is levels for the scan (black and white points on the histogram).

Let the scanner just scan and leave all editing for your editing program to make change to the scan file (Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.) Also, save the file as a TIFF, not jpeg. Also, never change the original scan file. Make a copy and edit the copy only.

Paula G · Jul 21, 2023

Thanks, Alan. I do keep everything neutral, just using color profiles. The "Color Control" setting seems to be the default (I don't recall what it was in EpsonScan), but even that does not look like the final. And yes, I do always save as a TIFF. I guess I can just correct the scan, but it seems like I'm losing detail. Any idea how I can ensure that everything is "flat"?

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 22, 2023

Paula G said:
Thanks, Alan. I do keep everything neutral, just using color profiles. The "Color Control" setting seems to be the default (I don't recall what it was in EpsonScan), but even that does not look like the final. And yes, I do always save as a TIFF. I guess I can just correct the scan, but it seems like I'm losing detail. Any idea how I can ensure that everything is "flat"?

I'm not familiar with EpsonScan 2. BUt you just want the settings not to change any colors automatically. I do set black and white points (levels) on the histogram. I set mine just slightly past where data shows on the histograms just to the left on the left side and just to the right on the right side. All other color control settings are off.

Of course, you have to set resolution (I use 2400); color bit (I use 48) for color; negative or positive film. Also ICE if you wnat to clear up dust but I usually do that using spot removal in Lightroom. Also ICE doubles the scan time. No sharpening. Do it in post and you;ll need a lot with film scans.

Scan to create a tiff file. Create separate jpegs files after you edit in your post scan editing program. Do not edit the original tiff scan.. Always save that for future.

Paula G · Jul 23, 2023

Thanks! Agree on all things, never add sharpening to scan.
I will just deal with the results; the deviation from preview seems somewhat consistent so I guess it won't be too bad. Did you have any thoughts about why I see a different profile/version OUTSIDE of my cropped area? I assume THAT would be the truly "flat" scan.

Alan Edward Klein · Jul 23, 2023

I'm not familiar with that. Maybe effects are only applied to that selected Area?

Epson Scan 2 discrepancy between preview and final scan

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