How to get sharp images when scanning?

[timbo10ca]

How does one do this? I have a Coolscan V ED (for my 35mm slides), and have never been happy with image sharpness. I've recently downloaded the trial version of Vuescan after reading a similar thread, and can see a minor improvement in shadow detail. I see no improvement in sharpness however, and this is my big concern. I'm using Canon L glass on autofocus, and the slides are pin sharp on the lightbox. The scanned images look like crap to me though, and even worse after using multiple passes. When I compare them to shots I see done with entry level DSLRs and mediocre glass I'm disappointed and disheartened. Is there a way to tweak focusing on my scanner, or do I rely on Unsharp Mask? I seem to see halo effect using USM before I'm anywhere near happy with sharpness. I prefer shooting film for its look and for archiving, but enjoy the convenience of digitizing my images. Is it a pipe dream to get the best of both worlds without major expenditure (pro drum scanner)?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[Pinholemaster]

How is the focus set up in Nikon's software? Auto? or are you selecting the focus area?

Also, what condition are your slide mounts?

Sometimes with 35mm, I must remove the transparency from its mount and use a glass scanning carriage to get a flat image area.

35mm transparencies in plastic and cardboard mounts have a nature bow to them, so if you are picking the area for the scanner to focus, and you pick wrong, you'll get an unsharp image.

I don't have a Coolscan V. Instead I use a Coolscan 8000, so I don't have any depth of knowledge on the V's software.

Good luck.

 

[timbo10ca]

How is the focus set up in Nikon's software? Auto? or are you selecting the focus area?

Also, what condition are your slide mounts?

Sometimes with 35mm, I must remove the transparency from its mount and use a glass scanning carriage to get a flat image area.

35mm transparencies in plastic and cardboard mounts have a nature bow to them, so if you are picking the area for the scanner to focus, and you pick wrong, you'll get an unsharp image.

I don't have a Coolscan V. Instead I use a Coolscan 8000, so I don't have any depth of knowledge on the V's software.

Good luck.

With NikonScan the focus is auto, but I can select it with VueScan. The slide mounts are plastic, and in pristine condition. Film flatness never even occured to me! After reading your post I pulled out a slide and it appears slightly bowed. I can see how this would be a problem, but I don't get sharpness anywhere over the entire field so I don't think that's the whole story. You've given me great food for thought though. Does anybody know if there is a glass holder for the V ED (I've only seen them come with the 9000 in product descriptions)?

Tim

 

[frugal]

Something else to consider is that you will always lose some sharpness in the scanning process and will need to apply some post-scan sharpening. Personally, I prefer doing this in Photoshop after scanning but you probably also have some options for it in your scanning software.

There are hundreds of different techniques and plug-ins for this sharpening so a little experimentation will be needed to figure out what works for you.

Personally, I like a method I saw where you duplicate the layer and apply the high pass filter to that layer (under Filter -> Other -> High Pass), I've been using a radius of 10 pixels for that. Then I set that layer's blending mode to high pass and then adjust the transparency to get the desired degree of sharpening (usually around 50-75% transparency).

 

[timbo10ca]

Something else to consider is that you will always lose some sharpness in the scanning process and will need to apply some post-scan sharpening. Personally, I prefer doing this in Photoshop after scanning but you probably also have some options for it in your scanning software.

There are hundreds of different techniques and plug-ins for this sharpening so a little experimentation will be needed to figure out what works for you.

Personally, I like a method I saw where you duplicate the layer and apply the high pass filter to that layer (under Filter -> Other -> High Pass), I've been using a radius of 10 pixels for that. Then I set that layer's blending mode to high pass and then adjust the transparency to get the desired degree of sharpening (usually around 50-75% transparency).

Great- I will give this a try.
I've tried Smart Sharpen in CS2, but haven't really found a difference from USM. Maybe I'm simply expecting too much. I've also read somewhere that you need to apply USM to a point that looks overdone on-screen so it looks correct on the printed page. Thoughts anyone?.....

Thanks again,
Tim

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Have you tried flipping the slide? On my old Minolta Scan Dual, it matters which way the slide is facing, so you might test to see which way works best.

You might also try glass slide mounts to see if that helps. I haven't made a systematic comparison of glass versus open slide mounts on my Scan Dual, but if I sandwich a transparency or neg between the glass tray and a sheet of glass on my Duoscan flatbed as opposed to using the regular film carriers, the difference in sharpness is very significant. The downside is the potential for Newton's rings.

 

[timbo10ca]

Something else to consider is that you will always lose some sharpness in the scanning process and will need to apply some post-scan sharpening. Personally, I prefer doing this in Photoshop after scanning but you probably also have some options for it in your scanning software.

There are hundreds of different techniques and plug-ins for this sharpening so a little experimentation will be needed to figure out what works for you.

Personally, I like a method I saw where you duplicate the layer and apply the high pass filter to that layer (under Filter -> Other -> High Pass), I've been using a radius of 10 pixels for that. Then I set that layer's blending mode to high pass and then adjust the transparency to get the desired degree of sharpening (usually around 50-75% transparency).

I can't seem to find high pass as a blending mode. Would Overlay be what I'd use? In CS2 I have opacity sliders under a general type and an advanced type- would I use one or the other, or both?

Thanks,
Tim