Scanning Antique Velox Prints

Ram · Oct 25, 2008

Hello All

I have some original Velox system prints (c.1900s) from my family archives.The print size is approx 7.5 x 11cm

My requirement is to scan & restore these images ! Any idears on DPI selection ? I was considering a trial of starting at 16-Bit Greyscale @ 300 DPI with descsreen & USM options ... and seeing how it goes

I will have use the Epson V750 flatbed that I have - for this project, as the prints are of rather rare antique subject matter and are not allowed to be handled by any third parties (unfortunately).

I suspect that the scanned images will then require at least few days post-production work each, remove the dust & scratches which are also on the original prints ...

Has anyone else experience of such a project ... Any expertise and Kind advice on this topic would be very much appreciated.

Kind Regards, Richard

Ram · Oct 25, 2008

Solved It

Just to post back say it got there

Did a couple of test scans ... the Velox paper must be a hundred years old at least !! a little on the yellowing side though

16-Bit Greyscale @ 1200 DPI. Scale: 500% Output 61.0cm/33.9cm Filter:USM+DS (UnSharpMask + Descreen). Q-Factor;2 Screen:236lpcm.

"Curves" & "levels" were also adjusted at the scanner stage.

File Size: 880.63 MB. Scan Time Approx: 04mins

Lovely detail, that was not possible to see without applying the USM+DS setting

Regards, Richard

Ray Heath · Oct 26, 2008

g'day Richard

in my experience you're possibly making the job too technical and the files too large

it is generally better to scan slightly low in contrast, in colour even for mono images, and to apply any sharpening and contrast adjustments in PS (or similar)

your 880mb files seem grossly large, what is your intended use for such huge files?

Ram · Oct 26, 2008

Ray Heath said:
g'day Richard

in my experience you're possibly making the job too technical and the files too large

it is generally better to scan slightly low in contrast, in colour even for mono images, and to apply any sharpening and contrast adjustments in PS (or similar)

your 880mb files seem grossly large, what is your intended use for such huge files?

Hello Ray,

Many thanks for your reply and much appreciated expertise & advice.

I will definitely have a go at doing your scanning suggestion and start with a 48-Bit colour scan (without any filter settings : USM or DS or sharpening) and see what the image looks like after it has been 'tarted-up@ in PS'.
Perhaps with a 48-Bit Colour scan it wont need so much adjustment ?

Initially in the 16Bit GS scan, I the opted for the main adjustments at the scanner stage, as I found that there is far more control - than I could apply post-scan in PS.

I have made the files large, with the intention of retouching them and then scaling down to produce fairly sharp and large wall display prints.

Many thanks again,

Kind Regards, Richard

jd callow · Oct 26, 2008

Ray is right. Scan in colour and do your sharpening after spotting and before resizing and also after resizing. You may need to respot the image after sharpening. I would also do the sharpening in LAB on the L channel.

Ray Heath · Oct 26, 2008

hi Richard

i think you've got a couple of issues confused;

there is no way any scanning software could have more control than PS, they may seem to offer some control, but that is just to make the user think they are user friendly/idiot proof

bit depth is not actually about image quality, it is more about how many colours can be described, if you are working on mono images, or even toned mono images, you are starting with an image that is already rendered in a restricted pallete

an image can look great on screen but print awful due to several factors; a screen image only needs 72 dpi at whatever is the screen size in pixels, whilst a printed image needs 300 dpi at the final print size

scanning should be done at the parametres that will be produce enough data for the requirements of the final image, it is a good idea to scan larger than is required but your scans are grossly too big, if my calculations are correct your files could render an image 2.4 x 1.35 metres

further to the above, these are huge amounts of data that will require huge files that will soon cause you handling and storage problems

Ram · Oct 27, 2008

Ray Heath said:
hi Richard

i think you've got a couple of issues confused;

there is no way any scanning software could have more control than PS, they may seem to offer some control, but that is just to make the user think they are user friendly/idiot proof

bit depth is not actually about image quality, it is more about how many colours can be described, if you are working on mono images, or even toned mono images, you are starting with an image that is already rendered in a restricted pallete

an image can look great on screen but print awful due to several factors; a screen image only needs 72 dpi at whatever is the screen size in pixels, whilst a printed image needs 300 dpi at the final print size

scanning should be done at the parametres that will be produce enough data for the requirements of the final image, it is a good idea to scan larger than is required but your scans are grossly too big, if my calculations are correct your files could render an image 2.4 x 1.35 metres

further to the above, these are huge amounts of data that will require huge files that will soon cause you handling and storage problems

Hello Ray Heath & jd callow,

Many thanks for your kind help, expertise and clarification(s)

I guess that as a new user - I had read this user friendly/idiot proof article and misunderstood its application and limitations

http://http://www.silverfast.com/PDF/SilverFast_vs_Photoshop-en.pdf

I did the colour 48 bit scan last night - it had more detail in the shadow areas and a colour cast that I managed to correct in PS. Will also do a third scan tonight and attempt to replicate your combined suggestions.

If the TIFF file in question could render an image 2.4 x 1.35 metres - that would be absolutely great

I have planned to expand my storage capabilities with some more GTech GRAID" units. I am a complete self confessed neat-freak with OSX HD house-keeping & system maintenance, so there shouldnt be too many horror stories there (fingers crossed)

Will post back with the result.

Many thanks again,

Kind Regards, Richard

Ram · Oct 27, 2008

Much better results

Alas, another series of experimenting with a combination of variable settings and finally .... an acceptable result that is exceptional when compared all to my previous attempts !

Cleaned the glass & placed the print in the centre of the scanner bed,
Then selected colour 48-bit scan mode, to get a really crisp scan without any of the aging Velox print defects ( I had to use USM & DS along with each individual colour curve and channel correction ... managed to replicate that beautiful antique VELOX print colouring).

Scan was done at 720 DPI (with an output of 61.3x31.6cm) giving a 1016.7 MB Tiff file - which I hope will be perfect for a large HZ wall print !

Many thanks to all for their kind help and much appreciated expertise

Kind regards, Richard

Scanning Antique Velox Prints

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