Scanning B&W to positive

Still looking for the best way to do this with SilverFast and the Epson V850Pro. In trying to end up with 16 bit files, I find that in the only 16 bit choices are RAW files, which is fine. But when I try to set histogram and curve settings, I can't get close to anything normal looking. I don't know how to describe this, but the scans are either very heavy or light, not near a normal image. The preview is right, but no changes to the curve settings will get me close. What's happening here?

If you're saving as a DNG, it does no processing at all. If you save as a TIF, then SilverFast will allow the image to be processed before it's saved.

DNG is a Digital Negative file, which is supposedly an 'unprocessed' file, whatever that means. It's an alternative to the myriad of proprietary 'raw' formats that are saved by cameras and scanners. In reality, there's always some processing, so it's somewhat disingenuous not to allow some processing if your choosing before you save. But, FWIW, that's the situation and the reason for it.

I save in 16-bit HDR RAW from SilverFast, which does not encode Gamma. I then have to set Gamma to 2.2 manually in GIMP which should match the contrast curve of the screen. From there I "clip" the histogram by removing the dead space on either side of the curve, and finally invert the image.

Perhaps setting Gamma is the step you're missing there?