Scanning with digital camera: photomerge problems

I use dedicated for 35mm and flatbed for larger. I have a D300 and 60mm f2.8 Nikkor Macro. I run Windows 10 and PSCS 5.1. Have you used Lens correction under the Filters tab to correct the curvature?
Its also possible not to have the sensor parallel to the film. I would photograph a sheet of graph paper with fine markings in the setup for film copying and evaluate the result in PS or LR or both.
Small drafting layout tools can also be used as targets for error checking.
Film flatness is another possible cause.
0.01 mm curvature may show up in the image but not the camera eyepiece.

 

I don't think the problem is with the computer. I'm not quite sure why you merge two identical images but you mention that you make corrections before merging. Perhaps the editing of each image has something to do with it although you say the subject matter remains sharp. I use my trusty old Epson 4780 scanner and SilverFast Studio 8 software that can be set to make multiple scans but it does one after another without any manipulation on my part. Despite what many will claim about flatbeds and the factory film holders the scans (120 and 4x5 films) are very sharp even with enlargements to 16x16 and 16x20 with cropping. I don't include the black edges when scanning or printing.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

I had the same problem. Did you try the Reposition projection method in PS? It’s the only one that worked for me.

(The problem is that the panorama/stitching tools assume the camera is located in one spot and is pointed in different directions for the different shots. Merging partial scans is exactly the opposite. The direction is the same for every shot, I.e., parallel, while the location changes, relative to the negative. The software is understandably confused, resulting in the curved edges. The reposition option is there for exactly what you are trying to do.)

 

HI,

while I don't know what your problem is (the times I tried this with lightroom worked perfectly), maybe you could try using Microsoft Image Composite Editor. Off course this adds another step to the process, but I found it worked very well and it's free

 

Reposition should work. If you're running a newish version of Photoshop, load the files into layers, highlight the layers and use edit->auto-align layers option and see where that gets you. Also, I've had quite a bit of luck using the camera RAW transform tools to square up the subjects of my panoramas, as if I'm looking at them head on. When I photomerge these images, Photoshop doesn't create a curved projection. So you might try squaring up using the edges of the frame. Another thing to note, since your subject is two-dimensional, if you're doing the things correctly in the image capture, you don't need photomerge at all. You should be able to take both images and overlay them in Photoshop, bump moving using the arrow keys until they are aligned exactly and blend the layers together (maybe with a bit of gradient transparency mask). I've done this using images scanned on a flatbed scanner, but auto-align layers is less tedious. I'd also recommend the use of a macro slider to move your camera, if you don't already have one.

 

Put a link to two images for those that want to test themselves ( I would ) and invite others to see if they have a solution.