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It's an empirical finding. However, I will speculate on the reason. If there is more than one mechanism for degradation of resolution then the two mechanisms combine to give a worse result than either of them alone.Why do you have to scan at twice the 1560?
I have done some simulations of how noise (including grain) affects the possibility of banding.
I can't follow the results, because there is not enough information describing the inputs. You may want to consider both the effects of gamma encoding, and also the contrast transformation that is inherent in the negative to positive conversion of neg/pos film/paper. For example if you normalise all you input values to a range of 0 to 1, and then raise them to the power of 4, how does that effect the results? Typical grade 2 BW paper has a gamma of around 4.
I will try and find some examples where I simulated scanning using a 8 bit A/D in the next days or so.
In order to avoid one long post let me break the explanation into several posts....Over the next few days I will try to explain my simulations better, if that is of interest.
OK, now let's look at a case where there may be a non-linear transformation applied to the data before it is converted to an 8 bit word.
Alan, to simulate the detrimental difference, for gamma encoding, and also any additional contrast adjustment inherent in a negative/positive systems, the adjustment need to done AFTER the conversion to 8bits.
This link has some clear examples of some of the defects of 8bit without any gamma encoding.
http://www.brucelindbloom.com/index.html?ReferenceImages.html
These don't take into account further contrast adjustments required by a negative/positive film system
From the point of view of signal processing theory a non-linear transformation after conversion to a low bit word (e.g. 8 bits before the transformation) can only result in a loss of information if you want to store the result in a low bit word (e.g. 8 bits).
EXACTLY! This is the point that I have tried to make several times. In order to do the transformation BEFORE then one either requires a non-linear amplifier, which is found in some old drum scanners, or a higher bit depth A/D is required to do the digitisation first before any non-linear transformation, then a non-linear transformation can occur.
Basically an 8 bit A/D on its own is inadequate, you really need at least 12 or 14 bits for film. This is very relevant to RAW scanning where you are in effect doing your own signal processing. Conversely if you are working with an image where most of the heavy lifting in the image processing has already been done, then 8 bit is often adequate.
Hope this make sense.
In addition negative/positive systems have an even greater non-linear transformation than what is required for gamma encoding.
As you can see, there is a terrible banding problem in the second image. The banding problem is gone in the third image. The cost is that there is noise. (Of course, if the noise came from grain in the original image then most of the noise would be there anyway.)
I found a Vuescan users guide at https://www.hamrick.com (specifically, https://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/vuescan.pdf). The copyright is 2017, so it seems to be a fairly new document. I am looking through the document to try to understand the nuances of how they use gamma.
My impression of Vuescan documentation in the past has been that it is rather terse and not always very completely explained, at least when I have tried to use the Help tabs in the program. I don't know if the current version will be any better, but I will see.
I had not considered cleaning the scanner.
As you mentioned, I understand that the Canon is considered an excellent scanner, in the same league as the Nikon image quality-wise, though I have read that it may have just a tiny bit more noise in the shadows of a transparency scan.
Also, the photo you posted is a beautiful one.
I use Vuescan a lot. I have four fs4000us scanners connected to four different computers and one Epson VS750 connected to another computer. I use Vuescan for all of them, and have scanned hundreds of images, maybe thousands, but I don't find the Vuescan documentation particularly clear.IMO Vuescan documentation is exceptionally clear. But then, I actually use it.
Multiple reviews of the Canon FS4000us or user comments, e.g.Canon is by no means a rival to Nikon (certainly with 35mm). Where specifically did that idea come from?
"not noticably better" means lack of concern with dye cloud or silver grain detail.
There is one place where the Canon has an undeniable advantage, and that is the cost. You can pick up a Canon on ebay for a fraction of the cost of a Nikon scanner. It therefore comes down to a question of what one values more, cost or features (especially scan speed). The answer to that question is going to vary from one person to another.
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