V600 and Holders

[Kitch]

I just bought a V600 scanner due to arrive this Monday...my first one. From all I've read here and there, this forum included, VueScan is a great piece of software well worth adding. Also, I'm looking into the Betterscanning holders for this scanner.

Looking on that website I see the T-locks are optional and apparently still available. I have quite a few VPS 120 negatives I'd like to scan but I wouldn't think the glass would be necessary since they're about as flat as a sheet of paper. Would the T-locks be of more benefit and if so how many are needed?

Secondly, does the scanner need to be calibrated with something like It8?

Thanks

 

[Alan Klein]

Email Betterscanning about the t locks. I'm not sure they are still available.

I use Epson Scan on my V600 exclusively,. I've never calibrated it. Never heard you can do that. Also, I never tried other scanning software. I do almost all my processing in post after scanning. The only thing i might do is set the black and white points before scanning. That can be done with Epsonscan. Playing around with too many adjustments prior to the scan means re-scanning if you don't get it right. Wastes a lot of time. If you scan flat or makes just the black and white point adjustments, you don't have to rescan. Just make your changes in post (I have used Lightroom and Elements). Try to keep it simple. Scanning and processing the results well takes time to learn. Don't complicate it with extra programs. Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

[Kitch]

I thought all scanners could/should be calibrated but I know little only what I've read. The T-locks are an option but according to his website they are available. That may be a better option for some film like VPS as it lies about as flat as it gets-sort of negates having to use the glass.

Specific Pricing Details

My post processing would be done via Nikons CNX2. That's my main software for converting RAW and for all other tweaks necessary. I'll use Epson's software to see how it works. I've read their scanners can benefit from other software such as the VueScan or SilverFast but no experience to date.

 

[pschwart]

Vuescan -- a worthwhile addition. You can change parameters for your raw scans, review the results, and save without having to rescan, so no time wasted. EpsonScan is functional but I almost always use Vuescan.

profiling -- Vuescan supports profiling using an IT8 target. Not strictly required, but if you scan a lot
of color this may be helpful. You will need reflective and/or film IT8 targets.

T locks -- I have them but never use them -- I use ANR glass and get scans that are sharp edge-to-edge. Most of my film is now scanned in a Nikon 9000; I couldn't get sharp scans until I started using glass carriers for that scanner, too.

 

[Kitch]

i wasn't sure if the IT8 target was only necessary for slides or for all media. I'll have to do a bit more research on that. I know it comes with some versions of Silverfast software but, I don't think it does with Vuescan. A different target for each type of film you have could get rather expensive I would imagine. However, Wolf Faust has a special offer going on where you can get about all you'd need for various films for $80. I mostly would need the one I didn't see listed for Kodak's Vericolor III (VPS).

Affordable IT 8.7 (ISO 12641) Scanner Color Calibration Targets

I'll get the basics down, use Epson's software to get a better handle on where I need to go after I do some scans.

 

[Kitch]

The only editing software I have is Nikon's Capture NX2. I don't know how well it would handle .tif files as far as speed and how it would handle editing the scanned files. Does anyone know of any potential problems using CNX2 with 16bit scans at 100Mb+? I feel sure some of those scanned negatives/prints changed to .tif files would be rather large.

I know VueScan will send those files to CNX2 but not sure how well it would open them.

 

[Alan Klein]

It doesn't pay to scan prints more than 300dpi since there's no more resolution than that in the print. So the final .tif should be rather small. (8"x10" print at 300dpi is 2400 x 3000 or around 7.5mb.)

I scan film at 2400dpi at 48 bit color. So my MF 6x7 shot could reach 200mb. 35mm is about 35mb.

I can't help you with the CNX2 capabilities.

 

[Kitch]

Many of my upcoming scans will be in 6x7-mostly negatives rather than prints. 200mb is quite a large size. B&W should be quite that large I wouldn't imagine.My Nikon D7000 yields on average about a 21mb per photo...that's with it set on RAW.

Something lower than 48 bit may be better for size concerns as to whether CNX2 could handle that large size or not. The scanner comes tomorrow so I'll soon find out.

 

[Alan Klein]

You can reduce MF 6x7 from 200mb tifs to 100mb if you change the bits to 24 rather than 48. That's at the same 2400dpi resolution. You can also saved jpgs but I prefer tifs for non-compression on the original scan.

 

[Kitch]

My thoughts were to Save As a .tif once I finalized the scan and do any post processing needed in CNX2. I don't know how good the software is that comes with the V600 and its capabilities but will try it first. I do know that VueScan will then send .tif files to this application (CNX2).

 

[Kitch]

I just happened to realize with scanned files being that large I may have to go to a larger HDD. I have two installed in the computer, one for my OS and another for digital photos. It's large enough for what I've been doing but with the advent of the scanner and sending scans to that same drive it will eat up a good bit of space.

 

[Kitch]

The scanner came today and looks great. However, I found no instructions at all and went to Epson's website to download a pdf copy. It may take a day or two before I get to use the scanner as there's over 160 pages of instructions and I'm one of those that faithfully read them.

I just unboxed it moments ago so lots of work ahead.

 

[Kitch]

I'm doing something wrong here. After I do the selecting in Professional and scan to my digital files this is the way it looks. I tried three times and still got the same results. I read back over the instructions and obviously missed something.

 

[Alan Klein]

It seems like we're looking at the thumbnail picture of the three files which by itself could ne normal. What happens when you open them? What is the resolution in each of the files?

 

[pschwart]

It looks like the image area was not correctly cropped in the scanning software. Turn off all auto functions and manually crop the preview before scanning.

 

[Kitch]

I don't recall what the resolution was as I deleted them but I scanned them as .tif files. I went back to the vendor soft ware till I can figure out the VueScan more. It would have been nice if there had been some form of instructions with the initial download. There's a book out by someone on how to use VueScan...can't recall the name of it but I've seen it.

In the meantime I've had a decent amount of success with scanning a few color and B&W prints as well as dome color negatives today. I'm not 100% satisfied with the color but it's probably inexperience in working in this realm. Here's a few of those scans.

Del003a by David Fincher, on Flickr
Francis and Kami004a by David Fincher, on Flickr
Menninite Boy1 by David Fincher, on Flickr

 

[Kitch]

And, a couple more.

Francis 007aa by David Fincher, on Flickr
Francis and Kami006ab by David Fincher, on Flickr

 

[Alan Klein]

Very nice. Which ones are from scans of prints and which from film scans?

 

[Kitch]

The first three in post #16 were from photos and the last ones from scanning the negatives. The last portrait was a bit disappointing in that I had used a Tiffen Hollywood FX warm/soft filter and the scanner totally overlooked that somehow.

 

[Alan Klein]

The colors look nice on the scanned print shots. The colors seem a little off on the film shots. Negative films are harder to get the colors right IMO than slide film. However, Portra 100 (negative) film seems to be better at scanning than other negative film. You might want to try a roll.

 

[Kitch]

I thought the same thing and tried to bring the colors into what they should look like but had a problem getting the skin tones correct with my post processing software. Those color negatives were all Varicolor III(VPS).

 

[Alan Klein]

Getting the colors right, especially for skin tones, takes some practice. Try a roll of Portra and see if it's easier. Kodak made this film for scanning and the skin tones are superb. Good luck.

 

[Alan Klein]

Also, the first thing I adjust is levels, black and white points. That seems to give the best and natural color results for about 95% of adjusts you have to make. Then tweak the rest with other sliders.

 

[Kitch]

I haven't used Portra but thought it was a direct replacement for VPS...could be wrong there, however. I haven't seen a place where I can adjust the white or black point with the software but could probably set that up rather easily in post processing.

 

[Kitch]

I just gave it another try with the VueScan software instead of the vendor's. I'm still not there.

Francis2scan0001a by David Fincher, on Flickr