Vuescan Foggy/Milky highlights

Vuescan Foggy/Milky highlights:

The best color neg. film scans I have made to date..
Are using the "manual" settings and don't touch them.

I scan the film, but the "highlights " seem to be foggy or milky.
I (try) to clean them up afterward & bump the saturation up.
But, there is still something about them that's not quite right.

What adjustment do you make for clear high lights in Vuescans??
Thanks for any thoughts.

An small example image, or portion of an image with the problem, might help.

Are you clipping the highlights? What does your histogram look like?

Scanner and Operating System will help also.
Basic, Standard, or Professional mode?

I am using VueScan Pro & have tried the Basic,Standard & Pro settings.
These images are from Pro, Manual setting, no adjustments.
Scanner, Canon 9950F.

It seems the Manual Color setting holds the most highlight & shadow detail.
I am trying “not to get off into the weeds” with all the programs possible settings & get nothing done.
Some of the of the presets (White Balance, Neutral and others).
Seem to start sending me off in different directions.

Having hand printed color photographs in the darkroom since the 1980’s.
I don’t seem to be getting the same “pop” from my scans.
Perhaps this is the best I can do with a computer & scanner?????
Perhaps I should be happy with it?

What settings do you find work best for you with color negs????
How much correction do you find yourself doing in a editing program?

Thanks

Cropping out the manual scan in PS CS5.1 then selecting the Levels adjustment this histogram is created before any adjustments are made


Cropping the Corel Adjusted version in CS5.1 , flattening the image then opening Levels this histogram is produced

1. the image appears over exposed. 0 is black, 255 is white. rise above the base line is usable information from the negative.
2. under the Color tab in Professional Mode select the film brand and speed or Gerenic if the brand is not listed.
3. under the Output tab check the RAW file checkbox.
4. adjust the raw file in post processing. you may have to invert it or convert it to a positive image. this will give you the most detail that your scanner will capture from the negative.
5. use a polarizer when exposing such light colored scenes or stop down a stop.
6. clean the under side of the scanner's bed glass and the mirrors that are accessible ensuring that the surfaces are streak free.