Good scanners for scanning negatives and slides

[trut_maluglist]

I've tried the clone tool to cover up the effects of dust spots on the sensor which show up in a blue sky. What happens is the clone tool puts the same shade of blue over the entire area, while the blue of the sky gradually gets darker from bottom to top. So it doesn't work. I've even tried doing it precisely the same as is shown in the online tutorials. However, there must be something I'm doing wrong, as I've had someone else touch up the image flawlessly.

 

[AOKH]

I've tried the clone tool to cover up the effects of dust spots on the sensor which show up in a blue sky. What happens is the clone tool puts the same shade of blue over the entire area, while the blue of the sky gradually gets darker from bottom to top. So it doesn't work. I've even tried doing it precisely the same as is shown in the online tutorials. However, there must be something I'm doing wrong, as I've had someone else touch up the image flawlessly.

In my experience, zooming in and cloning out the artifacts a little by little in difficult/detailed areas usually works, but there are times when I give up. With the sky, sometimes using a larger radius will make the transitions smoother as well. You can also play with the opacity/transparency settings. To be honest, I have too many negatives to scan, so I am not looking for perfection, just trying to remove the most distracting blemishes/scratches.

 

[AOKH]

I just spoke w/Epson. They said the V600 will be sufficient for my needs. The rep said they use a technology called "Digital Ice", which detects scratches and only affects that area. So why would others be saying it softens the entire image?

My experience with "Digital ICE" has been less than positive. I had it originally with my Microtek i900 scanner as well, but using strong settings would soften/distort the images unacceptably. The lower settings IMHO were not good enough and I found myself better off just closing out the worst stuff manually. Not to mention the excruciatingly slow scan times using Digital ICE.

 

[Vernon D Rainwater]

I've tried the clone tool to cover up the effects of dust spots on the sensor which show up in a blue sky. What happens is the clone tool puts the same shade of blue over the entire area, while the blue of the sky gradually gets darker from bottom to top. So it doesn't work. I've even tried doing it precisely the same as is shown in the online tutorials. However, there must be something I'm doing wrong, as I've had someone else touch up the image flawlessly.

Your comment makes me think you are using only ONE sample for cloning various spots in the Sky area for which is NOT all the same density of color. This will NOT work properly. Use the ALT click with the cursor in the proper (and comparable area) as that to be cloned TO.

I expect you are selecting your "sample" area for which does not match the area being cloned for the spots. This is very important to try and match the "source sample" area that will match the area being cloned. I find it best to use % settings that allows more than one click to apply to the "cloned to" area. All of this requires some getting used to and with practice. The size of he Brush is important that it is larger than the size of the "specific" defect area being cloned but I prefer to have my Brush around 2 to 3 times the overall size of the dust defect area.

Another area that seems to cause issues for many that have not had much experience with cloning. That is: selecting to use the proper % Opacity and % Flow. This is probably "subjective" for each individual but I prefer to use 72% for both when doing normal cloning and for "sensitive" areas (for a lack of better description) I reduce both to use 52%. Rarely do I ever use 100 % for these since it is hard to get an even 'smoothness" of what is cloned to the overall adjoining areas.

Sometimes, especially in NON detail areas (such as Sky) it may be helpful to use another Photoshop function -- Dust and Scratches -- but with a rather LOW setting so to not "over correct". Then. if needed the sky cloned area can be helped with some low value USM (such as 20-20-0) applied to the sky area.

The mention of what the Epson tech person advised regarding Digital ICE NOT affecting sharpness of small details. That person obviously has little to NO experience with Scanning Negatives and Slides. The best way to prove this is to scan an applicable Negative or Slide with ICE and again without ICE and view these side by side at 100 % view.

Suggest you make a copy of an applicable Photo Image that is scanned from Negative or Slide and use it as a "training venture" by practicing cloning and this should definitely help to get a better "feel" for cloning. Like most functions, once learned and used it is easy.

--
Vernon...

 

[DaveOl]

I believe that focus on the Epson V 700 series flatbed scanners is accomplished by buying an adjustable height negative carrier. I don't think that there are any buttons or anything to adjust the focus. It's just that the V 700 series is more dependent on getting the focus properly set while the V 600 is more forgiving. You can probably buy an additional set of negative holders for the Epson. Betterscanning sells high end holders that are adjustable and can come with Anti Newton Ring glass plates to hold the negative flat.

The V 600 cost me about $ 200 and the V 700 is around $ 600 or so. You can only do 2 x 6 negative strips at a time or 4 slides at a time. I think that the V 700 does double that

With the flatbeds you have the advantage of scanning photographs also.

 

[trut_maluglist]

The Epson rep says the negatives rest flat on the glass, and the lens focuses to that point. So I asked if the slides would be in focus as well, as they'll be at least the width of half the slide mount away from the glass. And the Epson rep said those would be in focus as well.

So does the lens have auto focus? Fixed focus with a broad depth of field?

 

[Vernon D Rainwater]

The Epson rep says the negatives rest flat on the glass,

Hope tis may be helpful: Comments interspersed.

The negatives do NOT lay flat on the Glass. They are held in the Negative Carrier (4 strips of 6 each = 24). Slides use a different holder which also do not lay on the Glass. There is NO automatic focus adjustment for ANY media -- the Holders determine the proper distances and again only Photos and Documents lay on the Glass with applicable side facing the Glass.

The V700 have small "feet" that are used to place in the proper position that provides the BEST focus for the unit. This a ONE time setting (done before productive scanning) and remain in the same position for use for scanning ALL Media (Slides, Negatives, and Photos or Documents. Different Light source is used for Scanning Negatives and Slides than what is used for Photos and Documents. I have NOT re-checked for specific details (after initial review before purchase several years ago) but there are more than one Lens. I have not (again) re-reviewed for specific details on this

There are different Media Carriers (Film of different sizes) (35 mm Slides), etc. The carriers are what determine the position and distance from the lower scanner glass and for proper position regarding proper focus.-- ONLY Photos and documents are placed on the Scanner Glass for scanning and use the "lower Light source". Negatives and Slides use the light source in the Scanner LID.

See above for details relating to the following:

and the lens focuses to that point. So I asked if the slides would be in focus as well, as they'll be at least the width of half the slide mount away from the glass. And the Epson rep said those would be in focus as well.

So does the lens have auto focus? Fixed focus with a broad depth of field?

See above for details.