Re: Sprintscan 120 issues/findings (comments welcomed)

[rafe.bustin@xxxxxxxxxxx]

[Ernst:]
> > I do not see any advantage of having no information in your file
> > below 23 RGB. Not in relation to the behaviour of the Epson's
> > printer driver nor to any other printing process nor to any other
> > display medium. I have used the method to scan a negative as
> > positive and do the reversal in Nikonscan to get the information
> > below 25 RGB. It prints a lot better on an Epson 9000 + Epson
> > driver with a custom profile. Made all the difference on a print
> > with shadows between the roots of a tree.


[Dave King:]
> Most interesting Ernst.  I've only scanned a few color negs with the 8000 so
> far, but my impression was neg scans come in to the preview a bit "soft"
> compared to chrome, and needing a bit more correction pre or post scan, but
> having full detail to film base plus fog.  I'll have to look more closely
> next time I scan a neg.


I don't believe that the behavior in question (histograms "compressed" 
on the low end) is an advantage or benefit -- nor have I heard anyone 
claim that.  It is a bug, IMHO, though (also IMHO) not a terribly serious 
one.  Others disagree about the severity and impact.

I don't believe there's any significant information being lost, since it's 
such a small portion of the tonal range that's being wasted (unused.)

What I have discovered, and still don't understand, is this "fix":  to set the 
monitor gamma (in NikonScan, deep in one of the Preferences menus) 
to 1.0.  Try it and see if that doesn't "fix" the problem.  I have no idea 
what other unintended consequences might arise from doing that.  
I have no idea what the relationship is here, whether it is a bug, or 
if there's a valid theoretical link between gamma and black point 
that we've all overlooked.  I don't use this fix, myself.

What's also interesting is how well NikonScan does at properly 
"inverting" negatives of all the different film types I've thrown at it.
And it does this (apparently) without using any canned "profiles" or 
"film terms."


rafe b.

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