Re: Scanner suggestions

[Arthur Entlich <artistic-1@xxxxxxx>]

Hi Gene,

Can you indicate which Umax scanner you are using and what dpi you are 
scanning at?  Also, what software do you use to drive the scanner, and 
what are you using to print with?

I have a UMAX scanner (a model 1200S) which is a 600 dpi scanner, and I 
have to tell you that it does a very reasonable job on large reflective 
prints.  I've seen these scanners on ebay for literally $25 US.

I suspect that some of the deficiency you are seeing is the printer and 
(and I am not being mean by this) your technique.  Adjusting image files 
properly for printing, and calibrating properly for even black and white 
images to not get clipping and muddy shadows requires new learning 
beyond what you knew in the wet darkroom.

Without seeing your printed results, I can't say absolutely, but I would 
suspect the problem, unless it is a maximum optical scanner of 300 dpi,
that the weakness in the chain is anything but the flatbed scanner.

If you could give us a rundown on what you are using: which scanner, at 
what dpi capture, what scanning software, what image manipulation 
software, and tell us a bit about how you are getting the prints to the 
printer, and what printer you are using (in other words more detailed 
report of your work flow) some of us can analyze it and see what you 
might be able to do without spending any more, or little more money.

Art

Gene Merritt wrote:

> Hi
> 
> I'm in a quandry about flatbed acanners. I know there were postings regarding this in the past, but I'm now in a place of real dissatisfaction with my current 'cheapo'  $79 flatbed Umax.
> 
> It's the old problem of lack of funds yet the need for high quality...sigh. I've boxes (100s) of 8x10 b&w photos from my ten year stint as a news photog. Plus a ton of color slides. All of these mostly from the 1980s.
> 
> I've been putting these into this G4 Mac via  that 'crummy' scanner and the PrimeFilm 1800i film scanner. I believe it was Fred who, earlier said something about these looking great on the computer but printed out...ugh! I now know that's true. 
> 
> Any suggestions on various scanners to handle this large amount of material. One of the probs is I'm now disabled, and $$$ is also a consideration.
> 
> Thanx in advance!
> 
> Gene
> 
> 


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