Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message -----
From: "bellis33624" <bellis60@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2002 6:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] B&W Negatives Scanned as Color Transparencies



(snip)

> I appreciate the responses from the people who told me how they
> scanned, and I also appreciate the responses from those who
> questioned why I would want to scan a black and white negative as a
> color transparency (for the answer to this question, see the current
> issue of Shutterbug magazine and the article in it on scanning black
> and white negatives for one source). However, interesting as these
> responses were (and I thank the people who took the time to send
> them), they didn't really address the question I asked. If anyone
> knows the answer to the question I asked I'd appreciate hearing from
> you. To the person who asked what scanner and software I use, I use
> the Linoscan 1400 scanner and the Newcolor 5000 software. Thanks
> again.
>

Bellis,

There is no technical advantage to scanning in positive vs. negative mode
except that in positive mode with a negative you have a difficult time
making adjustments in the preview window. I also have, but no longer use, a
Linoscan 1400 (a 1200 ppi flatbed scanner for those who are not familiar
with it.) and have tried Newcolor 4000 and 5000.

Quite frankly I found both software packages to be two of the worst I have
used. In an attempt to be user friendly with a pretty interface, they have
made it very difficult to determine what the scanner is actually doing. With
this software trying to scan a B&W negative as a color transparency is
likely to make things difficult and I would stick with scanning it as a B&W
negative. There are differing opinions on this, but I see no benefit in
final print quality from using grayscale or color scans with this type of
scanner.

I would strongly suggest that you give Vuescan a try or Silverfast (which I
prefer but is rather expensive.) You can download free demos of both to try.

Martin Wesley