Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "B. Alex Pettit Jr." 
<a_pettit_jr@y...> wrote:
> 
> 1) any tricks for wide white to black ratio negatives ?
> 2) what is an 'inexpensive' scanner capable of properly 
acquiring the information from these, somewhat grainy and 
imperfect, but still interesting circa 1900 negatives ???
> 

I have an Epson 1600 scanner which is similar to yours.  I tend 
to agree with your experience.  There are a couple of things I do 
w/VueScan or SilverFast Ai:

1) Get the Stouffer tp45c step wedge to use as a reference scan.
2) Scan as a positive.  I can never get the negative mode to 
produce something any good.
3) Try to set the black point to be around step 15 (2.2du) 
because the highlights on the negative probably aren't any 
darker than that.
4) Get black illustration board to block off any uncovered areas of 
the scanner bed.
5) Use your scanner to proof the negs and send the few 
excellent ones out to be professionally scanned.

Dave G.