Digital BW, The Print

Hmm,  I gotta test this!

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "frankg_photo" 
<fh.gross@s...> wrote:
> 
> Thank you for the offer to test scan a couple of frames - maybe 
I'll 
> take you up on this.
> 
> Yes I have been in email contact with SF tech support all day - it 
> seems that the Focus button which you refer to that greys out or is 
> col (off/on) is not effective with the glass holder!
> 
> In other words there is effectively no scanner focusing when the 
> glass carrier is used. It is just focused on wherever the 
> default/manual setting is - which is pretty close but probably the 
> thickness of the glass away from being optimum.
> 
> Try a few transparencies or negs in this usual mode and then try 
them 
> with Polaroid Insight (f you have it installed - if not it's free 
> from the polaroid>support>download site) - you may be very 
surprised 
> at what you thought was in focus. I was - suddenly there is detail 
> and texture that i never saw before !
> Frank
> 
> 
> --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Shilesh Jani" 
> <shilesh.jani@s...> wrote:
> > Yes it is.  Have you confirmed this with people at Silverfast? I 
> know 
> > SF 6 cannot manually focus the SS120.  But there is a tab for 
this 
> > function - must be in all versions of SF.  It toggles between 
being 
> > grayed out and showing an "A".  I have assumed that "A" stands 
for 
> > autofocus - hey how about the SF documentation, eh ;-(.  
> > 
> > Quite frankly, I have not encountered "soft" scans when scanning 
> > transparencies (which is mostly what I use).  But, I am going to 
> > explore this further.  For me, at least, it may be a lesser 
problem 
> > because I don't scan too many negatives, and in fact have 
recently 
> > decided NEVER to shoot them any more.  I like the grain I get 
from 
> > Fujichrome Provia 400 when pushed 1 or 2 stops.  And, it is so 
much 
> > easier to scan than Tri-X or Ilford Delta 3200.  I like some 
> features 
> > of SF 6, but I can live without them.
> > 
> > Is it possible that the problem is in your scanner?  If you like, 
I 
> > would gladly scan a couple of your negatives  to test it out.  
> > Contact me off-list.
> > 
> > If all esle fails, time to be rid of the scanner, and go with a 
> > Minolta or Nikon (argh  $$$$).
> > 
> > Regards.
> > 
> > Shilesh
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In 
DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "frankg_photo" 
> > <fh.gross@s...> wrote:
> > > 
> > > 
> > > It seems you cant ! If you use the glass carrier you have to 
use 
> > > other scanning software like Polaroid Insight.
> > > Very distressing, isn't it.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Shilesh 
> Jani" 
> > > <shilesh.jani@s...> wrote:
> > > > So how do you ensure focus?  I also have a SS120 + SF 6.0 and 
> use 
> > > the 
> > > > glass carrier.
> > > > 
> > > > Regards
> > > > 
> > > > Shilesh
> > > > 
> > > > --- In 
> > DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "frankg_photo" 
> > > > <fh.gross@s...> wrote:
> > > > > Problem discovered ! 
> > > > > After a number of months of being very frustrated by the 
scan 
> > > > > sharpness of my negs in the Polaroid glass carrier, I find 
> out 
> > > that 
> > > > > the auto focus feature in SF does not work with the glass 
> > carrier 
> > > > > (even though the focus button is on and therefore implies 
> that 
> > it 
> > > > > works.
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > --- In 
> > > DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "frankg_photo" 
> > > > > <fh.gross@s...> wrote:
> > > > > > I know that all scans require some sharpening and that is 
a 
> > > > simply 
> > > > > > a 'fact of life' - but how can I tell/measure/establish 
if 
> my 
> > > > > > particular scanner is achieving 'normal and acceptable' 
> > levels 
> > > of 
> > > > > > sharpness standards ?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I personally feel that the scans are all too soft but 
I've 
> > > never 
> > > > > > owned another and cant compare. I also dont know anyone 
> else 
> > > with 
> > > > a 
> > > > > > similar film scanner to try the same neg or transparency 
> > > > elsewhere.
> > > > > > Even with fine grain material like Kodachrome 25 or 64 
the 
> > > scans 
> > > > > > appear too soft.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > I prefer to have no sharpening filter on in the scanner 
> > > software; 
> > > > > > preferring to leave usm to the very end of the image 
> editing.
> > > > > >  And I make sure the auto focus is on (little 'target 
> symbol' 
> > > in 
> > > > > the 
> > > > > > centre of the scan frame) in the scanner software.
> > > > > > I am using the Glass film holder to ensure a flat film 
> plane.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Should I be seeing a crisp and sharp scanned image or is 
> this 
> > > > > > unrealistic ? Any ideas, suggestions ?
> > > > > > thanks
> > > > > > Frank