Digital BW, The Print

I use a 2450 to scan BW using Vuescan.  I use the current version but have been using it for a long time through many versions.  I use 16 bit output and scan for Transparency/BW negative which turns the result to positive.  I set the clipping to near or at zero sometimes depending on the negative and how much the border came through.  I sometimes play with the film and developer combinations as I see fit and then scan.  Most scans seem flat.  I do adjustments in PSCS at 16 bit until after sharpening.  It seems very simple and works fine except that the 2450 is not so wonderful for 6x6 negatives but will do until I am satisfied the 9000 is ok or the multipro gets an update which I am expecting.

As for 4x5 or 6x6 for that matter I find the best resolution when you select a value that makes the software interpolate.  I use 1850 ppi for 6x6 because it seemed the sharpest result for going to an 11x14 at 360 ppi after cropping and resizing in PS.  I also found that my 2450 worked best with the negative on the glass so I made up a holder using two pieces of magnetic heating vent outlet covers (suggested on this forum some time ago) that you can buy at Home Depot.  This keeps the film flat and closer to the glass.

Bob
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: btvarner 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2004 9:48 AM
  Subject: [Digital BW] RE: Scanning Black & White Negatives


  Hi Bill,
  Thanks for the advise!  I am considering getting a dedicated film 
  scanner.  The real thing that is holding be back is that none except 
  the very (many many thousands of dollars) expensive scanners do not 
  scan 4x5.  That is mainly why I am trying to get at least a decent 
  scan out of a flatbed for the large format.

  I have tried scanning the b&w negative as a color positive as you 
  suggest & it seems to be no better then any other method.  I can live 
  with the initial scan being either negative or a positive when opened 
  in Photoshop but the real problem from the standpoint of a good 
  result is that the scan is bunched up so much at one end of the 
  histogram that even using levels & curves I end out with a very flat 
  image when I know the negative is not flat.

  what strikes me funny about this is that when I see the scanned 
  negative in Vuescan it looks perfect, but when it gets opened in 
  Photoshop it does not seem to be the same scan???

  I wonder if I am doing something wrong in the process, but if so why 
  do all other types of film scans I do come out fine?  I don't know.

  Bruce


  >Hello Bruce,

  >I experienced a lot of inconsistency in scanning b&w negatives until 
  >I adopted a workflow I'd read about from a couple of different 
  >sources - David Brooks is one I recall.

  >I use a film scanner - Minolta Multi Pro II - but the basic 
  >technique will be the same for your flatbed. basically, I 
  >deliberately scan the negative in as a color positive. I scan at the 
  >highest in to out resolution in 16 bit mode and usually set the 
  >number of passes between 8 and 16 depending upon the amount of noise 
  >I expect, then get and reset it / rescan it until I'm happy with it.

  >Once it's in Photoshop, I'll make level and curve adjustments in 
  >reverse - it helps if you have a contact or small print from the 
  >lab. Once it looks like you have a good tonal range go to 
  >Image>Adjustments>Invert and you should have a fairly decent b&w 
  >image to tweak from there.

  >This is far from an automatic process and does require some getting 
  >used to working "inside out". But it has resulted in dramatically 
  >improved scans for me.

  >Mr. Brook's article may still be on the Shutterbug site. If so I 
  >recommend giving it a read.




  >I am new to this newsgroup & I hope this topic is correct for the 
  >group.

  >I have gotten aware from black & white since moving to mainly 
  >digital capture.  I am now attempting to re-enter producing black & 
  >white images in the digital darkroom.  I am not new to digital, just 
  >to digital b&w.

  >I currently have an Epson 2450 scanner which works "ok" for medium 
  >format transparencies.  When I attempt to scan b&w negative film 
  >however, the results are horrible.  Here is my two current questions.

  >1)  How do you get good scans of b&w negative film?

  >2)  When I scan b&w negative film and then open it in Photoshop, the 
  >file is still a negative.  It has not been converted to a positive. 
  >Also, the exposure is wayyyyyy off!  Always to dark, even though 
  >during the scanning process the exposure looks fine.  What am I 
  >doing wrong?

  >My work flow is:
  >Epson 2450 scanner
  >Viewscan 7.6.18 scan software
  >Photoshop CS
  >Epson 2000 printer
  >Quadtone for Windows b&w printing software

  >By the way, I can print b&w fine with desiderated color images.

  >Bruce Varner
  >Kansas City metro area



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