Digital BW, The Print

On my 120tf I have to scan as 48 bit and then extract one of the 
channels to get a sharp scan. A 16bit scan is a composite of all three 
channels and I often get blurry wavelike patterns throughout the image 
that way. I've heard many other users who's scanners have the same 
problem, but I think it varies from scanner to scanner so you might be 
lucky and get one that doesn't.

I use Silverfast. The Microtek software tends to crash a lot, and 
Vuescan just doesn't work well at all with this scanner.

I don't like the negfix profiles. They're too contrasty and seldom match 
the actual image they way I want them to. I dont like to work in HDR 
mode either, as I like to see the image I'm scanning as a positive. Most 
of the time I just choose a profile that lets me capture a full tonal 
range with no clipping at either end and do the rest of the work in 
Photoshop.

The glass holder is essential to get sharp scans, even for 35mm. But 
it's poorly built. The six plastic bits that hold the top part of the 
film holder to the bottom part break real easily, and I've had to 
replace five of mine already.

--
Daniel Staver
http://daniel.staver.no

> I've now purchased a Microtek 120TF to scan my 6x7 and 6x4.5 black and white negs.
> 
> As Im just getting started with this process, I'd love to hear about your workflows if you 
> are doing these same things. What settings should I start with? any problems Im likely to 
> encounter etc etc.