Digital BW, The Print

> 
> I saw positive references to a specific diffuser in some places (see
> it http://www.scanhancer.com/)  ...

It seems Minolta and this "scanhancer" had the same idea I did about
diffusing the scanner light source to reduce grain.  From our darkroom days,
it seems like it should work. 

So far, however, with the diffusers I already had and working with Tmax 100
and the Nikon 8000, I have not been able to produce any clear evidence of
grain reduction through this approach.  Perhaps a finer diffusion sheet
would work better, but maybe not.  

My latest experiment used 2 Kodak diffusers taped about 1/8 inch above the
glass carrier.  I would have thought any roughness from the diffusion
material itself would have been well out of focus at that distance, but
there was still no measurable evidence of grain reduction.  Sometimes I
think I see a reduction, but when I measure the Standard Deviation in the PS
Histogram tool, selecting a totally featureless middle gray "sky" shot,
there is no consistent difference between the scan with the diffuser and the
one with no diffusion sheets in the light path.

Note that I think it is also possilbe that Tmax 100 emulsion and tabular
grain technology may react differently to this approach that thicker,
old-technology films.

It may be worth a few more experiments, but I'm beginning to think there may
be no TMX grain reduction from this approach, at least with the Nikon 8000,
although surface blemishes, scratches, and dust may well be reduced.  

Reading the "scanhancer" page does not inspire confidence.  The Minolta
sample is also, perhaps not by coincidence, a "simulated" comparison.  (Hmm,
I wonder why they had to "simulate" a comparison?)

Paul
www.PaulRoark.com