Digital BW, The Print

Earlier in this post I said that I scanned the same color negs on 
a Nikon and on a Minolta Pro.  I will now scan those same negs 
on a Polaroid 120.  I'll get them to my friend this week so I can 
add a more informed opinion to our options.

 After working with my Minolta for 3 months, trying Silverfast HDR 
(much too much grain) as well as the Minolta software, I am 
dissatisfied and cannot recommend the product for any negative 
scanning.  The problem is squarely placed on the grain aliasing.  
There are other problems such as the highlights blow out very 
quickly, but I would be happy to simply get an answer for the 
graininess.

I have scanned b&w and color negs as slides, negs (both b/w 
and color) and as 16 bit linear files.  I have oversampled 16 
times, added Gem, Ice and Roc, added gaussian blur and used 
the smudge tool.  I have tried the workarounds that have been 
offered on this list.  I have not tried Neatscan (or whatever) 
because I have a Mac.  I have also not tried VueScan.

I will say that the negative carriers and the software is a pleasure 
to work with.  Ergonomically, this machine is great.  The problem 
is in the results from negatives.  Slides look great.

I am considering selling the Minolta Pro.  If anyone out there 
wants it, I will send it to Minolta warranty service, first , so they 
can completely go through it , and then send it off to you.  I will do 
this for $300 less than what any Minolta Pro is selling for on the 
web.

Frank

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., Victor Landweber 
<victor@l...> wrote:
> AZ --
> 
> Which scanning software did you find supported optimal grain 
which didn't? 
> I believe that I will be using either the proprietary Minolta 
software or 
> VueScan with the Scan Multi Pro, and SilverFast or VueScan 
with the 
> Polaroid 120 (I don't like Polacolor Insight's limited functionality 
at all!).
> 
> My output will be 12"*12" prints made with an Epson 1160 
using MIS FS inks 
> on Epson Archival Mat.
> 
> I'll appreciate hearing your opinion about all this.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> -- Victor Landweber
> 
> 
> At 01:08 PM 1/28/2002 -0800, AZ wrote:
> >The scanning software is the important factor. The question 
should be what
> >scanning software for these scanners gives the best grain 
reduction given
> >your criteria. I was using a scanning software that 
exaggerated the grain
> >terribly and thought it was typical until I tried another. There 
are
> >trade-offs between sharpness and grain. Also you should 
have in mind your
> >output method when you make the scan. You want to balance 
your scanning
> >technique with your output device.
> >
> >My Prior Message
> >
> > >To the list --
> > >
> > >I'm planning to purchase either the Minolta Scan Multi Pro or 
the Polaroid
> > >120 to scan many years of 2¼*2¼ Tri-X negatives 
(developed in D-76). I hope
> > >someone with experience can answer several questions:
> > >
> > >1. Is either the Polaroid or the Minolta preferable for 
producing a sharp
> > >image without exaggerating the grain at 
2000/3200/4000/4800 ppi?
> > >
> > >2. Is the grain in a monochrome scan better or worse than 
that of an RGB
> > >scan reduced to monochrome in Photoshop using the 
CHANNEL MIXER?