Digital BW, The Print

Well, now that I finally have a good BW printer ( Epson 2000P + MIS FSe ), I set up this Microtek X12USL scanner ($270) and 5x7" transparancy adapter lid ($80). 

I have some old glass 4x5 negatives from my grandfather that I wish to scan and print, and I thought this scanner would work fine : Wrong !
Although it is rated for 42 bit color and 2400x1200 resolution, the dynamic range is just miserable. I cannot resolve anything in the darker negative areas - they just show as white. I improved it a bit by scanning as a Positive and then swapping afterwards ( in Picture Windows 16 bit mode ), but in examining the negatives with a magnifier, I am loosing a great amount of detail. No afterscan correction curves work properly - the data is lost: the subtile grey shading in these deeper areas is not captured.

1) any tricks for wide white to black ratio negatives ?
2) what is an 'inexpensive' scanner capable of properly acquiring the information from these, somewhat grainy and imperfect, but still interesting circa 1900 negatives ???

Thanks,
Alex

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y..., "B. Alex Pettit Jr." 
<a_pettit_jr@y...> wrote:
> 
> 1) any tricks for wide white to black ratio negatives ?
> 2) what is an 'inexpensive' scanner capable of properly 
acquiring the information from these, somewhat grainy and 
imperfect, but still interesting circa 1900 negatives ???
> 

I have an Epson 1600 scanner which is similar to yours.  I tend 
to agree with your experience.  There are a couple of things I do 
w/VueScan or SilverFast Ai:

1) Get the Stouffer tp45c step wedge to use as a reference scan.
2) Scan as a positive.  I can never get the negative mode to 
produce something any good.
3) Try to set the black point to be around step 15 (2.2du) 
because the highlights on the negative probably aren't any 
darker than that.
4) Get black illustration board to block off any uncovered areas of 
the scanner bed.
5) Use your scanner to proof the negs and send the few 
excellent ones out to be professionally scanned.

Dave G.

Hi Dave,
I made a mask for the negatives and am scanning them as a Positive.
I also found that I greatly improved the quality of a darker negative by covering the 'calibration' area of the transparancy scanner mask with a slightly dark material - kevlar tape actually. 
I plan to call Microtek tomorrow and see what they recommend. 
What IS a scanner that can properly sample negatives ??

Best,
Alex

> 
> I have an Epson 1600 scanner which is similar to yours.  I tend 
> to agree with your experience.  There are a couple of things I do 
> w/VueScan or SilverFast Ai:
> 
> 1) Get the Stouffer tp45c step wedge to use as a reference scan.
> 2) Scan as a positive.  I can never get the negative mode to 
> produce something any good.
> 3) Try to set the black point to be around step 15 (2.2du) 
> because the highlights on the negative probably aren't any 
> darker than that.
> 4) Get black illustration board to block off any uncovered areas of 
> the scanner bed.
> 5) Use your scanner to proof the negs and send the few 
> excellent ones out to be professionally scanned.
> 
> Dave G.

FYI,
Here is the result with the kevlar tape - no corrections ( except to reduce it to a practical size ). It appears that neutral density strips might work to shift the density range, but that Should be a hardware/software function !

This is my Grandmother in 1912 at the age of 23 .....

http://home.mpinet.net/apettit/FGP001.jpg

Was in local dealer (Microcenter cambridge, MA) the other day and 
noticed a stack of Epson 2400 (not 2450) scanners, retail of $200.

Looks like a budget 2450, with 2400 DPI, and a tranny hood panel "for 
35mm strip" that, in the box illustration, looked wide "enough" for 
120. No open unit I could check at that time.

It's on the Epson site, but "not available". No specs on the trans 
panel size. A separate 4x5 top available for $99. No mention of 
Silverfast software, only Epson Twain (which does output 16 bit with 
the 2450).

MAC/PC, USB2 not firewire.

Anyone seen one up and running, who could check eveness and size of 
tranny coverage. Might be good for my school's installation.

Regards,
Bruce
-- 
Bruce C. Kinch
Associate Professor of Photography
The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University