Digital BW, The Print

Michael, In using the Epson scanning software, I'd really recommend that you
pay attention to your output white and black points. they default to an un
godly amount in the less 20 range. I too played around a bit with various
setting with Epson scan, Vue Scan, Nikon Scan, and I fall into the same camp
at Ernst. Vue Scan and some develop curve however, each one is unique; just
like each frame of film.

 

 

 

Eric Neilsen

Eric Neilsen Photography

4101 Commerce Street, Suite 9

Dallas, TX 75226

 

www.ericneilsenphotography.com

skype me with ejprinter

www.ericneilsenphotography.com/forum1

Let's Talk Photography

 

  _____  

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Michael
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 5:16 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] OT: b&w negative scanning issue

 

  

I hope this isn't too far off topic. I'm scanning some 4x5 b&w negs that I'm
having mixed results with. The problem is with the subject which is low
contrast landscape scenes with snow and trees/vegetation and an overcast
sky. The tree bark is the darkest part of the scene and meters in the field
at around zone 5 (incident) while the snow comes in 2-3 zones higher. The
equipment I'm scanning with is an Epson 4870 with the film scanning setup
for 4x5 negs. I'm also using Epson Scan.

So, I do a preview scan and pull up the histogram; next I isolate the image
with a marquee. I find the exposure pattern located entirely on the right
side with the black point/white point limits at 150 & 240 and the midpoint
at 1.50. The preview image is dark with the sliders pulled to these points.
A completed scan with the black/white points set as described produces a
dark, hard to evaluate image. The image also has a lot of pure black in the
shadows with no detail. 

Opening the image in PS and pulling up another histogram, I find the image
touching the black point but does not extend to the white point. However, a
triangle/exclamation pt. has appeared next to the histogram and I clicked it
to refresh the histogram. Now there is a one pixel high black line lying on
the bottom border and extending out to the white point marker at 255. (I'm
thinking this could be from dust on the negative during exposure and
creating a clear spot on it.) Now I pull the white point slider down to the
normal start of the white point of the histogram mountain (right side); the
image snaps to life. But there is too much pure black in areas that should
show some detail and no amount of fiddling can find detail in these areas.
As I mentioned earlier, the tree trunks were the darkest part of the scene
and metered around zone 5. So I'm thinking that these mid-grey areas are now
showing up as the pure black due to my placement of the black point during
scanning. (This is starting to make some sense as I write...)

But we're not done. I do a second scan and this time place the midpoint
slider, prior to final scanning, down where one would normally place the
black slider and place that slider lower in the space between the left
border and the start of the black end of the histogram - sort of in no-man's
land. Opening in PS I now have much less pure black and the midtones are in
a workable range. It's useable.

Is the lesson to be learned this: when the original scene is very low
contrast and the darkest point is equivalent to a mid-grey, scan the
negative so the midpoint slider points to the lowest end of the histogram
mountain? This seems to prevent the scanner from making these mid-grey areas
from turning pure black.

All comments and other ideas appreciated.





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