Digital BW, The Print

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jean-Marc Humbert" <humbertjm@...>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2003 1:01 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] A suggestion about scanning b&w negatives


> Reading with great interest most of the posts dealing with the
> optimal method to scan b&w negs, I must say that I am still very
> confused: with a Nikon LS 4000 for two years I have tried different
> methods with various softwares : the one from Nikon, Silverfast Ai
> and Vuescan and I am not conviced to have found the best combination
> of workflow and software!
>
> As a result I rescan on a regularly basis my favorite negs with a new
> methodology with mitigated results. Each time, I have the feeling
> that I am missing something, that such histogram could be greatly
> expanded with the advice of a pro and adequate settings.
>
> But apparently I am not alone! And with the latest thread about
> scanning, I am sure to spend some more nights trying the different
> methods described here.
>
> Could I suggest something to the experts: since we are on a group
> about b&w printing (I would say the end of the process), why not
> create a dedicated yahoo group dealing with the
> tricks/issues/experiences about scanning black and white negs?
>
> JM Humbert
> Paris, France
>

Jean-Marc,

Not a bad idea just to help sort the information out. Unfortunately the
input and output seem to be tied pretty tightly together. The reason
scanning shows up here on the printing forum so much is that it is very
important to obtaining a good print. My own opinion is that scanning needs
to be done with the final output method in mind. You would probably wind up
discussing printing on the scanning forum as well!

The problem is that there is no best scanning method. Each combination of
scanner and scanning software requires a somewhat different approach. It is
a matter of working at it with your negatives until you learn how to get
scans that print well for you.

However, the idea does have merit. Why don't you start up a Yahoo group on
the topic? It is pretty easy to set up and it is free.

Martin Wesley