Digital BW, The Print

Hi,

> > When you change the exposure time, you merely shift
> > the data up or down in the values it converts.
>
> So, apart from "analog gain" (exposure time), there isn't anything you can
> do in the software driving a scanner that actually changes the analog
> scanning process ... right?

Correct, not in regular CCD film scanners like the ones we all use.

> And if this is so, there isn't really any reason to ever fool with the
> scanning software at all, except for the aforementioned exposure time and
> other out of band stuff like number of passes.  You may as well
> get the scan
> as raw as possible and do it all in Photoshop.

That depends on which user interface you like.  I happen to like my
scanner's user interface very well, so I use it, but you are correct.

> This is the impression I've gotten myself after zillions of scans.  That's
> why I don't care much about Vuescan or NikonScan or anything.
> Just give me
> the raw scan, with as much data as possible on it, and I'll do the rest in
> Photoshop.  Seems to work really well.

Agreed.

Regards,

Austin