Dust and scratch removal

[vicmortelmans]

Hi,

Most scanners that handle negatives nowadays, have 'Digital ICE' technology. What exactly is this? I read something about an extra scancycle with infrared light, that would then be processed with the 'normal' scan, to eliminate artefacts like dust and scratches. Is that it?

How does this relate to the use of 3rd-party scanner software (like Vuescan)? Will the Digital ICE feature still be available? Or is it part of the vendor's software?

Thanks for your feedback!

Groeten,
Vic

 

[wgerrard]

Can't explain the technicalities of 'Digital Ice', but it is a software capability. If the software you use to control your scanner has it, or an equivalent, you've got it.

 

[rich815]

Can't explain the technicalities of 'Digital Ice', but it is a software capability. If the software you use to control your scanner has it, or an equivalent, you've got it.

Actually it's a combination of hardware and software technology. The scanner must have the infra-red capability built-in and the Digital ICE software uses such and applies it for dust removal. Vuescan's dust removal feature, when used with a digital ICE scanner, is not strictly-speaking Digital ICE but it is using the scanner hardware capability to use the infra-red reading and pretty much applies it's own version of the same thing. Some say not as well, I have not noticed too much difference with my LS-4000, LS-9000 and Epson 4990.

 

[jobo]

Most scanners that handle negatives nowadays, have 'Digital ICE' technology. What exactly is this? I read something about an extra scancycle with infrared light, that would then be processed with the 'normal' scan, to eliminate artefacts like dust and scratches. Is that it?

The dyes in color film is transparent to IR, but dust is opaque. The IR scan cycle then gives you a B&W image where the dust/scratches are black and the image area white. The scanning program then guesses what was under the dust.

Note that the silver in B&W negs absorb IR, so ICE is worse than useless for them.

 

[rui]

Does anyone know if E61 b&w films behave as color films or as silver-based films in relation to digital ICE's IR scan?

 

[Rhoyle]

Chromogenic C-41 BW films are ICE compatible.