Best way to scan negs?

[brians]

I just recently got a CanoScan8400F flatbed scanner, and I absolutely love it. But one thing I need is suggestions. I've been scanning at 1200 dpi with USM on, and a few other adjustments. The colors come out really odd and the scans are very grainy! What can I do about this?

Are there any other dpi / color correction / etc. that you would like to share with me? Thanks!

-Brian

 

[djon]

Use the simplest defaults but be sure to turn off ALL sharpening: NO USM when scanning. Sharpen ONLY in post-processing.

Do "adjustments" only in post processing (Elements, Photoshop, Paintshop, whatever). No "adjustments" in scanning except to select the film type and to be sure you're scanning RGB.

When you say your scans are grainy, do you mean that your prints are grainy? You can't see your scans, all you can see is your print and the inherently faulty depiction of your monitor. It's possible and desirable to make the print and monitor look a lot like each other, but that's not entirely necessary and it's a big topic.