Color Negative Scanning Tutorial

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I I finally finished my long-awaited tutorial for scanning color negatives with Vuescan. Its a video on Youtube. I'm working on a written version, too; but it'll be a few days before its done.

 

[Darthfeeble]

Thank you Chris, I had given up on VueScan and gone to Silverfast as iat seems simpler. I'll see if this helps me get what I want from VueScan.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Thank you Chris, I had given up on VueScan and gone to Silverfast as iat seems simpler. I'll see if this helps me get what I want from VueScan.

Silverfast is probably easier to get good results from, but it is so incredibly expensive for the Nikon scanners that most people simply won't buy it. I can't afford it, so Vuescan is the next best thing. The files need a lot of editing in Photoshop to get the color good, but the effort is rewarded with beautiful photos.

Here are three I did last night, all scanned from Kodak Portra 400. All were shot with a Leica M4-2 and 35mm f2.4 Summarit-M lens; except the one of my cat, which was done with the 50mm f2.4 Summarit-M.



Trailer park across the street from my house after a severe storm that did extensive damage to Fort Wayne last summer.





Sneaky followed me when I was photographing the storm damage in the trailer park. Gotta supervise everything!





I love these chairs.

 

[Darthfeeble]

I didn't know it was expensive, my version came with the scanner I think. Epson V600. You certainly got the picture right.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I didn't know it was expensive, my version came with the scanner I think. Epson V600. You certainly got the picture right.

I just checked the price for the Silverfast version for the Nikon scanners. They've reduced the price to $349; it was $750 years ago when I first began using a film scanner. Its still too expensive, though.

 

[Darthfeeble]

That IS a bit choice for software. Particularly with so many competitive others out there. I've used the native scanning program from Epson, it's not terrible but it's not in the same league.

 

[sebastel]

This comes timely, as last week I scanned some 120 colour negatives, and I realized that I had forgotten how to calibrate, using vuescan. Fortunately, the auto white balance wasn't too far off to make it an easy adjustment in Lightroom later.

Thanks!
cheers, sebastian
(and a big hug to your four pawed photo model and art director)

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I have just finished the written version of it that lists all the different settings and my explanations of why I used each setting.

Color Negative Film Scanning Tutorial for Vuescan

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

This comes timely, as last week I scanned some 120 colour negatives, and I realized that I had forgotten how to calibrate, using vuescan. Fortunately, the auto white balance wasn't too far off to make it an easy adjustment in Lightroom later.

Thanks!
cheers, sebastian
(and a big hug to your four pawed photo model and art director)

Sneaky likes to watch me work when I photograph stuff in the neighborhood. I suspect that he's thinking "You better sell some of these pictures; we need more money for cat food, kitty treats, and steak!"

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Chris: Thanks for this. Huge service to the community. I have VueScan for a couple of Nikon scanners. . . . I have to relearn it every time I use the things. Most appreciated.

Ben

 

[dexdog]

Thanks, Chris. I learned things I did not know about Vuescan even though I have used the program since 2010.

 

[Dervla]

Chris,

I have watched or read several of your tutorials and they have been helpful.

I just made a donation via your website.

Thank you.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Chris,

I have watched or read several of your tutorials and they have been helpful.

I just made a donation via your website.

Thank you.

Muchas Gracias! I'm glad my tutorials helped. I used the $$$ you sent to buy some more Portra 400. I hadn't shot any color film since 2011, but I loved the results I got from the photos I shot to make this tutorial, so I want to shoot more.