canetsbe
Well-known
I also have to mention it is far easier to see the problem in a hi-res file as opposed to what I have posted here.
Bob Michaels
nobody special
What results do you get when you scan a color neg or slide? Same thing?
canetsbe
Well-known
Ridiculously noisy (color splotchy) files.
Beemermark
Veteran
I'm having the same problem with my Dual IV. it used to give great scans and I put it away when I got my V700. However, the V700 is too slow so I started using the IV again. My files are incredibly flat. I thought it my Vuescan settings until I saw this post.
Is it possible that the light source is growing dimmer?
Is it possible that the light source is growing dimmer?
canetsbe
Well-known
Good point. I hadn't thought of that. It could just be dying a slow death. Either way I'm done with it.
j j
Well-known
A seemingly dimmer light source suggests a dirty mirror.
Bob Michaels
nobody special
I will not say the scanner failing is an impossibility. I can only say that my Minolta MultiScan, bought when the Scan Dual IV was being introduced is still doing scans that yield great prints.
Yes, my scans look flat. Always have scanned for that as I prefer them that way. That gives me the best looking final print. My mode has always been: flat scans = great prints, good looking scans = only OK prints after post processing.
FWIW, in 10+ years, I have yet to make a print that did not require substantial post processing.
Yes, my scans look flat. Always have scanned for that as I prefer them that way. That gives me the best looking final print. My mode has always been: flat scans = great prints, good looking scans = only OK prints after post processing.
FWIW, in 10+ years, I have yet to make a print that did not require substantial post processing.
padraigm
Established
5th Ave San Diego?
I've used this scanner before and never been happy with it for scanning black and white negatives. Is it broken or something? I got it on craigslist a few years ago for $30 so I wouldn't be surprised if it was.
minolta POS by .. glory fades, on Flickr
Anyway I normally use an epson V500 which gives decent tonal depth but I really wish I could get this thing to work for me as the scans are sharper (though the tonality looks like complete ass.) It's obvious "what's wrong with this picture" but I can't get anything better than that out of my Dual IV. So, I guess I'm asking, is it me or the scanner? I use the minolta software and scan at 16bit depth. I tried to pick a really flat negative (not a great photo) just to prove a point, otherwise the contrast is through the roof and there's no highlight or shadow detail. There's nothing but white, grey, pixely white-grey, really muddy grey and black in this scan. I've tried vuescan and silverfast demo software and it doesn't help. Any suggestions or insights?
-Cole
canetsbe
Well-known
j j: Took it apart and the mirror seems fine.
Bob: the files from this scanner are beyond anything salvageable through PP.
padraigm: yep you nailed it.. do you live here?
Bob: the files from this scanner are beyond anything salvageable through PP.
padraigm: yep you nailed it.. do you live here?
Bob Michaels
nobody special
I am beginning to concur with your diagnosis "scanner is broken" as stated in your original post.
cabbiinc
Slightly Irregular
Does your scanner support Multi-Scan? In Vuescan it's almost all the way at the bottom of the Input tab (in the most advanced mode). If your scanner supports it it will be there. http://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/html/vuesc28.htm#inputmultiexposure If you have a failing dim bulb this will likely help as the second scan is done with a longer exposure.
Also, try clicking Scanner> Exposure. This tells Vuescan to compute... stuff. http://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/html/vuesc26.htm#scannerexposure
You should be able to try any of these settings from the trial version and there's no need to buy the software to see if it works better. If the trial doesn't work properly, the bought version likely won't work properly either.
Also, try clicking Scanner> Exposure. This tells Vuescan to compute... stuff. http://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/html/vuesc26.htm#scannerexposure
You should be able to try any of these settings from the trial version and there's no need to buy the software to see if it works better. If the trial doesn't work properly, the bought version likely won't work properly either.
Usagi
Newbie
Old thread, but this seems to concern a problem that I encountered years ago with my Scan-Dual IV.
With Minolta's own software, the BW just didn't work. The result was grainy and lacked tones. After playing with Vuescan and Epson V700 I tried to scan BW negatives with Scan-Dual IV using it's own software but scan as color slide.
That was the cure. When scanned as color slide (positive), the result was negative image with a somewhat bluish tone (usually). If the film was developed with staining developer like Pyro, I dropped out all but blue channel in the Photoshop and then unsaturated the result. Then simply used Photoshop's invert tool (Image -> Adjustments -> Invert) to get BW positive.
If ordinary developer was used, I made BW negative from all channels and then inverted that.
I guess that it's simply a kind of bug in the Minolta's own scanning software. This is one easy workout. The only cost is bigger image size as the scans are 48bit color images..
With Minolta's own software, the BW just didn't work. The result was grainy and lacked tones. After playing with Vuescan and Epson V700 I tried to scan BW negatives with Scan-Dual IV using it's own software but scan as color slide.
That was the cure. When scanned as color slide (positive), the result was negative image with a somewhat bluish tone (usually). If the film was developed with staining developer like Pyro, I dropped out all but blue channel in the Photoshop and then unsaturated the result. Then simply used Photoshop's invert tool (Image -> Adjustments -> Invert) to get BW positive.
If ordinary developer was used, I made BW negative from all channels and then inverted that.
I guess that it's simply a kind of bug in the Minolta's own scanning software. This is one easy workout. The only cost is bigger image size as the scans are 48bit color images..