Epson 4490 - Why is this happening?

[Ara Ghajanian]

I can't figure out why this is happening. I'm scanning medium format only on this scanner with the default Epson program. At first, the scanner worked flawlessly. Then this started happening. It looks like an image with the noise filter applied in PS. As a possible solution, I bought Vuescan. I still had the same issue, so I scanned at 16 bit greyscale instead of 8 bit and it worked fine. Then I went to scan this color negative and this is the best I can get. I even reinstalled the driver software and still the same thing.

Anyone else encounter this problem? Thanks in advance for any help.
Ara

 

[lZr]

Seems one of the RGB channels are missing.
Try to scan an old and good negative. The problem persist?

 

[xvvvz]

It is hard to guess, but are you scanning a strip of frames and is it possible that one of the other frames from that strip is partially covering the calibration gap at the top of the film holder? That can cause funky scans like you are experiencing.

You really need to provide a lot more specific detail about all of the parameters before someonce can provide a targeted response though.

Doug

 

[bmattock]

Is the cable that goes between the scanner and the lid (that supplies power and control to the light in the lid) securely fastened? Is the light in the lid coming on?

It kind of looks like your neg is being scanned as a photo and not as a transparency (or negative). Just a couple of guesses.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

I had previously checked the cable. The calibration gap is clear too.

Could it be the bulb? I haven't owned this scanner for very long.

 

[bmattock]

I had previously checked the cable. The calibration gap is clear too.

Could it be the bulb? I haven't owned this scanner for very long.

Could be anything. Does the light in the top of the lid come on when you scan?

As someone else mentioned - if you're not using the Epson neg carrier, you may be blocking the small zone at the 'top' that has to be free - or the scanner assumes you are scanning documents/photos and will not turn on the light in the lid.

You're asking what could be wrong, but you're not providing any answers here.

 

[LV1962]

Well, funny enough I am also having big problems with my Epson 4990..
I have started scanning yesterday and I have literally thousand of pics (just got back from a 4 months trip in South America) to go through, but after the initial batch of say 200 that were scanned kind of fine (lot of purple in many of the pictures, especially the one taken with a new Elmarit M-28/2.8 ASPH 6-bit coded), i now had to stop because I am getting 75-80% of the pictures cut in half (what i mean is the scan is giving me in preview mode two half pictures in one...).
So I guess I am in the market for a new scanner, preferably not Epson.
Any thoughts?

 

[lZr]

Try preview Normal mode, Adjust 24x36 selection area and adjust patiently the frames you want. I use Zoom mode, adjust fine the limits, change (if you need) the levels, brightness and more before pushing scan. Also I am with 4990.

Which scanner software version is yours? I have 3.03E downloaded from epson.uk. I'll check now for any new version available

Checked - No new software. Last one is epson30810eu.exe

 

[infrequent]

all of these posts are not exactly instilling confidence in me as i bought one of these recently. i don't have the scanner yet but fingers crossed its not a lemon.

 

[oscroft]

I am getting 75-80% of the pictures cut in half (what i mean is the scan is giving me in preview mode two half pictures in one...)

Are you scanning in thumbnail mode, so that it detects and frames the negatives automatically? if so, switch that off (it depends on which version of Epson Scan you use - mine has a "Thumbnail" checkbox below the "Preview" button, but earlier versions had a pop-up next to the "Preview" button, I think). Let it do the preview, and then put marquees around the frames manually, and hit the "All" button to select them all to be scanned. I've had two Epson scanners (previously a 3200 and now a V700) and the software is useless at identifying frames in thumbnail mode - I got negatives like you do (with the frame across parts of two negatives), slides scanned horizontally when they're vertical, etc. Doing it manually is much better.

 

[lZr]

The problem with bad identification is the type of negative. If you have dark areas arround the corners (bright in the negative) the identification of the frame is not easy done by the scanner. This is the reason for scannning in Normal (not thumb) mode. Also, some people try scanning the negative as positive, but then we have again different problem...

If you want real 24x36 frame you will want to use Normal mode always. I do. Slow job, but perfect work.
Epson family of flatbad scanners are shinning in Medium format. They are brilliant

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

I found a piece of glass and have placed the negatives under it. It looks much better. I think the problem was that I shot a Fuji 400H with a lot of dark areas on the negatives. I don't think these types of scanners can handle low density with grain. Can anyone suggest a scanner which can? I need to get these professionally scanned now because this thing can't handle it.

 

[lZr]

............ with a lot of dark areas on the negatives. I don't think these types of scanners can handle low density with grain. Can anyone suggest a scanner which can? I need to get these professionally scanned now because this thing can't handle it.

Dark areas are not good in the corners, as I said before, but low density with grain will be also bad for any scanner. Better to shot/develope as good as possible. Moreover, you can postprocess in software.

Glass flattens the negative, but keep eyes on Newton rings