Epson V750 scanner questions

[Jan Van Laethem]

I recently acquired an Epson Perfection V750 Pro and have a couple of questions.

1) When scanning negatives and clicking on preview, I get an output size for each image of 34,7 x 21,1mm, so I am losing quite a bit of the original 36 x 24mm film size. Is there a way to maximize the scanned area? I understand I will lose a bit on both sides, but I'd like to get as close as possible to the actual film size.

2) I'm doing fine with black and white, but today I tried colour negative film and I get really washed out colours. What are the best settings for colour (negative and slides)?

Thanks.

 

[Keith]

Do a preview scan and then create the scan frames manually. You create the first frame then duplicate it and move to the next frame then repeat the process and so on ... I set mine at 23.6 x 35.7mm. It's a little tedious but that 'thumbnail' function thet you describe drove me mad the way it cropped ... disable it and go the long route if you want to maximise your scanned negative area.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Thanks Keith. That will take care of problem nº 1. How exactly can I create those scan frames manually? Do I click on them and drag the borders to open them up? I'm fairly new at the scanning process.

 

[xvvvz]

>>How exactly can I create those scan frames manually?<<

Definitely don't rely on auto cropping. Most people who rely on auto cropping have never discovered how much of their image has unknowingly often been mis-cropped. I put up a few tips for creating a batch scan here:

http://www.betterscanning.com/scanning/batchscanning.html

Doug

 

[photogirl]

same problems on V700 and in addition, I get intermittent cropping.

same problems on V700 and in addition, I get intermittent cropping.

I have two of these v700 scanners and am experiencing intermittent unexplained cropping in all scan modes. I have tried various positioning and matting and cannot diagnose the source of the problem. Also, the film cartridge is difficult to use with brittle, old film - any suggestions for an alternative? Thanks

 

[Dwig]

Thanks Keith. That will take care of problem nº 1. How exactly can I create those scan frames manually? Do I click on them and drag the borders to open them up? I'm fairly new at the scanning process.

I presume you are using EPSON Scan. I find it rather decent software, but the UI is often poor and documentation is less than lucid.

To allow you to manually marquee select the scanning area you simply uncheck the "create thumbnails" check box in the lower left of the window. After doing a preview scan you can then drag a marquee around the area you want scanned. If you want a second image selected you hold the CTRL key (or is it SHIFT ???) while dragging the second marquee. You can create as many as you need.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Thanks everyone for your answers.

I disabled the "create thumbnails" option, put a marquee around the first negative and then copied the same selection to the rest of the frames. Hitting the auto exposure button for each image (something I forgot to do in my first attempt) took care of the weird colour problems. I now get decent colour, which I can always fine tune afterwards in Photoshop.

I use Photoshop to import the images via the Epson software. I agree about Silverfast being the worst software I've ever used. I make my selections 24,0 x 36,0 mm and then crop the black borders in Photoshop, I feel I have more control this way.

This now also solved my problem with scanning panoramic 65 x 24mm film, so I can scan these in one go.

 

[funkpilz]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I was wondering how those of you that shoot 6x7 cut their film strips. My archival sheets only hold four strips, but three frames per strip is too much for the V7xx. Anyone else have these problems?

As for the color scanning thing, I scan all color negs as positives and batch-invert them in Photoshop. That being said, I don't shoot much color because the hassle both pre- and post-capture is too much for me to bother with.

 

[Dwig]

Sorry to hijack this thread, but ...

then don't.

But while you're here, you might check out these aftermarket carriers for the EPSON v700/750:

http://www.betterscanning.com/scanning/vseries.html

I haven't used them myself, but the various carriers from Better Scanning always get high marks on the forums I read. These particular 120 carriers can scan a width of 213mm, some 13mm wider than the stock EPSON 120 carrier. They can hold a longer 230mm strip. Your only other option would be to scan using EPSON's 8x10 "film area guide", perhaps with the addition of Better Scanning's 8x10 anti-newton glass "insert".

 

[EliasK]

V700/750 thumbnail cropping area is adjustable
-Use "professional" mode
-Go to "Configuration" menu, "preview" tab
-There is a slider for "thumbnail cropping area"
-"Small" is 34.9x21.8mm
-"Medium" is 35.6x24.1mm
-"Large" is 38.3x27.2mm

i use the large setting and crop at photoshop, Medium is ok also but if the negative isn't exactly centered you may have some unwanted crop.
Also, is better to check the "quality preview" option.