Found a very useful photoshop plug-in.

[markinlondon]

Hi Vincent,
(snip)

With regards to the purpose... I only intend show the capabilities of the software and its application to traditional black-and-white photography. Typically this type of software is used on high-ISO colour images from DSLRs. I wanted to demonstrate another purpose for it... (snip)

Personally, I'd have gone for a different developer as I don't think "traditional black and white photgraphy" uses software 🙂 . That Acros looks very grainy in Diafine to start with, what sort of contrast were you getting? High, I'll bet, and I've always found high-contrast negs will scan noisier than thinner ones.

An interesting illustration though and the difference is quite remarkable,

Mark

 

[jano]

Hmm.. acros in diafine.. I tried it last weekend and my scans were not grainy at all. The combo reminded me of a very clean HP5... I did not like the results as much as acros in xtol, however. If wanted, I can post some examples.

Jano

 

[ed1k]

Now if I could find some software to eliminate dust specks....

I think photoshop CS has filters for scratch&dust removing. If you don't have PS you can get free Polaroid's scratch&dust remover from here:
http://www.jamesphotography.ca/downloads.html
Be aware, all these tools will remove real small and contrasty details from the image. Scanner with infrared channel might be much better option (doesn't work with silver b&w though).
Eduard.

 

[rich815]

I've been using NeatImage for a while now but I apply it to a layer in PS, then "paint" it back in just where I want it, which is usually just in the deeper shadow areas that have scanning noise. I dislike using it "straight" as it gives the overall photo a look that, to me, is too clinical and digital looking. I like some grain and the edge effects from that and NeatImage, when applied overall, sometimes takes too much of that away. A great tool but I use it in a very refined way.

 

[Lemures-Ex]

I think neatimage looks too digital (this is based on my own tests, not just this image). If you want a digital look then shoot digital. Film is supposed to have some grain. The thing that makes the most difference is the micro contrast...