Lines on my scans

[Al83]

My Plustek 7300 leaves a faint but noticeable single line on each scan. I'm unsure whether this is a hardware or a software error (I'm using Silverfast). Any thoughts on what might cause this and how to remove it? Cheers!

 

[j j]

An example would help people to see your problem and advise. In your position I would check the film first, try different software (such as Vuescan) and then look at the hardware.

 

[k__43]

I've banding problems with my 8200 sometimes (like a line pattern overlay). I started to scan in full res and scale down afterwards - problem solved at the expense of scan time and (temporary) file size increase.

[edit] just noticed .. you have a single line? always at the same place? with all films not just one? with any software? .. maybe a larger dust particle on the sensor

 

[Al83]

Yes...a single line in the same position on each scan. At first I wondered if it was a scratch on the negative but I've checked negatives from three different cameras and it's not this. It covers the whole width of the frame. Thanks a lot for your comments. I shall try to post an example. I've not tried different software. How would I clean the sensor (which I assume is inside the scanner?).

 

[hanskerensky]

Another possibility is that one of the pixels of the sensor doesn't work properly aymore.
Is the line you talk about in the scanning direction ?

 

[k__43]

Is the line you talk about in the scanning direction ?

good question, I was just assuming that

maybe try a good blow with a blower and see if the line is gone or at least moved to another spot. (that holds the risk that you actually add some dust)
I have a similar problem with my V500 sometimes and cleaning the glass and the light source window helps (dunno why that is, but only the base glass is no good)

It would also be interesting to see if there is a line in any channel (including the infrared one) if you actually scan nothing

 

[Al83]

Thanks for all your comments. Yes, the line is in the direction of scan. I haven't tried scanning nothing or infrared but that's a good suggestion and I shall try it. I'm struggling to post images here but will try that again later to give you a sample to look at. Cheers, Alan

 

[sevo]

Another possibility is that one of the pixels of the sensor doesn't work properly aymore.

That is unlikely, given the (recent) age of the Plustek. Every scanner I have had since the mid nineties does map out dead pixels. In bad cases that interpolation may create subtly visible longitudinal banding, as a significantly wide gap is filled by interpolating the adjacent pixels. But given that the optical resolution of flatbed scanners tends to be a fair amount below the pixel resolution, single pixel errors can be completely recovered and are invisible.

Is the line you talk about in the scanning direction ?

The common reason for lines along the scanning direction is dirt in the calibration area. This causes the scanner to set a wrong white (or less frequently black) point for a pixel or group of pixels. Unless it is due to a scratch in the cover plate, it can be fixed by cleaning the calibration area.

Lines or banding across the scanning direction indicate either data loss or irregular transport - the former usually a computer side problem.

 

[Al83]

If this works you should be able to see the line to the RHS of the image and between the man and the grill feature on the wall....🙂

 

[Al83]

I'm having no success here.... The single line appears to be of a reddish colour. It's certainly not black or white. I'm struggling to get into the scanner to check for dirt...just can't figure out how it comes apart and I don't want to damage it. I scanned without a negative in place and got a pure black frame without any apparent line. I've tried single scan and multi scan and the line is there on both. Scratch removal doesn't do anything for it either... Anyone know how to open up the scanner?

 

[Al83]

I tried Vuescan - same result so I figure it's not a software issue.

 

[Borge H]

Lines

Lines

I have also had lines (single red and sometimes blue) on my scanned color photos with my Plustek 7200. I never notice it when scanning black and white film.

I solved it by changing the resolution in the software, I reduced or increased the size of the scan and the lines then disappeared. I tried to contact Plustek and Silverfast, without success.

I have now bought close-up equipment (second hand!) to my Leica, so I will later try to use my M9 as scanner. Some people say that the result will be good.

At least it will be faster....

 

[M Currie]

I had a similar problem with my Nikon LS IV ED some time ago, with one or more lines, and it scared me. I tried blowing it out, and it helped some, but there were still occasional lines. Then I found that if I changed the resolution it would disappear, and it would not reappear when I went back to the original resolution. If I did not change the resolution, it would persist in the saved image. It remains utterly mysterious, but a quick zoom seems to fix it.