Minolta Dual II and Vuescan

[Q-dog]

Ok, so I have an old Dual II that I haven't used for a long time but since I don't like putting working things in the garbage can I thought that I should try to sell it cheap. But first I wanted to check if it still was working at all. I made some scans using Vuescan and there is nothing obvious wrong with them considering the age and quality of the Dual II. But the histograms look all jagged. It looks like the histogram is expecting 16 bit values but is only getting 8 bit. ( I use 8 bit grey). But then it might be the scanner. I would like to know before selling it even if I will giving it away. What do you think?
ola

 

[Bob Michaels]

I used a ScanDual II with Vuescan for years. It did great work.

Are you sure you are outputting a 16 bit file from Vuescan? You mentioned you used 8 bit grayscale files. Obviously if you are outputting an 8 bit file, the histogram will look jagged.

Basically, either the scanner works or it does not. It sounds like yours does.

 

[Q-dog]

Thanks for your reply, Bob. Well at first I scanned as 16bit grayscale. When I got the jagged histogram I thought the scanner maybe only was capable of 8 bit so I changed the settings. But with the same results.
Ola

 

[Bob Michaels]

The ScanDual II actually outputs 12 bit in a 16 bit file. I could not remember, so went back and checked the specs. But 12 bit is certainly enough.

I would not worry if the histogram looks jagged or not. If in Photoshop, have you gone back and rebuilt the histogram (check on the ! in the triangle)? It may well be that the algorithms used to build the histogram are not that precise but the actual photos are fine.

I suspect your testing methodology is flawed, the the scanner.

 

[cabbiinc]

Input tab, Bits per pixel needs to be 48 bit RGB even if you're scanning a grayscale image. Otherwise the scanner will never give enough information to smooth out the histogram.

 

[Nokton48]

I have a Minolta Scan Dual II, and use Vuescan, and I like it. The scans are graintight sharp and very acceptable. When it comes to computer stuff, I am a huge believer in recycling older technology. I agree it either works or it dosen't.

In fact, I have a second Scan Dual II, which I bought very cheaply as a backup, and to get another BULB. That seems to be a problem, depending on the history of the unit.

 

[Q-dog]

Thanks all. I was a bit concerned because I don't remember that it looked that way when I last used the scanner. But that was several years ago. Maybe the later versions of Vuescan calculates the histogram differently. Or I used some other settings.

Ola