dmr
Registered Abuser
If you scans look flat they are probably very good. What you want to do with the scan is capture all the data. No more, no less.
Wow, somebody finally said that! 🙂
Now you can take that flat looking scan and adjust the levels and contrast in an image editor (like Photoshop) to make a great looking print or JPG.
Part of the trials and tribulations I had learning to scan was trying to make the perfect scan, doing all kinds of futzing around with the bells and whistles of the scanning software.
I finally learned, as you say, to do most of this "in post" using Photoshop.
the correct answer to 99% of photo related questions is "it depends"
I like this quote! It especially applies to this thread. 🙂