Problem on scanning negs. Help!

[Jochan]

I have been using my Minolta Dual IV to scan my film for a year and found that it often perform badly on thick color neg films. As I scan high key images or some overexposed images from negs, the image is dark and lack of contrast (without used auto level on the scanner software) or over contrasted (when used). I guess it is because the thick image emulsion on the neg blocks most of the scanner light. I can never get a beautiful light tone on scanning my overexposed/high key negs. It just gives me over contrast, rough and full of noise images on such circumstances.

I am wondering if this is caused by the limited performance of Dual IV or merely a common problem on all scanners. Could anyone help me and give me some advice? Should I change my scanner? 😕

 

[sf]

scan as positive instead of negative, and learn to use the curves - you can set the curves in the Minolta Dimage software to fix the problem.

 

[Jochan]

Thanks Shutterflower. That's an innovative solution! I'll try and explore this. But, go on my last question, are you implying this is a common problem on all scanners?

Any Nikon, Epson user face the same problem here?

 

[smileyguy]

You also may want to double check the colour space of the scanner is matching the monitor and software that you are using. I had similar problems with my canoscan 9950F but tweaked everything so that it seems to be more consistent. Also, on my scanner there is a "calibrate each scan" option where the scanner calibrates itself on each set of scans. Helps immensely.

Good luck.

 

[sf]

My scanner does exactly the same thing. It's the autoexpose function of hte scanner that does it. I scan my less perfectly exposed negs in positive, then invert them later. It DOES take some curvework to get things right, but it works a heck of alot better than simply scanning neg-style. SOmetimes, however, I find that scanning in negative works better. It really is an issue that needs to be considered on a scan by scan basis.