Problem with Plustek 7600i SE + SF8 - "lines"

[pdh]

I've been using this scanner with Silverfast 8 for nearly a year quite happily, but recently started to notice more and more that my scans are showing unevenness and distinct lines. The lines are always in the same place and are most noticeable in areas of high density on the negative.

I always scan in 16bit HDR mode and then invert

As the problem appears on multiple rolls, I can only assume these are scanner or software artifacts.

Anyone seen anything like this before?

 

[BW400CN]

I´ve got a Reflecta CrystalScan 7200 with nearly the same porblem.
At Reflecta they told me I shouldn´t use an USB hub for it and disconect all other USB stuff - that helped a bit!
I belive that there is somewhere some dirt in the scanner but I couldn´t open it to clean ist by my own.
Ok I could open the housing but then it´s finished for me - that is as far as I go.
Interessting for me is that I only have this problem with some films.
Fuji Superia 200 + 800 are extremly bad to scan for me

Kodak BW400CN - Farbwelt200 - EliteChrome100 - Ilford XP2 work without a problem.

 

[David_Manning]

Silverfast 6 was doing this to my Plustek 7600i SE scans about a year ago. With the software update (Silverfast 8 SE), I luckily haven't seen it. For me it was much worse on color than b&w.

 

[pdh]

hehe "unplug all other USB devices" ... that's my mouse and keyboard out of the question, so I'll have to use mind-control to work the 'puter ...🙂

 

[cabbiinc]

hehe "unplug all other USB devices" ... that's my mouse and keyboard out of the question, so I'll have to use mind-control to work the 'puter ...🙂

http://www.majorgeeks.com/USBDeview_d6115.html
You can "uninstall" anything that your computer used to have installed on your USB bus with this software (assuming Windows machine). However if you were having USB issues it would either work or not. In any case, if your USB was the issue simply plugging your mouse and keyboard to one side of your computer and the scanner into the other side would get them on different USB buses than having them plugged into the same side (or front/back) of the computer..... in most cases.\

This however looks an awful lot like you have dust in the calibration area, on the mirror(s), on the lens, on the sensor array, etc.... If you try canned air to blow it out never turn the can over while spraying, the liquid that will result will be yet another mess to clean up. Some extended vacuuming at the vents may help as well.

 

[pdh]

hmm that's interesting (the dust thing, not the usb thing, I understand how usb works 🙂, I'm just easily amused... ) thanks.

When you say the "vents" I assume you mean the wee doors that the film carrier slides through - the Plustek is otherwise a sealed unit.

 

[johannielscom]

Be careful with canned air, it has real low temperature at the nozzle of the can. Keep sufficient distance.

I've seen things like that before and it does look like dust.

But, to rule the software out, download and install VueScan from www.hamrick.com and try that. The free trial version prints dollar signs over your scans but you should be able to see if the same piece of film still has any lines.

IMHO, once you go VueScan, you never go back...😀

 

[pdh]

I detest Vuescan and its horrible Windows 3.1 style interface ... plus SF8 was free, so I have long since deleted my trial version, but perhaps I'll get another just to test this

 

[V-12]

While I don't agree that Vuescan is necessarily the best thing since sliced bread, it is a good test to see if something has been corrupted in your main line of attack. But at the same time it would be worth re-installing Silverfast as well, before you stump up for Vuescan.

 

[pdh]

i don't possess any canned air. it always seems bit nutty to put air in a can. to me it's like buying water in a bottle instead of getting out of a tap.
I have a rocket blower, however.

 

[pdh]

I brief interchange via email in broken English with Plustek support suggests an upgrade to the latest driver is in order (I should have thought of this myself of course in the first place)

However, this produces rather a pleasing "corduroy" effect on my scans ...


Scan problems get worse after driver update