Stripes and Bands

[LChanyungco]

does anyone know why my Epson V200 scanner does this ? so far i've cleaned the white calibration strip and cleaned both sides of the glass plate and neither had an effect. does anyone have any suggestions ? if not does anyone want a scanner that pinstripes everything you scan ? 🙂

 

[Scrambler]

If you've seen raw scanning output, it looks something like that. I suspect the software isn't calibrating at all.

Check your settings and I'd also give a trial version of Vuescan a run and see if it does the same.

 

[LChanyungco]

thanks for the help ! i'm already using Vuescan and you're correct i'm scanning in RAW. could you give me a heads up on how to calibrate properly ?

If you've seen raw scanning output, it looks something like that. I suspect the software isn't calibrating at all.

Check your settings and I'd also give a trial version of Vuescan a run and see if it does the same.

 

[Scrambler]

Sorry, that's the limit of my knowledge! I gather there's some sort of profiling you can do in Vuescan?

Hang on, the memory cells might be kicking in. I think you now "scan" your file from Vuescan??

I've never gone the RAW scan direction myself. One full-range archive (the negative) is enough for me.

 

[Scrambler]

By the way, that's clean compared to some raw dumps I have seen online.

Why use the RAW scanning? If the purpose of scanning is to get the best possible image, adjust your Vuescan settings until you get either (a) what you want or (b) good raw material to process to what you want. RAW scanning is an archive technique AFAIK, and simply allows different "scans" to be done without physically rescanning the original.

 

[cabbiinc]

By the way, that's clean compared to some raw dumps I have seen online.

Why use the RAW scanning? If the purpose of scanning is to get the best possible image, adjust your Vuescan settings until you get either (a) what you want or (b) good raw material to process to what you want. RAW scanning is an archive technique AFAIK, and simply allows different "scans" to be done without physically rescanning the original.

The intent of the RAW scan from Vuescan is to defer the processing of the file until later, but unlike RAW files from cameras it is intended to be reprocessed within Vuescan itself. Dust removal settings, color, etc... You can even have another instance of Vuescan running on your computer and while you're scanner is scanning in the first instance, you're putting the RAW files back through Vuescan and finishing it up. Keeping your scanner scanning, which of course takes the most time.

 

[cabbiinc]

To calibrate your scanner in Vuescan click Scanner> Calibrate. It will move the scan head to the calibration area and run a short process. If nothing seems to happen then you likely can't calibrate that particular scanner.

Also, I know you've said that cleaned the calibration strip, but is the material you are scanning impede into that area? If so then the calibration is being contaminated by that material.

 

[Scrambler]

The intent of the RAW scan from Vuescan is to defer the processing of the file until later, but unlike RAW files from cameras it is intended to be reprocessed within Vuescan itself. Dust removal settings, color, etc... You can even have another instance of Vuescan running on your computer and while you're scanner is scanning in the first instance, you're putting the RAW files back through Vuescan and finishing it up. Keeping your scanner scanning, which of course takes the most time.

Yes, although my computers are fairly basic and would grind to a halt trying to process two images at once.

My question was directed to the OP. Why is HE using RAW? All scanners are stripey with RAW scanning. The simplest solution to the stripes is to stop using RAW and just scan to a TIFF.

 

[cabbiinc]

All scanners are stripey with RAW scanning.

This is just simply not true to any degree. The reason why you scan to RAW, from a reflective material, is to be able to keep the scanner scanning (although that's usually not an issue). You also don't have to lock yourself into a color space if you don't want to until you reprocess the files. Scanning RAW doesn't cause stripes though. If it did, why do so many people do it with their film?

 

[x-ray]

I'm not familiar with the v200 but I've never seen banding in a properly operating scanner. My Fuji's and the Imacon I have don't band and have never seen it on the two Epsons I've owned and still own one.

A good test is to simply scann to a TIF and see if it bands.

If the calibration window/space has any obstruction in it like tape which I've done it will band like crazy. Even my Fuji Lanovia Quattro would go nuts if there was anything blocking any part of the calibration window.

Can a Tif or Jpg and see what happens.

 

[Scrambler]

This is just simply not true to any degree. The reason why you scan to RAW, from a reflective material, is to be able to keep the scanner scanning (although that's usually not an issue). You also don't have to lock yourself into a color space if you don't want to until you reprocess the files. Scanning RAW doesn't cause stripes though. If it did, why do so many people do it with their film?

scanners need calibration. Uncalibrated their output is not consistent. The final product though: TIFF, JPG is not striped provided the calibration is correct. If they didn't need calibration they wouldn't have it.

I may be wrong, my sample size is small. Perhaps some scanners give great Uncalibrated scans. But equally, the advice to try a calibrated scan to TIFF or JPG should be heeded before deciding the scanner is faulty. I've certainly seen worse RAW scans.

 

[xvvvz]

x-ray is right. Are you using a film holder? Is it placed/oriented correctly (often an issue when I hear of this problem)? Is there anything covering the calibration gap in any way? Is there even a speck of dust or smudge on the glass below where the calibration gap of the holder sits?

Doug

 

[cabbiinc]

scanners need calibration. Uncalibrated their output is not consistent. The final product though: TIFF, JPG is not striped provided the calibration is correct. If they didn't need calibration they wouldn't have it.

I may be wrong, my sample size is small. Perhaps some scanners give great Uncalibrated scans. But equally, the advice to try a calibrated scan to TIFF or JPG should be heeded before deciding the scanner is faulty. I've certainly seen worse RAW scans.

Yes, scanners usually need calibration and this is usually done automatically without the user even knowing that it's happening. Tiff, jpeg, dng, pdf, raw, or OCR. But a raw scan is no different than a jpeg in regards to striping. If the raw scan will stripe then the jpeg will too. After all, the jpeg is created from the raw scan, whether you're saving as a raw or not.

 

[LChanyungco]

hey guys thanks for trying to help. Unfortunately scanning in tiff mode isn't any better... i'll try messing with the settings again before i throw it out. anyone want to swap an m9 for my xpan ? 😉

 

[x-ray]

The sensor may be bad.

Is the bulb working? There's a lot of noise in the image. If the bulb is ok and tif files show the same it is likely the CCD or circuitry failure. Check all connections that might come loose. Is this the firs time you've scanned with it? Is it new and under warranty? I don't know the cost of the v200 but if it's out of warranty it's often cheaper to toss it and get a new one.

This kind of thing can drive you crazy. I have a problem with my Imacon 848 that I bought refurbished direct from Hasselblad. It would scan maybe fifty high res scans then start rearranging parts of the image or blank or totally freeze. I sent it to Hasselblad and the could never get it to fail but immediately when I received it back it failed. I've replaced the power supply ($365) and gone throug all the diagnostics with the tech on the phone. I've replaced FireWire cables, used three computers, three different operating systems and it still malfunctions after a dozen scans. It will do more scans some days and fewer others. It locks up sometimes and others it rearranges the image or scans black. Now that it's out of warranty Hasselblad says it's the main board and costs $1700 + $400 installation and tuneup. I'm negotiating they cover part of the cost since I sent it up ($200 shipping) with no results. I still love the machine and winger it straightened out eventually.

One thing I've learned after three Fuji prepress scanners and 2 Imacon. They are delicate beasts and have a personality of their own. They have to be maintained or you're looking at many headaches.

Call Epson service. Most likely they can help. In my town, Knoxville TN, there's an authorized Epson service center called Mac1. They might be able to talk you through the problem.

Good luck.

Ps It can be something as simple as a dirty connection, bad ground or bad cable. Scanners don't like long FireWire cables as a rule. Use the shortest cables possible. Swap input ports and cables. Try another computer if you have access to another. Make certain your OS and drivers are compatible and the latest driver.

If you're running a Mac as I do I stick with proven operating systems. I use lightroom and had to update my snow leopard to use lightroom 5. I went to mountain lion and found all kinds of compatibility issues with my Wacom and calibration software. I had to put a second SSD with lion on it and now I run from that drive and have no issues. I'm going to format the d mountain lion drive and put XP on it.