V700 scanner artefact

[lynnb]

This artefact appears on a substantial proportion of my V700 scans, usually where there is a tonal transition (in this case around a nostril), however it's not easily predictable when/where it will appear.
Any suggestions on what it is and how to prevent it?
Thanks,
Lynn

 

[JamesFromSydney]

Do you have ICE enabled, and what kind of film is that? This kind of thing does happen with Kodachromes.

 

[lynnb]

thanks James - ICE is not enabled, but dust removal is. This example and the other are on colour neg scans, but it also happens on trannies.
I'll try again with dust removal turned off and see what happens.
Cheers,
Lynn

 

[lynnb]

it worked! Many thanks, James.

without dust removal:

 

[katgut@earthlink.net]

Yes, dust removal is not effective on my V500, and I never use it. Just ruins the photo.

 

[photokalia]

I agree, the same thing happens to me when I enable dust removal on my V700. I don't bother with it anymore.

 

[Keith]

I used dust removal once on my V700 and got similar results.

I have to ask myself ... why did they bother?

 

[robklurfield]

ICE is very strange. I scanned this earlier today. All of the shadow areas look as if they were done in water color. It's an interesting effect, but not one I wanted.

 

[Keith]

When I saw the blurb about what ice could do for an old somewhat degraded image I was very excited ... until I actually tried it. It seems to create an instant watercolour effect.

Demonstrated perfectly in your example Rob. 😀

 

[htimsdj]

What kind of film is that?

ICE is very strange. I scanned this earlier today. All of the shadow areas look as if they were done in water color. It's an interesting effect, but not one I wanted.

 

[antiquark]

ICE doesn't work on B&W film (if that's the kind of film you used.)

 

[d_ross]

four things to do to improve your scans

four things to do to improve your scans

I have found three things using the V700 scanner that vastly improve my scans.

1, turn the small clips that hold the film holder up from the glass plate from the - to the + setting

2, turn everything off sharpening, ice, dust removal etc.

3, scan the image to actual print size you desire at 300 dpi

4, turn color management off in your scanner software, this gives you a virtual scanner raw file, then process this file in Lightroom or whatever, just as you would a RAW file from digital capture.

By doing all three of these things I have improved my scans to the point where they compare well to many drum scanners.

 

[robklurfield]

aha! yes, that was Ilford Pan F+. So, that would explain my watercolor-ed effect. The other thing about Digital ICE is that it took about five to six time longer to scan than with Dust Removal. Of course, that's sort of moot since ICE doesn't work with B&W. Anyway, having satisfied my curiosity, I doubt I'll be trying that again (even in color) anytime soon.

 

[robklurfield]

I'll have try this. Thanks for the tips. I've wondered how to get RAW-like scans.

Curious: do you use Epson's software or something else? Sounds from what you've written that you're using their software. Thanks!

I have found three things using the V700 scanner that vastly improve my scans.

1, turn the small clips that hold the film holder up from the glass plate from the - to the + setting

2, turn everything off sharpening, ice, dust removal etc.

3, scan the image to actual print size you desire at 300 dpi

4, turn color management off in your scanner software, this gives you a virtual scanner raw file, then process this file in Lightroom or whatever, just as you would a RAW file from digital capture.

By doing all three of these things I have improved my scans to the point where they compare well to many drum scanners.

 

[robklurfield]

interesting. here's the re-scan of the same image (Pan F+). The ICE artifacts are gone, but the scratches (a failed experiment in dust control using a Dyson vacuum cleaner; don't ask) have returned with a vengeance. Gee, it'd be nice if they could figure out how to make that work in B&W, as did do quite a good job of reducing the apparent depth of those gashes.

 

[d_ross]

yes I do use the latest Epson software downloaded from their website. I forgot to mention that changing from the - to + on the film holder supports results in a noticeable increase in sharpness.

Cheers