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First Scans with the V700

Posted: 06 Oct 2013, 11:05
by Waltzing Paul
I have now had chance to try out the new V700 scanner.
Not too impressed with the SilverFast software that was bundled with it - Version 6 SE.
Like going back 15 years in terms of software - pretty crap actually.
I haven't upgraded to version 8 - even trying that was a bit of a nightmare so gave up on it.
Been using the bundled Epson scanning software which is much more polished and works well as far as I can tell.

I'd welcome some help with the best settings to use for b&w negs.

It was good to see some of my work over the last few months with 4x5 and 120 negatives come to life digitally at last.
Included photos for opinions and critic.

Thanks.

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 10 Oct 2013, 17:26
by Waltzing Paul
Just an update - of course I meant D76 developer.

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 11 Oct 2013, 07:44
by smbooth
There is no one setting to use when scanning, I just use the Epson scanning software.
Set the epson scan mode to Professional
Do a preview
Set your document, image resolution etc.
Unclick "Unsharp mask" always unsharp your image last, not first as it really depend on how your outputting the image.
Then using the level adjust, (the button that looks like a histogram)
Set the two output triangle all the way out, ie black triangle to the left and white triangle to the right so the boxes read 1 & 255, then set the histogram black & white points so they only cover the histogram. That way your scanning in all the information on the negative. From there scan and then do levels, contract curves etc in your photo editing program.

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 11 Oct 2013, 10:23
by Lachlan717
FWIW, I do exactly the same as Shane.

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 11 Oct 2013, 21:59
by FrankL
Shane, That's good information.
Thanks

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 11 Oct 2013, 22:09
by Walter Glover
I set both the INPUT sliders and the OUTPUT sliders to 0 and 255.

Photoshop has far better algorithms for making adjustments. My rule of thumb is, the scanner is for scanning and PS is for processing.

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 14 Oct 2013, 14:55
by Marc Morel
I do the same thing as Shane also! Great scanner - heaps better than the Canon 9900 somethingorother I had beforehand...

Marc!

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 14 Oct 2013, 16:27
by Lachlan717
Marc Morel wrote:Great scanner - heaps better than the Canon 9900 somethingorother I had beforehand...

Marc!


I'm still flummoxed by those who complain about them. Even scanning my 7x17" negs is pretty easy, and I have no issue with how they look stitched together.

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 16 Oct 2013, 11:02
by Photomark
When scanning I have found you will always get far better scans with things like dust removal turned off , don't let your scanner make any decisions for you , adjust things like levels and contrast on the scanner to give you the most information , this will not be the best looking scan but this is not what you want from a scan , you want information and all of it ( well as much as the scanner will give you )

Once you have this scan it then becomes a digital image that you edit in PS or whatever it is you use , this is where the time factor associated with working with large files comes into play and where digital editing skills help a lot , remember that once you scan a film you are no longer working with film.

I have a V500 that does a beautiful job on MF negs and I also use it to scan 4x5 with a custom film holder , I can scan 67mm x 120mm of a 4x5 film's surface .
Hoping to get a V700 soon though

Re: First Scans with the V700

Posted: 02 Nov 2013, 14:10
by Waltzing Paul
Thanks to you all for the scanning tips.
I wasn't using the levels to get all the info but will now - thanks Shane.
The more I use this scanner the more I like it.
Pity Epson doesn't include detailed instructions for scanning negatives.
The Epson website is not much use either.

The other settings I'm using are:
16 bit greyscale
Document size = original
Resolution = 2400
uncheck all the boxes - unsharp mask etc.

Any comments on the resolution and document size?

Thanks again.