Scratch & dust removal: SF6 versus SF5

[Roger Jones]

Windows 98SE, Photoshop 6, Nikon Super Coolscan 4000

I must be missing something. I have just de-installed SF6 and re-installed SF5. Why? Because the automatic scratch & dust removal in SF5 seems far superior to that in SF6 (using colour positive and negative films). Following the prescribed workflow, in SF6 if I got into the manual adjustment dialog and started altering the results of the auto settings, I was presented with so many possible defects -- many far from convincing -- that I retreated and resorted to auto. The final scanned results show far more defects than the same images scanned in SF5. I assume that, in SF6, if one doesn't get into manual adjustment and the two buttons (SDR and the "Red Cross" button) are showing in active mode, scratch & dust removal happens automatically.

As of now I feel like requesting a refund for SF6. But, as I said, I must be missing something. Can someone convince me I am?

[LSI_Belli]

Dear Roger,

SRD is a new feature available in SF 6, and not in SF 5. You can still use the ICE dust & scratch removal function you were using in SF 5. Only one button should be active at a time, either the button with the red cross for ICE or the SRD button for the dust & scratch removal function from LaserSoft.

SRD is a pure software solution, whereas ICE uses an extra infrared channel to detect the defects on your film. That means that the parameters used by SRD need to be tuned and some masks and layers might be needed. A get a great result cannot be achieved just by pressing the auto button.

Regards,

Thomas

[Paul Escudier]

Would it be possible for SRD to use the infrared mask as a starting point? If you could then adjust this it solve the problem with ektachrome and also let you preview what ICE is attempting to remove. The reason I ask is thet in v**s**n you can export a picture with the infrared defect mask as an alpha channel, so surely it must be possible?

[LSI_Belli]

Dear Paul,

We continually investigate improvements to SRD, including the possibility of working with the infrared channel.

Excellent feedback

Regards,

Thomas