Green cast with IT-8!

[skirmont]

I am use PS6.0 with Siverfast Ai5.52 and WinXP.

I have never gotten correct IT8 reflective calibraton results. I am using
R011204. I have followed the calibration tutorial and have used the
scanner with a different computer and win2k also.

I didn't remeber having issues with my old computer and W98SE.

When I scan a kodak grey scale or a gretag chart, bw photo, magazine
cover, pantone chips, anything, there is a shift to green. I can see it in
the densitometer tool numbers too. Prints look green as an additional check.

When I scan using PS6 and epson twain, The greys are grey and even, colors
look right. Very correct.

I also set SF up with ICM and the default ICM profiles from epson and
everything looks fine.
ICM and the SF generated profile looks green.

It is like a profile is being applied twice. Once by SF, and
once by the OS?

Or the reference data is bad / calibration faded. But is has been well
stored in the sleeve and manual.

I have read the posts on your site to no avail.

I am at a loss.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

DAS

[ianders1]

Probably a stupid question - but are you using a calibrated monitor as well? Also, does Windows have the correct profile for your monitor. I only ask because I changed Monitor profiling tools and suddenly my colors went to hell. Ends up Windows showed 2 profiles associated with my monitor and somehow that screwed it all up.

[skirmont]

The monitor is calibrated.

I can verify the green cast with the eye-dropper tool and
with a final print. The Epson Twain driver and scan program produces
correct colors on screen = eye-dropper values = final print.

DAS

[ianders1]

2 more observations - why are you using the TWAIN version instead of the PS Plugin? The plugin works much better (from a color-management standpoint) than the TWAIN version. If you're not already, I'd download/install the plugin.

Also, are you sure that you're using the correct reference files? The latest ones are here:

http://www.silverfast.com/it8calibration/en.html

Also, how old is the target? They do fade over time, but you've stored it well, so it'd take many years. Also, if the glass on the scanner clean and the lid (if applicable) completely closed? Do scanners with the Epson software come out green? Is the scanner old and need a new bulb?

Just some thoughts...

[skirmont]

Excellent questions.

I downloaded the reference files from the website way back and resently.

The twain driver that I used was the one from epson and it was in PS.
Import -> EPSON TWAIN. Just like using Silverfast.

The scanner is 3? years old. But if the bulb was really bad, why are
the colors using the default EPSON profile correct, even in silverfast?
It is just the generated profile that causes problems.

The lid is sealed. The glass is clean. The profile is as old as the scanner
and well stored. Sleeved and in a book.

The scanner light has a slight purplish tint if any. But the PS twain plug-in produces great results with the default profile.

I can see why making the image greener would cancel the magenta/purple of the bulb. But it looks like the profile gets applied twice.
Hence the green cast. It seems like the raw scan = purple tint, 1 profile = correct (green cancels magenta), 2nd pass through the profile = green.
Just a theory.

Is there some other color management setting that I am missing?
I am pretty savy on CM issues. I have gone through the tutorials
and think I understand things fairly well.

Win2K and WinXP both have built in CM. Is that causing an issue with the
pre-XP silverfast 5.52?

I may try a different target, or upgrade one of these days. but it shouldn't be required.

DAS

[ianders1]

It sounds like you've got everything in order, so it may be a software issue. I would email Lasersoft, telling them what the problem is, at support@silverfast.com. I would also include the .icc file (profile) that you made as well as the SF_LogFile.txt (C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop 7.0\Plug-Ins\Import-Export) and the .prf file(s) (C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop 7.0\Plug-Ins\Import-Export\SilverFast\Prefs) so they have everything they need.