Negative Highlight Blocking Up

[Nick Jahn]

On an expression 1680 with silverfast 5.5, I am getting blocked up highlights/loss of detail. These are 4x5 inch negatives. Even if I use curves to bring the numbers well below 255, the detail is still lost. Is this a limitation of the scanner's dmax, supposedly 3.6, or a limitation of the software? Will SF6 do any better? Thanks.

[ianders1]

Nick,

Try adjusting the white point and the black point sliders in the "Gradation Curves" tab. Also, try using the exposure slider in the Negafix palette. Don't forget using the Histogram, either. One or a combination of these adjustments should do the trick.

If it still doesn't work, post again describing the image you are trying to scan.

-Ian A.