Soft scan w/ multisampling

[Jan Becket]

I just upgraded from Ai to Ai Studio to take advantage of the new multisampling feature. I'm scanning in 16-bit grayscale at 4800 dpi on my Epson 4990, with multisampling set at 16 scans. The image comes out unacceptably soft - a dramatic difference from what I was getting previously.

There doesn't seem to be anything yet in the FAQ area about this, so I hope the forum can help.

Thanks!

[Jan Becket]

I may have answered my own question - Ai Studio does not install over the older version of Ai - 6.4.2r8. The older version was still running. The odd thing is that it still runs even when I trash everything in the Photoshop import\export folder and in the Silverfast application folder, and then run the installer for Ai Studio.

[RAG]

Jan,

What you describe is very odd because one of the first things the install program does when ever I upgrade is to detect the previous version and then un-install it from my computer before installing the newer version.

It might be that you did not enter the AI Studio serial number and are actually still running AI. Check the version and if this is the case go to the following link for information on how to update your serial number and unlock the AI Studio features.

http://www.silverfast.com/faq/1005/en.html

[Jan Becket]

Your're correct - I was running Ai instead of Studio. The installer did not remove Ai, and in fact I have learned from the support folks that I was shipped a disk with an incorrect serial number. Hopefully, the new number will install Studio.

[RAG]

Jan,

If you have downloaded and installed the AI Studio update from the web site all you will need to do when they provide you with the serial number is to follow the procedure at the link I posted. Then you enter the new serial number and that will unlock the Studio functions.

[Jan Becket]

Well, the good news is that serializing with the corrected number I was sent did indeed get the Studio function working, so that issue is nicely resolved! Many thanks for the suggestions.

The bad news is that scans are still unacceptably soft with multisampling turned on. With one pass, they reveal grain but with more than one pass details are fuzzy beyond the ability of any sharpen filter to fix. The Epson scanning software does fine, on the other hand.

I'm at a loss here. Suggestions very welcome ...

[Jan Becket]

Oops, I spoke too soon. Scanning with just one pass, as in the non-Studio version of Ai, does produce sharp scans, but upon closer inspection I see that the shadows are dramatically posterized. I was not seeing this before upgrading to the Studio version of Ai.

I'm scanning older 120 B&W negatives, Plus-X, in 16 bits at 4800 dpi.

Unfortunately, I've got to stick with the Epson software for now, until I can get this resolved.

[RAG]

Jan,

Are you scanning your B&W's in color mode? If not you should give it a try. Doing so will give you more image data to work with because you will be capturing 3 16-bit channels of data Vs one.

In regards to the image noise shadows, I recommend checking your SilverFast Configuration as the "Options" do have an impact on the automatic adjustments.

Do you zoom in on your images to make adjustments after your pre-scans?

[Jan Becket]

I'll give the color scan a try, at 48 bits.

I've checked the "Options" menu, but it is possible that I have something turned on that should not be. Any idea what could produce these results under that menu?

[RAG]

Jan,

Not off the top of my head. I don't know if your work-flow includes applying the "Gain" filter after you have adjusted everything else.