Auto adjust batch scans with Nikon LS 4000 scanner and SF210

[LOWELL FRANGA]

I am confused if I should have CMS off when I use auto adjust to batch scans. I use Silverfast Ai IT8 6.5. Would appreciate if someone would give me the proper settings for both Auto and CMS to use. I read Ian Lyons article on batch scanning but he does not mention anything about the CMS settings. I have about 500 transparancies I want to scan and would appreciate assistance. Thanking you in advance.

Lowell

[degrub]

Well. start with Ian's CMS tutorial - it is cookbook for how to.

Here is the link:

http://www.computer-darkroom.com/sf5_contents.htm

# 6 is a good start.

[LOWELL FRANGA]

degrub

Thank you for the response. I read all of Ian Lyon's articles but am still confused about a couple of issues.

Would the following workflow be good for batch scans:

Autoexposure-Autofocus-ICE on-4,000dpi,4 pass,HDR Color,CMS Off and no custom profile selected

I want to make sure I have a good workflow before I start scanning a lot of transparancies.

I will be using a Nikon 4000 scanner and Silverfast Ai IT8 6.5

Please inform me if I need to change or add anything to the worklfow. Thanking you in advance.

Lowell

[degrub]

are you going to apply the IT8 profile later in PS or some other program ?

what you have will work assuming you apply the IT8 profile later.

Otherwise go ahead and set up the CMS per Ian's tutorial and embed the profile with the tiff file. It will help when you preview any of the slides in SF. or have to re-scan assuming you have profiled your screen or at least set it up with one of the software visual calibration tools. ANy image adjustments depend on this.

Are you working with Kodachromes by any chance ? If so, you will want to spot check each roll to see how ICE and the Kodachrome is working out. Silver based B&W is also a similar problem. Chromagenic B&W is ok with ICE. ANy othe film types should be no problem. You might test if ICE on normal or fine looks better to you. Some people see too much softening on fine, but i think it depends on the image and personal taste.

Your images need to have an area of good contrast for the autofocus to work well. ALso the film needs to be very flat or you will have areas out of focus. The Nikons have a very narrow depth of field - about 9-10 Nikon focus units.

Make sure the color cast adjustment slider is 0.

i used 16x multisample for slides that had dark areas that i wanted to pull out as much detail as possible.

Do 10-20 manual scans on different types of images to see what you are really getting before you turn the scanner loose on 50 slides. You may find you want to have a few other tweaks in place for the batch scan,.

[LOWELL FRANGA]

degrub

Again, thank you for your response.

I use a EyeOne2 with EZcolor 2.6 for profile my monitor.

I will apply the profile in PS CS2. Do I use the convert to profile and select the profile I made with Silverfast Ai IT8 and my Nikon scanner?

I scanned a few slides yesterday and it took approximately 50 minutes to scan one. Is this the normal time? Each was 108MB. Scan Type: 48 Bit HDR Color and 4000dpi.

I am scanning primarily Fuji Velvia slides.

Do I set the Color Cast Removal in Auto to 0?

I have my Silverfast settings set as follows:

CMS
CM
Input-Internal None
Monitor None
Output RGB

Profiles for ICM
Input: None
Internal: Adobe RGB (1998)
Grey: None
Intent: Perceptual

Embed ICC Profile checked

Are these settings correct?

Again, I appreciate your assistance.

Lowell

[degrub]

50 minutes is way too long for 4000 dpi in my experience. Maybe about 15 minutes with 16x multisample and ice.. Turn off all the multisample, ice, etc and see how long it takes. you may have a cable or hardware or software issue.

THe settings should be apply the profile and convert to your working space - usually adobe rgb 1998. you don't want to work in the profile space.

i don't have my scanner availible at the moment, but i matched one of the two setups that Ian lists in the tutorials.

My take on what you have listed is that no profile is actually embedded since one is not listed.

i'll set up again this weekend and see what i had and what times i get.

What i remember hearing about scanning velvia is you may get close with the std target, but have to use a set of custom curves in PS. IIRC, Wolf ***** www.coloraid.de, had made some velvia targets in the past.. Do a search on these forums for velvia for more info.

[LOWELL FRANGA]

Again, thank you for your response.

I thought 50 minutes was way to long. As you suggested, I turned off multisample, ICE, etc. and scanned another 48bit HDR Colour and it still took 50 minutes to scan. I also scanned a 42-24 bit Colour and it took about 15 minutes. Do you think I should remove software and reinstall? I sure hope it's not a problem with my scanner!

I read Ian's articles again and am thinking about purchasing HDR. I download the demo and am trying to learn it as well. Do you use it and if so, which do you recommend.

I am still having difficulty getting my head straight on this. Would it be alright if I send you screen shots of my various Silverfast Ai IT8 settings and you can determine if I am doing anything wrong.

I want to make sure I get this workflow set up properly because of the large number of transparancies I want to scan. I really really appreciate your assistance.

[LOWELL FRANGA]

I went ahead and removed Silverfast Ai IT8 software and reinstalled to determine if this may be the problem. You were right! It now takes about 15 minutes to scan a 48 Bit HDR Color transparancy with muli-sampling on 8 and ICE at Fine, 4,000 dpi. At least that problem is solved, thank you for your recommendation. Appreciate your assistance with the proper settings. Looking forward to hearing from you again.

Lowell

[degrub]

Ok if you are going to apply the profile in PS AND do not care to look at the image in SF , then use Ian's example 1 from the tutorial. Apply the profile in PS and then convert to your workspace in PS.

You don't have to have HDR if you have PS. The only advantage used to be it was a fully 48 bit workflow. PS has pretty much caught up to that with CS2/3 so you will have to decide if you need some of the 48 bit features in HDR that may not be fully 48 bit in PS, if there are any. i have not researched it in a while.

Otherwise, if you want to do any editing in SF Ai, use example 4.

BTW, IIRC, HDR is included in the Ai package for the CS4000.

If you are using HDR, follow Ian's tutorial and pick either user group 1 or 2. CMS configuration. It likely won't make any real difference, but you can try a few images in each and see which you prefer.

[LOWELL FRANGA]

Again, thank you for your help. Which tutorial are you referring to regarding example 1 and 4? I converted the profile to my custom scanner profile in PS and it looks terrible! Can't seem to get this right. Appreciate your help.

[degrub]

#6 as mentioned above. ANd there is a link inside that tutoria to the HDR version if you decide to follow that path.

[LOWELL FRANGA]

Still trying to get a handle on this.

If I want to edit in PS, I apply the example 1 settings from Ian's tutorial #6 and apply my custom profile in PS and convert to RGB(1998). Correct?

However, if I do care what the scan looks like in SF Ai and want to edit in Ai, you say I should follow example 4. There isn't an example #4 in tutorial #6, where is it?

Sorry to keep asking you questions but I think I almost have it.

[degrub]

1) That will work.

2) on page 2 of the tutorial