I just began to use this new SS4000 plus. While the result is beautiful and there seems to be no compatibility issue (I'm using Win 2k/PS 7/SF AI 5.5 and firewire interface), sometimes there's this weird focusing problem with slide films. Well, it actually happens quite frequently. The slides are sharp, but sometimes I get well-focused scan, sometimes the result is badly out of focus. The focusing setting is ON all the time. The problem is very consistent with batch scanning. Usually I get a few frames in focus and the others are not, which is very annoying. Negative scans do not seem to suffer from this, but it might just be because neg film strips are more likely to be on the same plane. The problem only happens with SF AI, with v**s**n and PolaColor Insight the result is always in focus. So I guess it's not a hardware thing. I also tried both SF AI 5.5.2r02 and 5.5.2r09, same result. BTW, I used to use a SS4000, never had this problem.
Any help on this matter wil be grealy appreciated.
SF AI focusing problem with SS4000 plus
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President_LSI
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I have installed version 5.5.2r20 and tested it on my SS4000+. Unfortunately it does not solve the focussing problem. The outcome is still either hit or miss. After doing an extensive search on the web, I find some other references to this problem. There is a thread on yahoo scanner group (group name scan) talking about this. The thread can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scan/message/21169. Actually, by doing a search on ss4000, the first result page contains most of the relevant messages. It sounds Polaroid is aware of the problem and it is due to the thick film base of Fuji films, which can fool the focussing mechanisim. This kind of confirms my finding, because all my problems were with Fuji slides (negatives seem to be OK so far). Some people suggest flipping the slides and that indeed works for me.
As I was doing the test, I also notice PolaColor Insight also gave a few unsharp scans, although very infrequently. v**s**n produced sharp result every time. It seems to use a different focussing algorithm from what SF uses. I am stilling using SF because of the convenience and extra functionality it offers, however it would be really nice if the future version can solve the problem. Other than this, SS4000+ and SF make an awesome combination.
As I was doing the test, I also notice PolaColor Insight also gave a few unsharp scans, although very infrequently. v**s**n produced sharp result every time. It seems to use a different focussing algorithm from what SF uses. I am stilling using SF because of the convenience and extra functionality it offers, however it would be really nice if the future version can solve the problem. Other than this, SS4000+ and SF make an awesome combination.
In addition to the above comments, I came across the following:
I was scanning some portra400NC and had had a very soft scan. The center of scan was on black fabric with very little contrast or detail. So I moved the whole frame off center to a region of contrast: rescanned. The result was sharp.
Could this problem be linked to the autofocus mechanism attempting to focus on an area where there is little to focus on? If this is true, the solution is not very satisfying, since I could not scan 1/3 of the frame because of the offset to attain focus. Again, if this is the problem (and I've not repeated it yey), is there any way to move the focus point without moving the entire frame?
I was scanning some portra400NC and had had a very soft scan. The center of scan was on black fabric with very little contrast or detail. So I moved the whole frame off center to a region of contrast: rescanned. The result was sharp.
Could this problem be linked to the autofocus mechanism attempting to focus on an area where there is little to focus on? If this is true, the solution is not very satisfying, since I could not scan 1/3 of the frame because of the offset to attain focus. Again, if this is the problem (and I've not repeated it yey), is there any way to move the focus point without moving the entire frame?
The soft scans remain with both silverfast and polacolor?
I spoke to polaroid, and they mentioned scanning a high contrast target a number of times to trick the scanner into focus, which worked with SF and PC for a breif period. Soft focus returned after a few scans.
It could be my scanner, but I've been doing scans with v**s**n as a test, and every scan is razor sharp. This seems to indicate that perhaps there is something in the software/firmware.
Can anyone confirm that there may be a problem ouside my scanner, as to avoid sending it to polaroid for 4 weeks of perhaps needless and unproductive repairs.
thanks
I spoke to polaroid, and they mentioned scanning a high contrast target a number of times to trick the scanner into focus, which worked with SF and PC for a breif period. Soft focus returned after a few scans.
It could be my scanner, but I've been doing scans with v**s**n as a test, and every scan is razor sharp. This seems to indicate that perhaps there is something in the software/firmware.
Can anyone confirm that there may be a problem ouside my scanner, as to avoid sending it to polaroid for 4 weeks of perhaps needless and unproductive repairs.
thanks
focus solved
After a few tries with Polaroid...they suggested to trash the polaroid prefs in my system folder.
At the same time, I came to realize that the more I moved the scan area into to center, the better the focus....Thus staying away from the slide mount, or the blank area out side the image area on a negative.
Well, the combination seems to have worked and the scanner has returned to sharp focus. I don't know if the scan area thing really had anything to due with stuff, but I'm too afraid to check since everything works really well again.
At the same time, I came to realize that the more I moved the scan area into to center, the better the focus....Thus staying away from the slide mount, or the blank area out side the image area on a negative.
Well, the combination seems to have worked and the scanner has returned to sharp focus. I don't know if the scan area thing really had anything to due with stuff, but I'm too afraid to check since everything works really well again.
The information about Fuji film is helpful, but I'm hoping someone has some more information.
I use a MacG4 with a Polaroid 4000 (SCSI connection). I had TERRIBLE problems with it UNTIL I used Silverfast. I still have some nagging problems, but I can deal with them. Here's the problem today - HOW DO YOU MANUALLY FOCUS? I see the focus control, but I can't seem to activate manual focus. I use version 5.1.2ro2. Can someone please help?
Thanks in advance.
I use a MacG4 with a Polaroid 4000 (SCSI connection). I had TERRIBLE problems with it UNTIL I used Silverfast. I still have some nagging problems, but I can deal with them. Here's the problem today - HOW DO YOU MANUALLY FOCUS? I see the focus control, but I can't seem to activate manual focus. I use version 5.1.2ro2. Can someone please help?
Thanks in advance.
need help with focus
Hi Again -
I don't know how active this discussion group is, but I would really appreciate some help here.
Maybe someone from Silverfast itself could offer a suggestion.
My question is: How do I use the manual focus setting on Silverfast v5xxxxxx, with a Polaroid 4000 on a Mac G4? I can't get this one negative in focus . . and I need to complete this job.
Anybody? Flipping the negative over (this is Fuji NPS 160 color negative film) does NOT help.
The image IS in focus, as far as I can tell - but the scanner will not focus on this particular image.
Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I don't know how active this discussion group is, but I would really appreciate some help here.
Maybe someone from Silverfast itself could offer a suggestion.
My question is: How do I use the manual focus setting on Silverfast v5xxxxxx, with a Polaroid 4000 on a Mac G4? I can't get this one negative in focus . . and I need to complete this job.
Anybody? Flipping the negative over (this is Fuji NPS 160 color negative film) does NOT help.
The image IS in focus, as far as I can tell - but the scanner will not focus on this particular image.
Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
focus
Hi
In terms of manual focus, my understanding is that the unit has no way of manual focusing....auto and off only.
In terms of scan focus, I still have focus trouble, and the only response I get from polaroid is that I should send the unit for repair....4 weeks and the dangers of shipping. This is the response they give me, even though when I do have focus trouble and use v**s**n, I get perfect focus. This is not on all materials. Most portra film scans sharp, some slide and B+W, but some not. I had recent focus trouble with tmax 100.
My understanding is that both polacolor and silverfast use the same polaroid focusing software mechanism. I am convinced that there is a problem in the scannners' focusing software. If the unit was broken, how could v**s**n provide razor sharp scans?
My work around has been to use v**s**n when silverfast and polacolor fail. I don't like v**s**n and think it's real amature hour, but perhaps it might help you get that trouble scan.
I'm hoping that the next firmware/software release from polaroid might attend to this problem.
In terms of manual focus, my understanding is that the unit has no way of manual focusing....auto and off only.
In terms of scan focus, I still have focus trouble, and the only response I get from polaroid is that I should send the unit for repair....4 weeks and the dangers of shipping. This is the response they give me, even though when I do have focus trouble and use v**s**n, I get perfect focus. This is not on all materials. Most portra film scans sharp, some slide and B+W, but some not. I had recent focus trouble with tmax 100.
My understanding is that both polacolor and silverfast use the same polaroid focusing software mechanism. I am convinced that there is a problem in the scannners' focusing software. If the unit was broken, how could v**s**n provide razor sharp scans?
My work around has been to use v**s**n when silverfast and polacolor fail. I don't like v**s**n and think it's real amature hour, but perhaps it might help you get that trouble scan.
I'm hoping that the next firmware/software release from polaroid might attend to this problem.
Well, I appreciate your thoughts and response. I do find it strange that since software controls hardware that a unit can either auto focus or not focus at all. Seems odd to me. I mean, if the unit is capable of focussing, then why must it only be capable of auto-focussing? From my personal experience and frustration, Polacolor Insight is not worth a damn, but I am unfamiliar with v**s**n. Can you tell me if a version, even a test version is downloadable?
Thanks for your help.
c.
Thanks for your help.
c.
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