UMAX 3000 - Calibration

[Drol]

I have Umax PowerLook 3000 , SF 6 Ai, WinXP
Before each scan job SilverFast says "Calibrating"


1. What kind of calibration is that?

2. Is Umax PL 3000 scanner using some kind of internal calibration before each scan job?

3. Does that render my ICC profiles useless?


Thank you,

d.

[LSI_Flyvbjerg]

Dear Drol.

1. This is the black and white calibration of the scanner. This type of calibration eliminates differences in the CCDs of the scanners CCD line.

2. Yes, this is an internal calibration.

3. No, this calibration has nothing to do with the ICC calibration profiles. ICC calibration is a color calibration, the internal calibration adjusts black and white.

Eric.

[Drol]

thank you for the reply.

Does anyone know whats the lifespan of standard IT8 calibration transparent target?

I have 1999:06 target. I guess 1999 is the year and 06 is the month when it was made. Anyway, I have a feeling it is wasted already. MY observation is that it has become a little bit reddish.

Does anyone have expirience with this? Can anyone confirm this? Do transaprencies become red as they age?

I also heared (from umax tech person in my area) that Umax PL 3000 can load "Gamma curve" into scanner itself. Is that true and how can I utilize it? What are the benefits of it?

Thank you

d.

[Drol]

Anyone?

[LSI_Kratzenstein]

The lfespan of an IT-8 Target is around 2 years, if you hold them dry, dark and cold.

The Gama curve is loaded by the scansoftware into the scanner.

Kristian Kratzenstein

Support LSI

[Drol]

Thank you.


Can you please tell me what are the benefits of loading Gamma curve into the scanner as opposed to.. setting gamma on already scanned image?



thanks,

D.

[LSI_Kratzenstein]

Hello

Its only made to calculate the gamma in the scanner, so you don't need to calculate them on the computer. Also most software works with 8 bit data. The scanner create more data, so the gamma on the rawdata gives less misscalculations. SilverFast work internal also with the rawdata, so we have less misscalculations in the whole process.

Kristian Kratzenstein

Support LSI

[Drol]

Im working with high bit images in PhotoShop. This means that loading gamma into scanner doesnt really make much difference.

Nevertheless, thank you for all the info.


D.

[Stefan]

Hi Drol,
I know,this is another story,but did you realize,that you will never get the best quality out of your Powerlook 3000,if you use any version,that is newer than 5.5.0r06?All newer versions are forcing the PL3000 to scan faster.A while ago,I did some comparison scans.Up to 5.5.0r06,it took exactely 90 sec. (movement of progress bar,after calibration and focussing,of course) to scan a 24/36mm slide.Newer versions are much faster!If you scan a slide with very small detail,you will be able to see a difference.The faster scans are clearly worse in terms of sharpness/resolution!
Now that`s the reason I didn`t upgrade to version 6 and will never do as long as this problem is not getting solved (and I`m afraid it will never be,because most people don`t know,that the PL3000 can scan slower and better).
Can you tell me,how long it takes with version 6?
Set scanning speed to slow in the options,DOR mode,3048 dpi,24/36mm slide.Then how long is the progress bar moving after calibration and focussing?

BTW.
Lasersoft is aware of this problem.I talked to Martin M?nier a year or so ago.He could not tell me,when this problem is going to be solved.
Stefan

[Stefan]

Just did a test:
A 24/36 mm slide scan takes exactely 96 sec. (after calibration and focussing are complete).The progress bar starts to move a few seconds after the actual scanning has started,btw..
I`m using WinXP,SF 5.5.0r06,firmware2.0.
Not only newer SF versions are faster (at least EVERY version before 6,I tested nearly all of them;I was also told by lasersoft,that SF 6 still has the same interface as all the other versions,that are newer than 5.5.0r06).
Also firmware 2.2 speeds up scanning,that`s why I removed it and use 2.0 instead.
As far as I remember 2.2 combined with 5.5.2 (and up) was VERY fast and did not represent the quality of the PL3000 AT ALL.
So if you want to pull out the best quality of your PL 3000,I strongly recommend to use 2.0 and SF 5.5.0r06.
I hope,that lasersoft will fix this "speed behaviour" soon in version 6.
Stefan

[Stefan]

Any opinions on this from Lasersoft?
Stefan

[Stefan]

Come on Lasersoft,can`t you tell me anything about that?I?d really like to update,if the speed problem is solved.

Stefan

[Drol]

SF Ai 6.0.1r28
DOR Transparency
3048 dpi (100%)
48 bit color
0.6A focusing
no color adjustments
36mm positive slide

Scan time: 3 min 45 sec (approx.)
This is from the moment when I hit SCAN button to the moment when moving bed was ready to come to its starting position. You can add some 5-10 sec for moving bed to come to wait state if that matters.

Drol
p.s. My watches stopwatch has very little hands. I hope I didnt make a mistke when I was counting minute lines.

[Stefan]

That would be great news,Drol.
I have exactely the same time.Could you do me a favour and take the time of the actual scanning process only?Just wait until focussing and calibration is over and the flatbed starts to move steadily.You can of course turn AF off.Please make sure to have calibration turned ON in the option menue.Someone from Lasersoft once told me,it makes a difference,although it does not on my system,as far as I remember.
BTW,what firmware are you using?

Stefan

[Drol]

Ill check it all tommorow from work.

Tell me how to check firmware version.


Drol