LaserSoft Imaging

Yesterday I bought a Epson 750 Pro with silverfast software. I want to scan Fujifilm Velvia slides with a format of 6x12 cm. I want to use them for prints of 2 x 1 meter en bigger.

Can anyone tell me which setting in the software to use. Normal I scan on 300 DPI and then I take the measurements of the desired format. And USM i always do in PS3.

Are there also any color profiles for Velvia 100 120 film slides.

I hope I get some good tips for scanning the slides.

Peter

Dear Peter,

if you still scan for getting photograph - like Output Quality then your approch of setting an output screen of 300 dpi and then setting the desired Output size is still a good approach !
( maybe using Quality Factor of 1.0 if this is no offset printing process but ink jet or the like )

You should try the USM in SilverFast as well, as it produces a better Quality if you give yourself the time to "play" with the more advanced features of it...

As for Profiling:

If you already bought the IT8 version, there should be a bundled IT8 color chart that you can use to create an individual color profile for your scanner.
This would be a good step for reproducing the original colors of your film.

You *could* get a IT8 Target that was made with the Film you are using to get a *tiny* little bit closer but i would not recommend this as it would be *very* costy and the difference will probably not be visible at all, a general IT8 calibration is plenty enough...
( It would be different if we would be talking about a film with "exotic" behavior like Kodachrome, there you would definately benefit by profiling exactly on that material ).

I hope that helped, best regards,

Nils Heidorn

Nils,

Thank you very much. I tried these setting and it works great. I experimenting with USM and sharpning. I do, not now what is better, let the scan sofware do USM or after pre processing Photoshop let Photoshop do it.

Maybe you can help me with another question. I want to scan with liquid mounting. I can order a mask set for the Epson. But do you now where to buy the liquid mounting fluid and the transparent film I did not found any in The Netherlands.

I hope you can help, thank you.

Peter

Dear Peter,
obviously i am not in the "mounting-liquid" business, here is where we order our stuff ( we are in no way affiliated with them ):

http://www.sds-gmbh.com

Sharpness:
In general, if you plan to sharpen the image anyways it is better to sharpen them in SilverFast.
If you prefer to have a non-processed image as backup or archive then you can decide to sharpen it afterwards ( if the Quality drop is not too hard ), or you do two scans-> one in the "archivel" HDR Mode an one corrected & Sharpened to your best knowledge...

best regards,

Nils Heidorn