LaserSoft Imaging

I have 35mm transparency film to scan (not kodakrome) and it seems like when I use the USM or any of the other sharpening tools that the image loses quality. Pixelated or too soft. On the preview, the settings I choose look great, but in the final scan, it doesn't look very good.

I have the Microtek i900. I have sized the scan at 10x10 at 300 dpi, but it still doesn't look that great.

How do I get the best possible image. I need to have the final output be 10 x10 inches and on my computer screen at 100%, the images do not look all that good.

I have gone through all the forum questions and the different support options and can't seem to find what I need to answer this question.

Dear journeyon,

high quality scanning of 35mm transparencys in 10x10 inch with 300 dpi is a special and difficult job!
You get nearly perfect results with a deticated filmscanner but with a standard flat bed scanner, ? I doubt that. For this job a scanner should have a high (realistic) optical resolution, a noice free CCD and a very big useable dynamic range.

Some tips if you use SilverFastAi with your scanner:
? USM filter dialogue and open expert functions:
set "Matrix" to 5x5 (or 7x7);
use moderate intensities;
set "Sharpen up to" to 70-80% and check the box "Shadows soft";
reduce "light Contour" to 35-40%

? Highly recommended: use the new multisampling!!
4x or 8x will be enough to reduce the noice of the scanner.

? Are the colours ok? Calibrate the scanner with SilverFast's IT8 calibration.