Color or black and white for highest resolution

[jogart]

I am scanning old (1870s to 1930s), glass, black and white negatives and positives. I would like to produce highest resolution to examine fine detail. Should I scan in 48-bit color (which I presume maximizes the number of pixels) or 16-bit black and white.

My scanner is an Epson V700.

Is this issue related to scanner hardware and processing?

Are there problems of which I am unaware, which is likely?

Arthur

[LSI_Morales]

Dear jogart,

Should I scan in 48-bit color (which I presume maximizes the number of pixels) or 16-bit black and white.

48 bits color does NOT maximizes the number of pixels. 48 bit color means that you are using more bits per channel to write information. 16 bit B&W will give your picture in shades of grey only. 48 bit color will scan your picture using the three channels (R,G,B) to write the image information, it means it is using three times as much information.

Is this issue related to scanner hardware and processing?

Are there problems of which I am unaware, which is likely?

In fact, there are a couple of things which you should have in mind, these are described in another forum thread where we already had a discussion and contribution from other users, you can find it by clicking the next link: http://forum.silverfast.com/post22537.html?hilit=glass%20plates#p22537

Cheers