LaserSoft Imaging

Hi all!

I' writing from Italy, so excuse me for my English... I ask for some questions:

I have a Proscan 7200 from May 2011 and Silverfast SE Plus too. I am waiting for the new Silverfast 8 (I wrote to commercial support to ensure that also my software would be updated free to the 8 version, though I acquired it only 15 days before June 2011, and I had confirmation that it would be possible) but still now it isn't available ( two months have passed since August) so I ask when will be available the new version 8 for my scanner?
and than... the user manual of 6.6...... in Italian is very generic and it refers to an old version of Silverfast...there is only the English version that's more recent...
I would like to understand well about scanning resolution and scanning output size...: If I scan with 1:1 output dimensions parameters: wich resolution must I set to achieve the best optical resolution? Is the optical resolution dependent on the scan resolution?
for example: My scanner is credited of about 3250 dpi optical resolution (test on Filmscanner.info), but if I scan using Silverfast at 1800 dpi can I achieve the full optical resolution or must I set this at 3600?? If I want to print a scan using 1:1 dimensions parameter and 1800 or 3600 dpi (for example) resolution....what size of print will have I?? 24 x 36 mm??
Scanning negatives with Proscan 7200 and it's filmstrip holder, I must to cut the acquired image at the two sides (left-right or up-down) because these are clearer and have a mirror reflection inside (only a stripe on the two lateral sides)...with slides it does not happen...so I think it's probably caused by the filmstrip holder that's made with too reflective material...Someone noticed this?? I wrote for that also to Reflecta contact some days ago without results....
The last: scanning black and white film the best setting is 48 bit color or 16 bit B&W??
excuse me if I mixed in a single topic different issues... Thank You!

Hi roscol56

roscol56 wrote: but still now it isn't available ( two months have passed since August) so I ask when will be available the new version 8 for my scanner?

It is not yet estimated when this scanner will be implemented.

roscol56 wrote:If I scan with 1:1 output dimensions parameters: wich resolution must I set to achieve the best optical resolution? Is the optical resolution dependent on the scan resolution?

Setting the highest hardware resolution can be done by dragging the resolution slider completely to the right and then returning one step to the left.

roscol56 wrote:.what size of print will have I?? 24 x 36 mm??

There is not an absolute value for "a print size", it is a relative question and depends on many factors. The scan resolution is important but the print resolution you set on your printer also affects the size of your resulting picture.

Basically you can only determine how many pixels your picture will have when scanned (stored in your computer).

dpi means dots per inch or pixels per inch, since you are measuring your negatives or slides in mm, you will have to convert from inches to mm. 1 Inch = 25 mm

Scanning 24x36 mm image at 3600dpi means:

(3600dpi. / 25mm.) x 24 mm. = 3456 dots or pixels
(3600dpi. / 25mm.) x 36 mm. = 5184 dots or pixels

Your resulting image will have 3456 x 5184 pixels.

Imagine you set your printer at 300 dpi:

3456 / 300 = 11.52 Inches
5184 / 300 = 17.28 Inches

The resulting picture be 11.52 x 17.28 Inches (x 2,54 = cm) or 29 x 43 cm.
You will have to perform the same exercise with every picture and any different scanning or printing resolution.

roscol56 wrote:scanning black and white film the best setting is 48 bit color or 16 bit B&W??

Also a relative question.

B&W films are supposed to create images in different shades of grey, assuming this is an absolute truth it would be enough to scan in 16 bit greyscale (or B&W), however the reality is much more complicated.

Film emulsions and bases are not entirely neutral grey, some have certain color tones. The scanner also does the image acquisition in three different color channels (red, green, and blue). If you scan in 48 bit color you will be able to register the light color tones of a film base. You will also be able to make certain corrections based on specific aesthetic and subjective criteria before converting to a neutral greyscale. This of course involves much more working steps and time with every picture.

The decision is absolutely personal and subjective (there is not better or worse).

Cheers

Thank you for Your reply Alejandro, about Silverfast 8 for Proscan I thought it might be available soon, but.... I hope soon to be available and free upgrade, as promised.

Your answers about scanning resolution and B&W scanning are very esaustive and coincide with what I assumed. (the slider full to right and then back one step means 3600 dpi, that is the max resolution for Proscan)
I already scanned many colour negatives with my previous scanner Plustek and Silverfast SE, but my experience comes from chemical photography, with color and black&white darkroom processes...all home made, I still have in my garage enlargers, tanks, drums, a rotation developping machine etc.etc.

For now I'm only digitalizing my archive without printing (I don't need it now)

I ask, however, to users of the forum that have a Proscan 7200 if they noticed the two lateral stripes in their scanner working with negatives and filmstrip holder, I'm in contact now with Reflecta for this issue and I sent them a
screenshot of the scanning, to evaluate the problem. Wait for Your experiences about this.

Dear customer,

SilverFast 8 is now available for the Proscan 7200,

kind regards,
Arne Ketelhohn.