[frownyfrank]

I just got a new Epson 3170 scanner, and am scanning some of my negatives. The thing I keep running up against is the bizarre results I've been getting. The scans are totally out of whack, typically being either excessively dull looking (lack the original tonal range), or a strong blue or green cast.

Here is a histogram of one. Why is it so abbreviated? And why the extra hump?


Here's what the preview of a color negative looks like:


And this is what it looks like after I've fixed it:




Needless to say, the prints of these negatives don't look the preview scan at all. Are my photos actually just shitty and they're being fixed when printed by the photo shop, or is there something I'm missing when I scan them?

[tomatej]

I dont have epson 3170 scanner, but it is flatbed isn't it?
Does it have some kind of calibration and autofocus before preview and scan? Do you reset all curves and other adjustments?
It could also be that the lamp behind the slide sucks like in many flatbed scanners

[Arch.]

That looks off...
Mine never looked like that, I usea cool scan by Nikon.

[buchrob]

Originally posted by frownyfrank:
I just got a new Epson 3170 scanner, and am scanning some of my negatives. The thing I keep running up against is the bizarre results I've been getting. The scans are totally out of whack, typically being either excessively dull looking (lack the original tonal range), or a strong blue or green cast.

Here is a histogram of one. Why is it so abbreviated? And why the extra hump?


Here's what the preview of a color negative looks like:


And this is what it looks like after I've fixed it:




Needless to say, the prints of these negatives don't look the preview scan at all. Are my photos actually just shitty and they're being fixed when printed by the photo shop, or is there something I'm missing when I scan them?

Scanning negs is not just a question of scanning as positive transparencies and then inverting the image. All neg film manufacturers include an orange mask on the emulsion to control white/black points. Not all scanner mfgrs have up-to-date colour tables.

Even very high-end scanners Linotype-Hell, Scitex, etc.) have had problems with color negs.

When I ran my pre-press shop with all the techno bells-and-whistles, we were regular visitors to the 1-hour-photo guy across the street who would do us an 8 x 10 print for a few bucks from 35mm neg.

Scanning from prints = 0 complaints.
Scanning from negs = lotsa problems. Wld guess territory.

[bmhome1]

If the 3170 is supported in Vuescan (Silverfast won't ever support it because it is so different in design) try that.

The profiles in Vuescan are vastly superior to Epson's drivel. Try the listed profile and if that doesn't look right try other film (or manufacturer) profiles, what ever looks good.

Do all the corrections in the scanning stages so you won't destroy image data post-correcting in PS (at least keep to minimum).