pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

I'm sure this has been or is being discussed somewhere on this website but since I'm a newbie I'll bring it up. I have boxes of slides from the early eighties that were shot in the Rockies and want to play around with them in CS5. So far in trying to scan they come up with WAY too much contrast. Trying to correct this in CS5 still hasn't gotten what I want. Could be the cheap scanner I bought. I also would like to work some in B/W. Any feedback on products for that purpose? Thanks in advance!

BBNC

I don't know what scanner you have, but you need one that has an adjustable light source. I have a Canoscan 9000F ($200.00 at B&H Photo) that works great. I'm scanning 50 year old slides. It's also a good flatbed scanner to 8X12.

The included software lets me access all the basic stuff: light, contrast, color hues, dpi, etc. before I scan. Learn to use the software, because automatic doesn't allow for differences between slides.

BBNC

Oh, BTW I make the adjustments as small as possible for a natural looking result. Just like Photoshop, you can reach a point where the image starts looking artificial.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Thanks! I'll do some research. This scanner was about $50 in some close out catalouge. Should have known better. You mentioned adjustable light source and flatbed.
What is the color temperature. Can it be corrected or will I need to correct any color shift later? Are you able to do slides on the flatbed? Thanks for the input.

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

Go to the top of this page and click on search. Type in slides.
You will see tons of topics on scanning. I'ts probably your scanner. I use a Epson V500 Photo about $150

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

Thanks. I'll try that.

BBNC

The Canon 9000F I mentioned is completely adjustable before doing the final scan. The Canon MP Navigator is for doing anything besides regular documents.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

The scanning software usually has some auto features like auto contrast, auto color correction, auto dust removal, auto this and auto that which are meant to help out beginners. Make sure they're all off and that the scan is just a pure unadulterated scan so you can do your editing in CS5.

One cool new feature of CS5 (in the Bridge program, I believe) let's you completely fill your flatbed with photos or slides, scan all of them in one fell swoop, and CS5 will analyze the page, straighten the pictures vertically and horizontally as well as it can, then cut them into individual files for you. It analyzes perfectly about 85 - 90% of the time. This makes scanning multiple shots awesomely fast. I scanned probably 100 prints in one night by using that feature.

By the way, since a slide is only a couple inches wide and you will probably want to enlarge the resulting file to a much bigger size to look at on screen or in print, you should consider scanning at 800 DPI or 1,000 DPI so when you resample/resize up during post-editing that you have enough resolution to provide you a much larger printable file at 240 to 300 dpi. If you're only going to show them on a computer that is 72dpi, then you can scan at a much lower level.

You've reminded me that I need to get my old Kodachromes, Ektachromes, and Fujichromes out and scan them. It seems to always slip my mind!

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

You forgot to mention Agfachrome! Great warm values. I'll start playing around with what I've got and let you know what I find. Looking at scanners on ebay now.
Thanks!

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

A large number of the slides I have scanned are Agfachrome. It was a very popular film in the 40's & 50's. The chrome films seem to hold their color better over the years.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

I'm from the Woodstock generation so I came along after Agfachrome was popular, although stores carried it when I was getting into photography.