Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

Thanks...

Dik

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

As usual, this depends on which system is used. My Nikon LS-2000 {long since off the market} includes a focusing step. My Plustek 8100 doesn’t have that, but the way they do things they don’t seem to need it - both systems seem to benefit by not having any glass in their light path, and both systems come with software that handles negatives correctly.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

It's a good procedure to CLEAN each negative prior to scanning and to keep the scanner spotless at all times. I use a soft anti-static cloth and clean compressed air on both before each scene and any "spotting" is minimized.

The image you supplied is perfectly correctable as to color balance and sharpness can be enhanced in post-processing of the image.

Old negatives can yield decent files and prints IF the were processed and stored correctly in the first place. I have old negatives (C-33 and C-41 Processed) that date back to the 1960s that are still very printable only because the were processed properly. Back in the good old days, PROFESSIONAL color labs kept tight control over the film processing- family for their one ease in production and printing. Poorly process color negatives wild cause all kids of lab headaches such as crossover. To avoid theses issues the lab would maintain tight quality control, run daily tests, plot graphs, track trends in chemical conditions and head off problems before they occurred. Replenishment was carefully monitored and applied, machinery was cleaned regularly, contamination was carefully prevented and, film was properly washed and stabilized and dyed in clean warm filtered air.

The cam the MINI_LABS- some were fine and operated by good technicians bit othere were NOT. There were a few companies that installed mini-labs in otere business such as convenience stores, dry cleaners, grocery stores etc., that were the diametrically opposite- the antithesis of quality control. Folks took in the machinery to "generate extra income" and the simply did no know waht they were doing. After the film was improperly processed in half-exhausted chemistry it was dried in open air and subjected to dust and otere airborne contaminants. There were also some mass-production finishers labs that did poor film processing- the did not carefully monitor their chemistry, mixed different brands of chemistry when the got better deals on supplies and use dirty machinery- a nightmare! When customers received bad prints, they were told it was their fault due to bad photography.

Chances are, that SOME of you film was doomed for fading from the start so you are wise to scan your negatives and produce the best images you can. It is surprins how you can squeezes some quality out of old negas, even if the are in bad shape. Work your sliders in P-P- you can do local correction to clean up some crossovers and easily fix stains and spots with a healing action. You can increase or decrease color saturation, improve contrast, sharpen somewhat. If the color is absolutely awful, you can go to monochrome or produce a sepia look. You can produce old fashioned deckled edged prints and start on old-fashioned album.

Good luck with your project!

Dikdik Loc: Winnipeg, Canada

It's a good procedure to CLEAN each negative prior to scanning and to keep the scanner spotless at all times. I use a soft anti-static cloth and clean compressed air on both before each scene and any "spotting" is minimized.

I’ve not been using compressed air, but, a microfibre lens cloth, and I clean the scanner every few hours. Wear a glove on my right hand and try not to touch negative surfaces.

The image you supplied is perfectly correctable as to color balance and sharpness can be enhanced in post-processing of the image.

Thanks... you done a marvellous job of fixing it. The original scan is now a 12MB, without processing, file since it is one of those I want to retain.

Old negatives can yield decent files and prints IF the were processed and stored correctly in the first place. I have old negatives (C-33 and C-41 Processed) that date back to the 1960s that are still very printable only because the were processed properly. Back in the good old days, PROFESSIONAL color labs kept tight control over the film processing- family for their

Unfortunately most of my films were dropped of at the corner drugstore and who knows where they were sent out to.

Chances are, that SOME of you film was doomed for fading from the start so you are wise to scan your negatives and produce the best images you can.

I have just under 150 pictures that I want to retain. I have to learn how to colour process them... something I’ve not done very much is post-processing. It’s still a learning experience.

You can increase or decrease color saturation, improve contrast, sharpen somewhat. If the color is absolutely awful, you can go to monochrome or produce a sepia look. You can produce old fashioned deckled edged prints and start on old-fashioned album.

Thanks for the information.

Dik