SHARPNESS problem - Nikon Coolscan - need hints or comments

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.scanner,comp.periphs.scanner,comp.periphs.scanners (More info?)

Hi

I'm relatively new to slide scanning and now have a Nikon Coolscan III
(LS-30) to mess around with. Now, one thing I noticed was that using the
Nikon Scan software the colour of the initial scan is pretty bad with a lot
of blue tint... it would need a LOT of footering and manipulating to improve
the scan. However, I tried VueScan and it seems to make a good job
colourwise of the initial scan but in both cases the SHARPNESS is not what I
would expect. Yes, there is always a BIT of manual sharpening to be done
with Photoshop or whatever, but the initial scan from my LS-30 doesn't look
too good at all. A friend of mine told me the sort of unsharp mask values
he normally uses with scans but using similar I have no joy. Even
increasing by quite a bit i am not getting great results. I notice this
most easily where the subject has writing (as writing is detailed so more
noticeably blurred).

Perhaps someone else out there in NewsLand has had similar problems or knows
what I am talking about ? I have been scanning at 3200dpi initially. If
someone would like to have a look at a couple of sample scans I can scan to
whatever spec you want .... let me know what size/resolution etc you would
normally scan at and I can scan a couple at the same and email the results
for your comments.


Cheers for any hints or help


Woody

 

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.scanner,comp.periphs.scanner,comp.periphs.scanners (More info?)

In article <d4l3dl$3gj$1@singer.cent.gla.ac.uk>, Ian Woodrow
<I.Woodrow@compserv.gla.ac.uk> writes
>Hi
>
>I'm relatively new to slide scanning and now have a Nikon Coolscan III
>(LS-30) to mess around with.

<Snip>
Soft results and blue tint are sure signs of dirty optics but, as others
have said, the scanner only does 2700ppi, so you will get and
interpolated image at 3200ppi - not enough to give the poor results you
describe though.

Take a look at this website on how to disassemble the unit to access the
parts that need cleaning (the mirror and the outside surface of the
lens). The LS-2000 is almost the same as the LS-30 inside.
http://www.vad1.com/photo/dirty-scanner/ls2000-cleaning/

Do NOT disassemble the lens or move it or the entire barrel from its
mounted position!! You will spend ages trying to get it to focus at all
again and will probably never have the same range of focus once you do.

Also be careful because the mirror is front silvered and the surface is
easily damaged. If you cannot get it clean just with a blower then try
lens tissue and a couple of drops of iso-propyl alcohol.

So how are things in GU these days? Is the library still sliding down
the hill? ;-)
--
Kennedy
Yes, Socrates himself is particularly missed;
A lovely little thinker, but a ah heck when he's pissed.
Python Philosophers (replace 'nospam' with 'kennedym' when replying)

 

[Zone5Light]

The reflex mirror needs to be cleaned. Remove the sheet metal covers and the plastic front. Move the scanning carriage to just short of its full forward position. Bend a q-tip sharply about 1" from the end and wet it with lens cleaning fluid. Gently wipe the dusty film from the mirror. Use a dry q-tip bent the same way to rernove any remaining liquid droplets from the mirror. Because of the way the lens is positioned and shrouded, it's unlikely to need attention. If it does, clean it the same way as the mirror, but with fresh q-tips.