Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/02/22

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Subject: RE: [Leica] scanning dark scala question(flatbed)
From: "Don Dory" <dorysrus@mindspring.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 10:53:14 -0500

Simon,
You have raised an interesting question on a number of levels.  Making a
scan of a print would make it a third generation image which
definitionally (off the diatribe, English is such a good language to
make up words) would be inferior.  Why not just scan the TCN?  A modern
lab is probably using a digital printer which is doing a scan at just
enough resolution to make the print size selected.  Another deficit of a
digital printer is that the print is made of very small dots from the
lasers employed.  In other words, they don't scale up very well in
re-scanning.

Assuming that you have a pro-lab make an optical print to your
specifications to be used on a flatbed then theoretically you have a
poorer image but in the real world, depending on the relative skill
levels involved you could have a superior outcome.

I think a better question to ask is why am I shooting Scala?  In the
days of slide shows and AD's with light boxes then a B&W slide film made
sense as you were dealing with a first generation image: using a B&W
slide film to make prints seems counter-intuitive to me.  I know that
both you and Nathan do/did not have a darkroom so it was a method of
getting where you wanted to go, but why not shoot B&W negative film?
OK, Scala does have a very unique signature so artistic requirements
come into play.

Unfortunately, all of the above is why digital is the dominate capture
method now.  Very few people have the time to devote to developing and
printing that we all devoted not so long ago.

Back to your question, a small machine print would be a poor choice to
scan.  If you had a large machine print made then that frequently would
work out with good results.  If you have a lab near you that uses a
digital printer whether it is the Fuji, Noritsu, or Agfa, why not have
them scan several of your Scala slides to CD?  If you ask them to adjust
the levels to something besides black you might get a surprisingly good
scan for under 10 Euro.

Sorry for wandering so much.

Don
dorysrus@mindspring.com



- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of animal
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 9:48 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] scanning dark scala question(flatbed)



> Simon,
> If you can see separation in the darker tones of your Scala images
then
> you can get that information out.  Find a friend with the new Nikon
> 5000, turn off ICE, turn on at least 8 times sampling, make sure the
> machine is in 16bit mode, adjust the preview using the curves and
levels
> dialogue box to get a close approximation of the image you want to see
> but do make sure that the darkest areas do not go below 5,5,5 and scan
> the image.
>
> If you have just one or two images that are especially valuable to you
> then pay a pro to scan on a drum or on an Imacon.  A third alternative
> would be to find someone with an old Leaf scanner; that device can
find
> detail in very thick slides.
>
> You will be pleasantly surprised what the new scanners will pull out
of
> an image.
>
> Don
> dorysrus@mindspring.com
Forgot to ask .If one would use a film like tcn and had small prints
made
from a lab and then scanned these on a 3200 flatbed would the result be
better or worse in general?
simon jessurun

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Replies: Reply from "animal" <s.jessurun95@chello.nl> (Re: [Leica] scanning dark scala question(flatbed))
Reply from Nathan Wajsman <n.wajsman@chello.nl> (Re: [Leica] scanning dark scala question(flatbed))