Scanning prints

[AspenGrey]

So, on my flickr I have this photo of the tree... and the damn needles are blurs! I was convinced the print (a fiber base) wasn't lying plat, but this last scan that was just uploaded is DEFINITELY flat, and there still appears to be a lot of fuzzyness around the prints details. Looking at the print with a loupe reveals more detail, I am positive.

The original: (Notice lack of detail!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspengrey/3187104100/

The new scan:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aspengrey/3190676602/
(tilted to correct for possible moire problems)

So whats the best way to scan these? Even scanning at 2400dpi (the largest file I can consistently not crash my printer driver with) I do not get appreciably more clarity.

[Theodore]

Did you enlarge and print from your own negs? scan the neg to see if maybe you just didn't take a great picture.

[AspenGrey]

I can't scan the negative at the moment~ BUT! I _Can_ blow this negative up all the way on my enlarger and see GOBS of detail I am not seeing in the scan. I can also look at this 5x7 print that I'm scanning with a high powered loupe and see more detail.

Furthermore; the photo was 1/250th @ F11... it should be nice'n sharp.

[Theodore]

What scanner are you using, and at what settings?

You might just be looking at a preview scan, and then you select the area that the print is in and it does the correct res scan.

[AspenGrey]

Scanned @ 2400dpi, exporting to TIF, with -30 brightness and +10 contrast (trial and error says that this normally the best choice for this print- having scanned it about 20 times now)

This is definitely a real scan, not a preview.

The scanner is an HP multifunction printer, an HP Photosmart C4180. Chosen because it supposedly has a pretty good scanner for an all-in-one. The scan bed was just cleaned with windex before this scan, and blown off just before I put tee print down with some canned air.

[AspenGrey]

Oh; You can clearly see a remarkable improvement between my original scan and the one where i pressed down on top of the book over it with the print set at an angle. So at least some of it was the print not lying flat.

[Theodore]

No offense, but I think this might be operator error; based on the fact that the book(?) behind the second scan is still there, you didn't do the "zoomed" scan on the print itself.

[AspenGrey]

The scan I uploaded is the full scanning bed. There was no point to zooming in- it is still at the high DPI setting. Zooming in would be the same as cropping the scan, which I can just as easily do in photoshop.

[Theodore]

Don't work with prints, so now I'm at a loss.

Buy a new computer, and a drum scanner?

[AspenGrey]

Make sure you open the 'Original' sized file in Flickr to really see the differences I'm talking about- if you are viewing both on 'medium'' size ( the default) then yes there's going to be a lot less detail in the one with the book behind it.


--Edit: Isnt a drum scanner like... a lot? And only used for film scanning?

[Theodore]

Can't say I can see issues with it now that I'm looking at it on original (instead of large)

Judging on the way scratches are picked up on the book in full fidelity, it may just be the print, and your loupe is confusing you.

Figure this Drum scanner retailed for $20,000..

http://cgi.ebay.com/Scanview-ScanMat...QQcmdZViewItem

[AspenGrey]

The more I look at these the more I think I might agree with you... Hmm~ It's possible that it might be bumping into the resolution limits of the paper at that enlargement size?

[Theodore]

Can't help you there.

All I know is I payed $150 for my Canon scanner a few days ago..and it's great.

Check out my thread that says "First Try.." a few threads down.

[AspenGrey]

Ok~, so.

I think it's time for a new scanner *scowl*. I have not yet found a decent way to scan negatives on my scanner. So, recomendation time! If anyone knows one with a 13x9 bed that would be preferred, although if that drives the price way up I take it back.

Here's two I'm looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16838111022
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16838104040

I think that 2nd one supports medium format film as well- can anyone confirm?

[Xia_Ke]

I've recommended it before and will continue to do so, the Epson 4490 is an excellent value in scanners. You can get it direct from Epson for $149.99 with free shipping and a $30 mail in rebate. It scan MF as well.

Epson 4490