Robert Lai , May 04, 2006; 08:07 p.m.
Often Nikon Scan 4 is brought up with disparaging remarks, and a
comment such as "use Vuescan, or Silverfast". I have no criticism of
either of those other scanning programs. However, Nikon Scan 4 does
come with your scanner, so I thought that it should be given a chance
to prove itself before being consigned to the scrap heap. I did give
Vuescan a trial for a while, but I found that I prefer NS4 better.
For the sake of others who would like to keep using NS4, I thought I
would share with you some settings which seem to work for me. If you
could also share successful settings which work for you, then
everyone's trial and error time would be cut down. I'm using version
4.0.2.
Before I get this criticism, it's not all just software
processing "which is better done in photoshop". NS4 does adjust
hardware settings too, primarily: ICE infrared channel
(off/normal/extra); SIE (Scan Image Enhancement) adjusts illumination
to accomodate film density. Then there are the manual illumination
and focus adjustments too. In the ICE 4 suite are also Restoration of
Color (ROC) which fights unwanted color casts and film fading, and GEM
which variably minimizes grain effects.
Since I'm batch scanning up
to 40 slides at a time, my aim is to minimize the amount of post-scan
processing that I need to do. Here are some settings that seem to
work for me. They could be a useful starting point for you. My usual
workflow is to create the base settings, then save them with a name
such as "Kodachrome TIFF". After a preview scan, I may adjust
settings and curves for a representative slide before scanning the lot
with the same settings.
I should add that surprisingly, I found
Velvia 50 to be the easiest to scan! I didn't need to improve
anything after scanning. Shooting in overcast wintry skies in
Syracuse NY kept the contrast levels nice and low.
First, Kodachrome:
ICE - on
ROC 6, check for sensor blooming (see note).
GEM 3
DEE 10 - 20
Scan Image Enhancer - ON
NOTE: Scan image enhancer with ROC and with Curves may cause sensor
blooming to occur. If it does, turn down or off one of these.
For difficult color balance: Turn off SIE, turn on CURVES. Use AUTO
to establish a baseline. Then use the white and black droppers.
For portraits, use the whites of the eyes for the white balance.
Here's one of my decades old Kodachromes.
Theresia at night
Robert Lai , May 04, 2006; 08:12 p.m.
To head off another criticism - no, my monitor is not profiled yet. I ordered the GretagMacbeth Eye 2 (or whatever the full name is), but it hasn't arrived yet.
E6 slides:
ICE Normal
ROC 0
GEM 3
DEE 20-25 At levels of 30, blooming of the sensor will occur on a dark slide.
Scan Image Enhancer ON
Then, use curves for best adjustment.
This works fine out of the box for Velvia.
Velvia 50 carnation
Robert Lai , May 04, 2006; 08:14 p.m.
Surprisingly, Agfa RSX2-100 required some curve settings to overcome some excessive flatness upon scanning. However, the same basic Velvia settings were used.
Agfa RSX2-100 daisies
Robert Lai , May 04, 2006; 08:22 p.m.
Black and White silver halide:
ICE off
ROC 0
GEM 3 or 4
DEE 15-40 depending on density of blacks
Scan Image Enhancer - on if very dark slide, check for sensor blooming.
The settings above are actually what I developed for Agfa Scala B&W slide film. I still have to scan B&W and color negatives. If anyone has settings they would like to share, I'd be very grateful.
P.S. I think that from now on, I'll shoot a Kodak gray card as the first image of every roll. That would make setting up the curves so much easier.
Skansen, in Stockholm Sweden. Agfa Scala at EI 200
Robert Lai , May 04, 2006; 08:27 p.m.
P.S. All of these images are unsharpened. They may be cropped, but I've done little else as these are my archive files (shrunken for the web of course).
Skaneateles, NY in rare sunshine, on Agfa RSX2-100 i
Bill Acito , May 04, 2006; 10:06 p.m.
Robert
Here is an obtuse question... what brought you to Skaneateles from Stockholm? (pronounced Skinny-atlas, for those of you not brought up in the Finger Lakes). I grew up in Auburn, one town over. Did you partake of Doug's Fish Fry?
Oh yeah, I have been using Nikon Scan 3, and just downloaded 4.... will take a look at your settings.
Regards
Robert Lai , May 05, 2006; 12:30 a.m.
Hi Bill,
Actually, I work in Syracuse at the SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital. I live in Cicero, NY. I purchased the Coolscan 5000 about 2 months ago, and I've been trying to optimize the scans since then. The scanner was purchased through MQ Camera in Syracuse.
Stockholm was a wonderful place to visit during a conference. I've never met more warm and welcoming people. The weather was a bit chilly as this was in October (but nothing compared to Syracuse!). There's a definite sense of history in Stockholm, especially in Gamla Stan (Old Town) which dates from the middle ages. A very walkable city located on an Archipelago.
I see from another post that you've got the ZF 50 1.4! You've got to tell me how it compares to the 50 1.2 (which I also have), and the Nikkor 50 1.4 or 50 1.8! Is it worth dumping the Nikkors for?
Bill Acito , May 05, 2006; 02:25 p.m.
Well, for me the question will be is it good enough (re: sharp) to drop my G2 and 45 Planar. I'll be looking for the same "pop" I see from the rangefinder (I prefer SLRs to rangefinders... just me, and my style of shooting... but shoot them because of the lenses).
Terry Rory 
, May 05, 2006; 04:43 p.m.
I am a beginner with the Nikon Coolscan V and Nikon Scan 4 software and had this thread pointed out to me. I could not help but see the reference to the Contax CZ Planar 50mm f/1.4 mentioned just above and it was pure coincidence that the first scan I did on the Coolscan the other day was taken with that lens and Kodachrome....
beginners luck and default settings! Terry Rory , May 05, 2006; 04:54 p.m.
The first (and only) 14 scanned pics with the Coolscan V. As I learn what I am doing better then I will repost some of these.....
click here
Vivek . 
, May 05, 2006; 07:02 p.m.
Robert&Trevor: Related. Take a look at this piece of plastic;
www.scanhancer.com
Robert Lai , May 05, 2006; 08:24 p.m.
Trevor
Thanks for sharing some of your scans. I've always admired your style. You have some outstanding pictures there.
As for "beginner's luck", the default settings on Nikon Scan 4 are:
Positive film
ICE normal
ROC 5
GEM 3
DEE 50
Scan Image Enhancer ON
As you can see from my settings in the first post, they are very similar to the Kodachrome settings that I use.
Vivek, when I read through the scanhancer site, it says that the device is only for Minolta scanners.
Vivek . , May 05, 2006; 08:41 p.m.
Vivek . , May 05, 2006; 08:43 p.m.
http://www.scanhancer.com/index.php?art=22&men=3
