Scanning

[Thunderer]

I am trying to squeeze out the best possible quality from some 35mm monochrome negatives with an old Epson 4180 flatbed scanner using the supplied negative holder and software. Lack of good Dmax seems the major problem so I have tried a sort of hdr technique using levels to get the different exposures then merging in PSE photo merge. Question is does anyone have experience of doing this or similar and have any suggestions to make the idea work eg use curves or brightness settings and how many exposures to make? I have tried using HDR merge in CS5 but can't work out how many times over and under the standard exposure is used.

Any advice gratefully received - but please no suggestions about spending money on a different scanner or on expensive professional services.

Jeff

[colinb]

I know both Fuji and I do restoration work but I bet neither of us do everything the same way, it all often depends of what you have to start with - can you link us to a good sized file? 

[Thunderer]

I know both Fuji and I do restoration work but I bet neither of us do everything the same way, it all often depends of what you have to start with - can you link us to a good sized file?

Three files but each is way to big to load here, and to make them small I will need to adjust them on my PC then use ITunes to get them on my IPad then somehow adjust the size to make them fit here. - a task that was beyond me last week.

But given there is no standard way to do the job a one off solution would not be what I need so I'll not pursue the offer. Thanks for the offer which is appreciated.

Jeff

[FUJI]

Hi, mine were Edwardian half plate glass negatives, I had no joy with a scanner, so chose to use a DIY ground glass ( acrylic) screen, light box on which photographed each negative glass plate using a 50mm lens......I converted them to positives in Photoshop CS6.

Here is one if the results......a very seasonable one.

I processed over 200 in all, they ere wonderful.

FUJI

[Thunderer]

Hi, mine were Edwardian half plate glass negatives, I had no joy with a scanner, so chose to use a DIY ground glass ( acrylic) screen, light box on which photographed each negative glass plate using a 50mm lens......I converted them to positives in Photoshop CS6.

Here is one if the results......a very seasonable one.

I processed over 200 in all, they ere wonderful.

FUJI

I have done that with 35mm colour slides using a Sigma 105mm macro lens on Sony DSLR. I used a small slide viewer light-box but the Iluminations was uneven. Howeve I have some of the plastic sheet used to make illuminated advertising signs which I guess is quite neutral and should work OK for even lighting if placed a few inches above the slide viewer. I have a copier stand ( adapted from an enlarger ) and digital files processed in LR could well Print OK.

Thanks for the suggestion/reminder.

Jeff