Crummy Slide Scans ? HP 3210

[GregS]

My purpose is prints of my watercolors (Mostly about 14x20") I took
full-frame slides with a decent SLR. I want to scan at a high
resolution then print copies to sell at approx. the size of the
originals. (I understand the issues about wide-format printing, etc.
This mail is just about the scanning,)

Max optical resolution on the 3210 is advertised as 4800dpi, Scanning
to a TIF at that resolution should give me enough pixels for 250dpi
14x20 output (right?). The scanner works (using a slide holder), but
the image I see in Photoshop is very "blurry" and soft. I can adjust
colors OK, but I cannot sharpen it satisfactorily. When I print 8x10
"proof" output on the 3210 it has the same blurry quality I see on the
monitor.

What might be the problem? Am I foolish to think that I can get an
adequate 4000+ dpi scan from this system? The unit has a built in light
in the lid for slide scans, and I can get low-res scans at 300dpi that
print to about 4x6. Should I send the slides out for scanning?

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[degrub]

Your slide is probably not in the focal plane. try it without the
holder, with shims under the holder to see if you can find the sweet
spot. Did you sharpen the image before you printed ? Any scan will need
some sharpening. Try unsharp mask in PS. You may find that the scanner
you are using does not have enough optical resolving capability for that
enlargement and you may want to try a film scanner like a Nikon CS4000
or 5000. You could also have it drum scanned for highest quality and
enlargement by an experienced operator.

 

[GregS]

Thanks for your reply! Thinking about focal plane, the slide mount
(cardboard) does hold the film a fraction above the glass. I'll bet HP
didn't worry about a focusing system for a flatbed scanner like this.
On the other hand, I've taken scans of objects on the glass that seem
to have at least some depth of focus.

I'm having a terrible time with HP support (evidently in India). They
reply in minutes, but all they do is talk down to me: "Did you clean
the glass?" "Let's try reinstalling the software".... I wish I knew
how to break through to someone who knew something technical about the
system, but I don't want to just flame them. (Thanks for letting me
rant). Probably could never get them to admit that the machine had a
problem.

 

[Roger]

Your slide is probably not in the focal plane. try it without the
holder, with shims under the holder to see if you can find the sweet
spot. Did you sharpen the image before you printed ? Any scan will need

Any? I rarely have to do any sharpening.

some sharpening. Try unsharp mask in PS. You may find that the scanner
you are using does not have enough optical resolving capability for that

Typically flat beds with an adapter will not match a film scanner for
results, but they are getting better.

enlargement and you may want to try a film scanner like a Nikon CS4000
or 5000. You could also have it drum scanned for highest quality and

OTOH I do have an LS500 ED.

enlargement by an experienced operator.

For that kind of resolution and enlargement you are probably going to
need something like the LS5000 which can resolve the grain in the
film.

14 X 20 is big for a 35. I've had some made and done some in the dark
room, but not many negatives or slides will go that far.

It is possible as was mentioned the film is not quite in the focal
plane, but more than likely it's a flat bed trying to do the job of a
dedicated film scanner.

Not foolish, but maybe a bit optimistic although you could get lucky.

For straight scans at 4000 dpi you are probably looking at roughly a
$1 each (check first as YMMV greatly) with no post processing or
image manipulation. That could get expensive in a hurry.

I've now gone through over 30,000 slides and negatives in the LS5000ED
and am very happy with the results.

Good Luck,

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com