Problem scanning very dark Kodachrome

[Don]

I'm actually fairly busy getting VueScan 8.0 ready.

Fair enough, but how would you (or, indeed, the great unwashed) have
reacted if I responded to your request for a raw scan with a flippant
remark followed by "I'm fairly busy"?

"Oh, good!" would not have been the correct reply! ;o)

Anyway, since you acknowledge elsewhere that I had a real point all
along, the matter is now closed.

Don.

 

[Don]

I've found in the past that when a customer (or potential
customer) is adamant about something, they often have a
real point.

If was self-evident all along that I had a real point. (Histograms
don't lie.)

Had you been this forthcoming sooner we could have saved a lot of
electrons...

Don.

 

[Bart van der Wolf]

SNIP

I have tried to understand the IT8 calibration concept and
visited many of the IT8 sites where targets can be purchased.
What confuses me is that they all mention a specific film type
as if to imply that each film type used will need its own specific
target. Is this really the case?

Yes. What the target allows, is to quantify the difference in transparency
of the film's dye set as seen by the sensor when transilluminated by the
scanner's lightsource.
The lightsource has a particular spectral output, and it changes over time.
The film dyes then absorb/transmit parts of that spectrum. The filtered
spectum then reaches the sensor and the sensor has a particular spectral
sensitivity as well. So each family of film dyes requires its own scanner
profile, and it is only valid for the scanner it was produced on.

If so, it could be a problem because I have not found any
sites that sell Kodachrome targets. If they do exist, pointers
appreciated.

I have heard there exists a Kodachrome Color Input Target made by Kodak.
I believe it has article no. 157 5141 (Q-60 K3). You'll probably have to
convince a dealer to really search for it, as not many people know it exists
(even within Kodak).

Bart

 

[Ed Hamrick]

I've added support for "Input|Red/Green/Blue analog gain" in
VueScan 8.0 Beta 2. It can be downloaded from:

http://www.hamrick.com/beta.html

There's also an updated "Getting Started" guide on this page.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

 

[RSD99]

"Bart van der Wolf" posted:
"... I have heard there exists a Kodachrome Color Input Target made by Kodak.
I believe it has article no. 157 5141 (Q-60 K3).
...."

Essentially correct. B&H has it, and someone posted a URL recently (sorry, I don't
remember who ... URL below) to their web page for that item. The reason most people have a
problem finding the Kodak IT-8 products (and some of the other "neat things" like the Q-13
Color Patches) is ... they are from the *Graphic Arts* group that sells mainly to the
printing industry! This group has its own network of dealers (and etcetera), and only a
few "high-end" camera stores that cater to the professional photographer even know about
them. Weird!

Kodak also makes another target that is useful. The following was found at a site that has
some copies of the Leben Scanner newslist archives
http://www.a1.nl/homepages/markerink/scan_cal.txt

"...
Kodak manufactures another target called a Scanner Calibration Target T-34.
They sell it as a Q-59 product from their color guys. It has a linear step
wedge of accurate Status A density swatches from .1 to 3.4 If you use it to
calibrate / linearize your scanner you will find that the target is better than
your scanner (unlike the IT8 Q60).
...."

B&Hs URL for the Q-60 K3 is
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=276295&is=R
EG

Monaco's Accessory page (IT-8 Targets)
http://www.monacosys.com/accessories.html

 

[Kees van Reeuwijk]

If was self-evident all along that I had a real point. (Histograms
don't lie.)

Had you been this forthcoming sooner we could have saved a lot of
electrons...

My personal theory is that it was easier for him to add your feature
than continue arguing, but I can't read Ed's mind.

But now that he has met your demand, Surely you're going to pay for
VueScan. Right?

 

[David Blanchard]

Try B&H photo. THey have KC targets.
URL:
http://tinyurl.com/27hyd

Helped quite a bit to get the output closer to the real thing. You will
still have to tweak some of the images. Watch out for KC with varnish on
it, 1950s and earlier. It can be difficult to scan as it will not match
any target or Vuescan profile.

And I just finished placing an order a few days ago with B&H. Oh, well.
Easy enough to place another.

Thanks.

-db-

 

[Ed Hamrick]

My personal theory is that it was easier for him to add your feature
than continue arguing, but I can't read Ed's mind.

No, that wasn't the reason - I'm quite capable of ignoring
obnoxious postings. The reason I added it was that several
other people indicated that separate control of analog gain
was useful to them.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

 

[Hecate]

No, that wasn't the reason - I'm quite capable of ignoring
obnoxious postings. The reason I added it was that several
other people indicated that separate control of analog gain
was useful to them.

One thing you did do with all this was convince ,me that if I don't
like the software on my new Minolta Scan Elite 5400, I'll take a look
at yours. It's good when someone tries to help instead of the giving
the usual refrain of "it's your OS/hardware/other software".