Color Management: Epson Scans Too Saturated

[haverbach]

Since day one with my Epson 4870 scanner, images that look ok in the
scanner preview are WAY TOO saturated when scanned/imported into
Photoshop, particularly the reds. To bring the image within a proper
normal range within Photoshop, the saturation must be reduced by about
-25 to -30 points. The only way to avoid this is to decrease the
saturation in the scanner software (again, by about -25 to -30 points).
I use EpsonScan, but Silverfast produced a similar result. I'm
using Windows XP and Photoshop CS.

I do not believe this is a "monitor" issue: I have a couple of
monitors; I calibrate with a Monaco Optix colorimeter; same result.

One further clue: when color or sepia images appear ok on the monitor,
they generally print (on my Epson R800) somewhat too yellowish green.
Adding a temporary adjustment layer in Photoshop to boost red and
magenta allows for a reasonable print.

After much cogitation, and test printing, I'm thinking something on a
different course: My Photoshop "working space" is "Adobe RGB
1998". Could my Epson scanner be tagging scanned images with sRGB, or
whatever? I'll note that when I import scanned images into Photoshop
I do NOT get the Photoshop dialog box warning me about working space
differences.

Any help? Thank you,

Howard

 

[Djon]

Is your Epson producing a TIFF or RGB or ...?

What type of film are you scanning? Your "sepia" comment suggests
you're doing something unusual at the scan level.

It sounds like you're manipulating the scan unnecessarily.

Is your imagery strange in some technical way? For example, are you
cross processing or shooting extremely monotone subjects, ie shooting
something that looks almost like a B&W image? Sometimes when one is at
the edge, the software fools itself...just saw that with color negs of
animal footprints in mud, where there was no color other than the
supposedly gray mud and various small reflections...both Vuescan and
Nikonscan went nuts, made crazy blues, couldn't cope, whereas other
images on the film are perfect.

Try using the defaults only, with no adjustments other than for film
type.

In general, experienced users seem not to do ANYTHING to adjust scans
of reasonably good film, other than setting for appropriate film type.

Forget the Silverfast SE, it's just a sales tool for the more expensive
versions, has no advantages. The more expensive versions do have
advantages, probably not for flatbeds, and are IMO $ ripoffs Vs
Vuescan).

John

 

[Jim]

Since day one with my Epson 4870 scanner, images that look ok in the
scanner preview are WAY TOO saturated when scanned/imported into
Photoshop, particularly the reds. To bring the image within a proper
normal range within Photoshop, the saturation must be reduced by about
-25 to -30 points. The only way to avoid this is to decrease the
saturation in the scanner software (again, by about -25 to -30 points).
I use EpsonScan, but Silverfast produced a similar result. I'm
using Windows XP and Photoshop CS.

Have your calibrated the scanner?

I do not believe this is a "monitor" issue: I have a couple of
monitors; I calibrate with a Monaco Optix colorimeter; same result.

One further clue: when color or sepia images appear ok on the monitor,
they generally print (on my Epson R800) somewhat too yellowish green.

Have you calibrated the printer?

Adding a temporary adjustment layer in Photoshop to boost red and
magenta allows for a reasonable print.

After much cogitation, and test printing, I'm thinking something on a
different course: My Photoshop "working space" is "Adobe RGB
1998". Could my Epson scanner be tagging scanned images with sRGB, or
whatever? I'll note that when I import scanned images into Photoshop
I do NOT get the Photoshop dialog box warning me about working space
differences.

The scanner must have imbeded Adobe RGB in the image, but it still needs to
be calibrated.

Any help? Thank you,

Howard

Jim

 

[haverbach]

I scan only reflective materials, i.e., photos. I do photo
restoration.

My monitor is calibrated and profiled. I have proper printer profiles
for all my media. I've been a digital imager for several years. I
have the latest EpsonScan Windows XP driver.

In the EpsonScan software I've chosen "Epson Standard" as the Source,
and Adobe RGB as the "Target".

I believe all this is correct (or is it?)

I do not believe Epson scan imports produce TIFFS or anything else;
however, when saved in Photoshop they are, of course, Photoshop "PSD"
files.

Perhaps I should test VueScan. Can someone provide the website to
download the testing version?

Howard

 

[haverbach]

I scan only reflective materials, i.e., photos. I do photo
restoration.

My monitor is calibrated and profiled. I have proper printer profiles
for all my media. I've been a digital imager for several years. I
have the latest EpsonScan Windows XP driver.

In the EpsonScan software I've chosen "Epson Standard" as the Source,
and Adobe RGB as the "Target".

I believe all this is correct (or is it?)

I do not believe Epson scan imports produce TIFFS or anything else;
however, when saved in Photoshop they are, of course, Photoshop "PSD"
files.

Perhaps I should test VueScan. Can someone provide the website to
download the testing version?

Howard

 

[haverbach]

I scan only reflective materials, i.e., photos. I do photo
restoration.

My monitor is calibrated and profiled. I have proper printer profiles
for all my media. I've been a digital imager for several years. I
have the latest EpsonScan Windows XP driver.

In the EpsonScan software I've chosen "Epson Standard" as the Source,
and Adobe RGB as the "Target".

I believe all this is correct (or is it?)

I do not believe Epson scan imports produce TIFFS or anything else;
however, when saved in Photoshop they are, of course, Photoshop "PSD"
files.

Perhaps I should test VueScan. Can someone provide the website to
download the testing version?

Howard

 

[haverbach]

I scan only reflective materials, i.e., photos. I do photo
restoration.

My monitor is calibrated and profiled. I have proper printer profiles
for all my media. I've been a digital imager for several years. I
have the latest EpsonScan Windows XP driver.

In the EpsonScan software I've chosen "Epson Standard" as the Source,
and Adobe RGB as the "Target".

I believe all this is correct (or is it?)

I do not believe Epson scan imports produce TIFFS or anything else;
however, when saved in Photoshop they are, of course, Photoshop "PSD"
files.

Perhaps I should test VueScan. Can someone provide the website to
download the testing version?

Howard

 

[haverbach]

As a photo restorer, I scan only reflective materials, not film.

In the Scanner driver, I have "Epson Standard" as the "Source" and
Adobe RGB as the "Target". (My Photoshop workingspace is Adobe RGB.)

My monitor and printer are fully calibrated and profiled.

I've been doing this for about four years.

I can solve the problem.

Maybe I should try VueScan. Can anyone provide the website for
downloading a test version?

Thanks,

Howard

 

[haverbach]

I'm a reasonably-experienced digital imager.

My components are fully calibrated and profiled.

In the EpsonScan software color configuration, I have "Epson Standard"
as the "Source" and Adobe RGB as the "Target".

I do not believe the scanner produces TIFFs or anythinbg else; however,
once in Photoshop my files are saved in photoshop format -- "PSD".

Can't solve my problem.

Can someone provide the website to download a test version of
"VueScan"?

Thanks,

Howard

 

[Jimmy]

I scan only reflective materials, i.e., photos. I do photo
restoration.

My monitor is calibrated and profiled. I have proper printer profiles
for all my media. I've been a digital imager for several years. I
have the latest EpsonScan Windows XP driver.

In the EpsonScan software I've chosen "Epson Standard" as the Source,
and Adobe RGB as the "Target".

I believe all this is correct (or is it?)

I do not believe Epson scan imports produce TIFFS or anything else;
however, when saved in Photoshop they are, of course, Photoshop "PSD"
files.

Perhaps I should test VueScan. Can someone provide the website to
download the testing version?

Howard

http://hamrick.com/