Minolta 5400 streakings with VueScan 8.0.13: anyone else?

[Fernando]

Hello,

I'm still fighting with my Minolta SE5400, that produces unacceptable
streakings with Vuescan (even the latest 8.0.13) when used at 5400dpi.
Streaking appears with clear evidence when proper post-scan sharpening
is applied, and it's very annoying when high CCD exposure is required
( > 2.5, for example).

It does not disappear with Multisampling (tried up to 8x), and is
there with and without IR cleaning.

I've already submitted a bug report to Ed Hamrick, but I'd like to
know if someone else still has this issue (I have the latest firmware,
v1.10) or if mine is the only one out there that shows this problem:
I've read of many users that resolved with the latest firmware (I did
the upgrade, but the problem is still here).

I remember that Bart Van der Wolf still had this problem not long ago,
so his contribution may be useful to me...

Please let me know, thanks!

Fernando

 

[Steve Bell]

Hello,

I'm still fighting with my Minolta SE5400, that produces unacceptable
streakings with Vuescan (even the latest 8.0.13) when used at 5400dpi.
Streaking appears with clear evidence when proper post-scan sharpening
is applied, and it's very annoying when high CCD exposure is required
( > 2.5, for example).

It does not disappear with Multisampling (tried up to 8x), and is
there with and without IR cleaning.

I've already submitted a bug report to Ed Hamrick, but I'd like to
know if someone else still has this issue (I have the latest firmware,
v1.10) or if mine is the only one out there that shows this problem:
I've read of many users that resolved with the latest firmware (I did
the upgrade, but the problem is still here).

I remember that Bart Van der Wolf still had this problem not long ago,
so his contribution may be useful to me...

Please let me know, thanks!

Fernando

I'm still using 8.09 under OSX 10.3.4, and notice this as well, especially
as the sharpening is increased. My scanners firmware is as it was supplied
about 5 months ago. I was thinking I had a scanner fault, I hadn't been back
to Dimage Scan Utility for some, now I shall to check it out.

Steve Bell

 

[Dierk Haasis]

I remember that Bart Van der Wolf still had this problem not long ago,
so his contribution may be useful to me...

IIRC, Ed sometime back acknowledged ongoing problems with the Minolta
5400, although I didn't have trouble with the two. He even mentioned
abandoning support for it as he hasn't been able to pinpoint what goes
wrong.

I hope those who have trouble can get up enough info so he can fix it
and support this nice piece of hardware in the future.

 

[Tom Harrison]

I have been using Vuescan with my Minolta 5400 for a year now and have never
had any problems with it, no streaking or nothing. With the Minolta
software I find the colours are not very accurate especially greens, but
with Vuescan colours are spot on.

Tom

I remember that Bart Van der Wolf still had this problem not long ago,
so his contribution may be useful to me...

IIRC, Ed sometime back acknowledged ongoing problems with the Minolta
5400, although I didn't have trouble with the two. He even mentioned
abandoning support for it as he hasn't been able to pinpoint what goes
wrong.

I hope those who have trouble can get up enough info so he can fix it
and support this nice piece of hardware in the future.

 

[Wilfred]

Hello,

I'm still fighting with my Minolta SE5400, that produces unacceptable
streakings with Vuescan (even the latest 8.0.13) when used at 5400dpi.
Streaking appears with clear evidence when proper post-scan sharpening
is applied, and it's very annoying when high CCD exposure is required
( > 2.5, for example).

It does not disappear with Multisampling (tried up to 8x), and is
there with and without IR cleaning.

With my 5400 I've seen some (green) streaking in the darkest shadows
after extreme sharpening (e.g., 500% at a 0.3 pixel radius), both with
VueScan and the Minolta Scan Utility. It also happened with my previous
Minolta scanner, a DSS 2800. If this is the same problem as you're
reporting, I think it is normal - there's no detail worth sharpening in
those shadows anyway. The trick is to select all but the shadows and
then sharpen.

 

[Hecate]

Hello,

I'm still fighting with my Minolta SE5400, that produces unacceptable
streakings with Vuescan (even the latest 8.0.13) when used at 5400dpi.
Streaking appears with clear evidence when proper post-scan sharpening
is applied, and it's very annoying when high CCD exposure is required
( > 2.5, for example).

It does not disappear with Multisampling (tried up to 8x), and is
there with and without IR cleaning.

I've already submitted a bug report to Ed Hamrick, but I'd like to
know if someone else still has this issue (I have the latest firmware,
v1.10) or if mine is the only one out there that shows this problem:
I've read of many users that resolved with the latest firmware (I did
the upgrade, but the problem is still here).

I remember that Bart Van der Wolf still had this problem not long ago,
so his contribution may be useful to me...

Please let me know, thanks!

Fernando

Almost, but not all, people who have tired using Vuescan with the
Minolta have experienced the same, or similar problems. The best
advice is *do not use Vusecan* with the Minolta 5400.

 

[Fernando]

With my 5400 I've seen some (green) streaking in the darkest shadows
after extreme sharpening (e.g., 500% at a 0.3 pixel radius), both with
VueScan and the Minolta Scan Utility. It also happened with my previous
Minolta scanner, a DSS 2800. If this is the same problem as you're
reporting, I think it is normal

No, it's not the same: I don't have any hint of this streaks with
Minolta Scan Utility 1.1.5, even with extreme sharpening.
Seems some sort of calibration issue to me... the streaks are across
the whole frame, not just in the shadows, altough of course they're
more evident there.

Thanks,

Fernando

 

[Fernando]

Almost, but not all, people who have tired using Vuescan with the
Minolta have experienced the same, or similar problems. The best
advice is *do not use Vusecan* with the Minolta 5400.

Well, I hope Ed will find a way to fix it.
I sent him the log and the Calibration file, and gave my complete
availability to perform whatever test he might need.
I don't like Minolta Scan Utility... not only it sometimes hang my
machine, but it forces me to turn Grain Dissolver in order to use ICE.
Within Vuescan the two settings are fully independent...

Bye, thanks!

Fernando

 

[Steven Chambers]

Almost, but not all, people who have tired using Vuescan with the

Minolta have experienced the same, or similar problems. The best
advice is *do not use Vusecan* with the Minolta 5400.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
veni, vidi, reliqui

The same problem exists on the Minolta Scan Multi Pro

Steve Chambers

 

[Fernando]

The same problem exists on the Minolta Scan Multi Pro

((((((((

Maybe there's a way to perform this "calibration" out of VueScan?
Bart, Kenneth, any idea?

Fernando

 

[Alan Browne]

Hello,

I'm still fighting with my Minolta SE5400, that produces unacceptable
streakings with Vuescan (even the latest 8.0.13) when used at 5400dpi.
Streaking appears with clear evidence when proper post-scan sharpening
is applied, and it's very annoying when high CCD exposure is required
( > 2.5, for example).

It does not disappear with Multisampling (tried up to 8x), and is
there with and without IR cleaning.

I've already submitted a bug report to Ed Hamrick, but I'd like to
know if someone else still has this issue (I have the latest firmware,
v1.10) or if mine is the only one out there that shows this problem:
I've read of many users that resolved with the latest firmware (I did
the upgrade, but the problem is still here).

I remember that Bart Van der Wolf still had this problem not long ago,
so his contribution may be useful to me...

No streaking at all. If I scan at 5400, and then look at a dark
area on the screen, turn up my monitor brightness and zoom in 200
to 400% then I see some noise in stripes ... but this is so
extreme... it will never show on a screen, and won't show on a
print unless blown up huge and at low contrast.

 

[KUBOTA Susumu]

Hi,

I'm experiencing a similar problem along with the one which Bart
mentioned in his post:
http://groups.google.co.jp/[email protected]&output=gplain

I sent a problem report to Ed but haven't had any reply yet.
You can find the details of my problem in the following page:
http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~kubocci/8011_test/

I found that this has something to do with scanner initialization
process and the following procedure alleviate the problem:
1. Turn on the PC
2. Turn on the Scanner
3. Start Dimage Scan Utility (which launces scanner initialization
process)
4. Quit Dimage Scan Utility after initialization process has finished
5. Start VueScan

Hope this helps,

Susumu

 

[Markus Plail]

I'm experiencing a similar problem along with the one which Bart
mentioned in his post:
http://groups.google.co.jp/[email protected]&output=gplain

I sent a problem report to Ed but haven't had any reply yet.
You can find the details of my problem in the following page:
http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~kubocci/8011_test/

I found that this has something to do with scanner initialization
process and the following procedure alleviate the problem:
1. Turn on the PC
2. Turn on the Scanner
3. Start Dimage Scan Utility (which launces scanner initialization
process)
4. Quit Dimage Scan Utility after initialization process has finished
5. Start VueScan

Do you delete the se5 calibration file prior to scanning with vuescan?

regards
Markus

 

[Fernando]

Hello!

I sent a problem report to Ed but haven't had any reply yet.

Me too...

I found that this has something to do with scanner initialization
process and the following procedure alleviate the problem:
1. Turn on the PC
2. Turn on the Scanner
3. Start Dimage Scan Utility (which launces scanner initialization
process)
4. Quit Dimage Scan Utility after initialization process has finished
5. Start VueScan

It certainly sounds as a calibration problem.
Calibration is done during the initialization phase, and (if properly
done) accounts for uneveness in frame lighting, and so (to a certain
extent, also for streaking and banding).

But I'm not sure how calibrating in Scan Utility could help, because
Vuescan creates its own calibration file: it's called "vuescan.se5"
and it's in the Vuescan directory.
Anyway I tried it out, and it does not seem that in my case the
streaking is less visible.

Thank you for your contribution, nonetheless!

Let's hope Ed Hamrick finds the time to have a closer look at this
problem (maybe there's a similar root between streakings on the
various Minolta scanners... I've seen reports from Scan Dual IV and
Scan Multi Pro users, and myself was having streakings with my
previous scanner, a Scan Dual III).

Fernando

 

[Wilfred]

But I'm not sure how calibrating in Scan Utility could help, because
Vuescan creates its own calibration file: it's called "vuescan.se5"
and it's in the Vuescan directory.

Perhaps Minolta's calibration routine stores something in a memory chip
that is part of the scanner's hardware?

 

[Ed Hamrick]

Perhaps Minolta's calibration routine stores something in a memory chip
that is part of the scanner's hardware?

Yes, the Minolta software stores a calibration in the scanner
memory. I thought VueScan initialized this area (with a linear
pattern), but I probably need to look into this again.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

 

[Mark L Caton]

">

Almost, but not all, people who have tired using Vuescan with the
Minolta have experienced the same, or similar problems. The best
advice is *do not use Vusecan* with the Minolta 5400.

--

Hecate - The Real One
(e-mail address removed)
veni, vidi, reliqui

Well sorry to report that I'm with Alan on this. No streaking since updating
the firmware to 1.1.15. Not that I would want to stop Ed performing any
further checks.

I can only think of a couple of potential reasons for the issue -

1. Calibration - I do this immediately after the scanner and Vuescan have
initialised, and sometimes again during a long scanning session. It is
possible to forget this step.

2. Dust - don't leave the gate open, get a cover, good working conditions,
etc..

I had reason this evening to rescan an image I scanned previously with an
earlier version of the firmware, and the difference is very clear. This is
an image taken in the cloisters of an abbey, so some extremes of exposure.
This is on Provia.

In the shadows of the older scan there are some green, red and white
streaks, moving from left to right across the image, (which is in portrait,
so rotated right). Tonight's scan shows no sign of this. I've got the raw
files for both scans. They are quite large tho!

The only other variable I can think of is heat, as when the original scan
was made it was a lot warmer than this evening (its now v. late!).

Hecate, I don't know if you have a 5400, but have you tried the Minolta s/w?
Vuescan gives me the control I want. Therefore I cannot subscribe to your
view. In fact the reverse. And yes I have tried Silverfast.

I find both products (5400/Vuescan) extremely good for my purposes - they're
not point and shoot, you've got to get to understand them, like using your
camera and film. And if you've spent time taking the pics in the first
place, they deserve time in post production.

HTH,

Mark

 

[Wilfred]

Well sorry to report that I'm with Alan on this. No streaking since updating
the firmware to 1.1.15. Not that I would want to stop Ed performing any
further checks.

I can only think of a couple of potential reasons for the issue -

1. Calibration - I do this immediately after the scanner and Vuescan have
initialised, and sometimes again during a long scanning session. It is
possible to forget this step.

Ed Hamrick told me he discovered something's wrong with VueScan's
calibration routine for the 5400. The error seems to be the resaon for
several complaints reported in this newsgroup: the 'Dmax problem', the
streakings and the problems with IR cleaning. He is working on it now,
but it may take till after September 6 before the fix is ready.

 

[Steve Bell]

On 22/8/04 5:16 pm, in article (e-mail address removed),

(I have the latest firmware,

I looked on Minolta's web site for a firmware upgrade, see link below. It
mentions scanners and cameras, but when I attempt to select the 5400, all it
lists is cameras, no scanners. Where can the latest firmware for the DSE
5400 be downloaded from?

Steve Bell

<http://www.minoltaeurope.com/magic_frameEoI.shtml?/pe/head_pe.htm?cgi-bin/d
b4web_c/db/minoeu/custsupp/support_stage.d4w?language=english>

 

[Mark L Caton]

On 22/8/04 5:16 pm, in article (e-mail address removed),

(I have the latest firmware,

I looked on Minolta's web site for a firmware upgrade, see link below. It
mentions scanners and cameras, but when I attempt to select the 5400, all
it
lists is cameras, no scanners. Where can the latest firmware for the DSE
5400 be downloaded from?

Steve Bell

<http://www.minoltaeurope.com/magic_frameEoI.shtml?/pe/head_pe.htm?cgi-bin/d
b4web_c/db/minoeu/custsupp/support_stage.d4w?language=english>

Steve,

Try this. You may need to agree to a licenece first.

http://www.minoltaeurope.com/magic_...u/custsupp/support_stage.d4w?language=english

Mark