Ok, but that is all about software and how proprietary it can be; what is
the hardware aspect?
Hardware aspect is that the scanner can create 4 channels, RGBI, Red
Green Blue Infrared. The I is used for the ICE to detect the difference
between what's IN the emulsion (dye layers to be more exact, I suppose),
and what's ON the emulsion (dirt/scratches).
And the ICE in NikonScan is coded to not only read the I channel (which
any number of scanners can make), but also only works on Nikon scanners.
The ICE in Minolta's scan interface (whatever it's called), only works on
Minolta scanners.
The "ICE" (Infrared Clean) in VueScan, however, can work with a variety
of scanners that produce the I channel.
ICE was created by Applied Science Fiction and licensed to the various
scanner manufacturers. Now apparantly owned by a division of
Eastman Kodak. Also ROC, GEM, SHO. Some of which are stand alone, but ICE
remains "buried" in specific scanner interfaces.
Mac
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