Software for Minolta 5400

[Dale]

I have just purchased the 5400 and have some questions regarding the
optimal use of available scanning software. I have read through all
of the available threads on this NG in order to come to the smallest
number of issues.

1. Scanner software - With the latest version of Vuescan now at 8.x,
it it a better choice than Silverfast or the latest version of the
Minolta software?

2. Film types - Does certain scannning software do a better job with
negs vs. pos? How about B&W scanning?

3. Vuescan - Up to a few months ago there was a lot of chatter about
problems with the Vuescan software and the 5400. Has this been
cleared up?

4. Calibration - Is it important to use IT8 targets to calibrate the
scanner? For that matter, does the scanning software even support
this type of calibration? What am I missing if I don't do this?

5. Software conflicts - When does it make sense to use the scanning
software's ability to sharpen, color correct, grain dissolve, etc.
and when should I use Photoshop (with all of its available plug-ins)?
Is it a mistake to correct in both places?

Sorry for all of the questions, but the threads I have read are either
pretty old or never really resolved some of these issues
(understanding that some answers may be subjective and therefore
somewhat unresolvable) TIA.

Dale

 

[Hecate]

I have just purchased the 5400 and have some questions regarding the
optimal use of available scanning software. I have read through all
of the available threads on this NG in order to come to the smallest
number of issues.

1. Scanner software - With the latest version of Vuescan now at 8.x,
it it a better choice than Silverfast or the latest version of the
Minolta software?

No. Read the thread called Re: So in the end (Minolta 5400) (the last
few days of posts should do.

Vuescan isn't, IMHO, solid enough for use in a professional
environment, and certainly doesn't produce good results with your
scanner (which I also have). This is, of course, IMHO. Other
people's views may differ.

At the moment I'm using the Minolta software (but make sure you have
downloaded and are using the 1.1.3 version). I am intending to give
Silverfast a try so I can't comment on it for now as I haven't used
it. It's one major problem from my point of view ids that it is
scanner specific. But if it works well, then, in the end, it'll
probably be worth it.

2. Film types - Does certain scannning software do a better job with
negs vs. pos? How about B&W scanning?

You can't use ICE with silver-based negs. I.e. B&W. Nor can you use it
with Kodachrome. Good scanning software should be good across the
board - in the case of Kodachrome and B&W the limitation is in the
scanner/film combination, not the software.

3. Vuescan - Up to a few months ago there was a lot of chatter about
problems with the Vuescan software and the 5400. Has this been
cleared up?

Not IMO.

4. Calibration - Is it important to use IT8 targets to calibrate the
scanner? For that matter, does the scanning software even support
this type of calibration? What am I missing if I don't do this?

Calibration is something a lot of people swear by and some don't. For
me, it only really works for transparencies if the target you scan is
the specific film type you use. For example, it's pretty easy to get
Provia targets, but some less prevalent film types may not be
available at least, I haven't found them ;-)

5. Software conflicts - When does it make sense to use the scanning
software's ability to sharpen, color correct, grain dissolve, etc.
and when should I use Photoshop (with all of its available plug-ins)?
Is it a mistake to correct in both places?

Personally, I use the scanner to get my digital negative. The only
thing I would use is ICE & GD. I don't do any processing other than
that in the scanner, everything is done in PS where I have far more
control.

Sorry for all of the questions, but the threads I have read are either
pretty old or never really resolved some of these issues
(understanding that some answers may be subjective and therefore
somewhat unresolvable) TIA.

Well,, that's my (subjective) view anyway

 

[Wilfred]

No. Read the thread called Re: So in the end (Minolta 5400) (the last
few days of posts should do.

Vuescan isn't, IMHO, solid enough for use in a professional
environment, and certainly doesn't produce good results with your
scanner (which I also have). This is, of course, IMHO. Other
people's views may differ.

I still do prefer VueScan for negatives. The Minolta software tends to
clip highlights and shadows. On my computer, VueScan has never been
unstable, at least not the recent versions. IR cleaning sometimes fails
(too much is beaing 'cleaned') especially with Fuji emulsions, it seems.

At the moment I'm using the Minolta software (but make sure you have
downloaded and are using the 1.1.3 version).

What's wrong with the current version, 1.1.5?

I am intending to give
Silverfast a try so I can't comment on it for now as I haven't used
it. It's one major problem from my point of view ids that it is
scanner specific. But if it works well, then, in the end, it'll
probably be worth it.

I haven't tried Silverfast either. I would be interested in other
peoples' experiences. There are some examples on Robert Feinman's
website (http://robertdfeinman.com/tips/5400_via_silverfast.html), but
they don't convince me to buy the software.

(...)

You might end up with a faint color cast that can easily be corrected in
Photoshop. Only if the color reproduction is highly critical (fashion
and product photography, for instance) and if you're participating in
some kind of severely regulated supply chain you will have to use it.

Personally, I use the scanner to get my digital negative. The only
thing I would use is ICE & GD. I don't do any processing other than
that in the scanner, everything is done in PS where I have far more
control.

Agreed.

 

[Hecate]

What's wrong with the current version, 1.1.5?

The fact that it was late at night when I posted... ;-)

 

[Fernando]

1. Scanner software - With the latest version of Vuescan now at 8.x,
it it a better choice than Silverfast or the latest version of the
Minolta software?

It depends.
To me, Vuescan does a better job driving the autofocus, and gives much
more control over the process (Minolta Scan tends to clip shadows and
highlights too much IMHO).
Plus, Vuescan is very very stable on my PC. No crashes or freezes.
Minolta Scan 1.1.5 *and* Silverfast AI 6.2.1d5 both crash when I scan
at 5400dpi / 4x / ICE on (and I have 1.5GB of RAM).
But, Vuescan shows lots of streaking and banding in the shadows. Even
clipping shadows ala Minolta Scan, still I can see more streaks in
Vuescan images, even with multisampling, even with multiple
Calibration processes.
And, color accuracy simply isn't there, no matter how many times (and
in how many different ways) I tried the various Color Balance settings
(and even custom-made color profiles, built with Wolf Faust's IT8
target slides. I have them all). I have a green cast in the shadows,
and a magenta/red cast in the highlights. A nightmare, but it can be
corrected with a certain amount of work...
Please note that Vuescan performs an *outstanding* job with my
Polaroid SS120, giving dead-on colors with just a simple custom
profile and Neutral color balance.

2. Film types - Does certain scannning software do a better job with
negs vs. pos? How about B&W scanning?

I found that this scanner does a better job with low-contrast films.
It has visible problems with high dynamic range slides (expecially
Velvia).
Color negatives are more or less OK, but contrasty BW negatives once
again push the dynamic range a bit too far.

3. Vuescan - Up to a few months ago there was a lot of chatter about
problems with the Vuescan software and the 5400. Has this been
cleared up?

I don't think so. And it's really a pity, 'cause Vuescan is simply a
great, great piece of software. I used it with Canon FS2700, Epson
2400, Epson 2450, Minolta Dual Scan III, Polaroid SS120 with great
results, but it fails to drive the 5400 at similar levels. What a
shame.

4. Calibration - Is it important to use IT8 targets to calibrate the
scanner? For that matter, does the scanning software even support
this type of calibration? What am I missing if I don't do this?

I think profiling is very important in general; but with this scanner
I am having a really hard time getting a good profile...

5. Software conflicts - When does it make sense to use the scanning
software's ability to sharpen, color correct, grain dissolve, etc.
and when should I use Photoshop (with all of its available plug-ins)?
Is it a mistake to correct in both places?

I only care about exposure, ICE and focus while scanning. Then I
perform the needed adjustments within Photoshop (working at 48bpp).

Fernando