VueScan Epson 4870 Batch Scan: Qs and As

[Alan]

I am trying to set up a workflow to scan a bunch of 6x6 slides. I have
some questions and some answers.

Setup: Epson 4870, Mac OS X, VueScan 8.0.8.

Answers:

A1) I had to make my own film holder. 6 6cmx6cm slides in holders
(2.75"x2.75") just fit the transparency holder if you put them in a 2x3
rectangle. I found out through some annoying trial and error that you
need a "notch" at the top of the holder. If you look at any of the
supplied holders, you will see a notch about 0.5"x6" at the top of each
holder. This seems to allow some sort of calibration--if your home-made
holder blocks this, the scanner will scan very slowly and give you
strange effects (as if the sensors are showing only the low bits of a
very over-exposed scan).

A2) It took me a long time to figure out that the "lock image color"
switch on the "input" tab affects the options available on the "color"
tab. The relation is difficult to describe, but easy to see if you play
around with VueScan. Another example of VueScan's inscrutable "action
at a distance" interface.

A3) Vuescan (or the scanner) freezes a lot. It appears to happen less
if you use USB 2.0. But it still happens. A sign that it has frozen is
that the green light on the scanner is steady and Vuescan doesn't have
a message at the bottom of the window.

A4) I scan transparencies with the images upright and the "Mirror"
button set. This minimizes contact between the slide and the glass
cover.

Questions:

Q1) Batch scanning is real slow! Is there anything I can do to speed it
up? I have Lock Exposure, Lock file base color, and Lock image color on
with RGB exposure = 1.5, yet it still does 2 scans for each slide.
Why!?

Q2) VueScan scans each frame as a separate scan. It would be much
faster if it would scan all 6 together and then process each
separately. I assume there is no way to convince VueScan to do this?
Ed: any chance of adding this in the future?

Q3) I want to scan the transparency, the front (reflective) and the
back (reflective), and have the three scans be associated by having the
same "number". The only way I can see to do this is to number them
successively using the "+" notation in VueScan.

Eg, I scan the using the transparency holder and output to
"Img 1000+.tif"
"Img 1000+.jpg"
and then scan the fronts using the reflective scanner and output to
"Obv 1000+.jpg"
and scan the backs using the reflective scanner and output to
"Rev 1000+.jpg"

But for successive scans, it is easy to have "off by 1" (or off by 6)
errors.

Any suggestions?

TIA

Alan

 

[RSD99]

Re: A1
"... I found out through some annoying trial and error that you
need a "notch" at the top of the holder. If you look at any of the
supplied holders, you will see a notch about 0.5"x6" at the top of each
holder. This seems to allow some sort of calibration-- ..."

That's exactly what it is ... and the paperwork that came with my 4870 explains that you
need to keep that area clear "for calibration."

As far as your questions about ViewScan ... I've settled on using Silverfast AI ...
primarily because it actually has two separate "curves" capabilities, and I'm accustomed
to working that way. Hopefully, someone else will be able to help.

 

[false_dmitrii]

Q2) VueScan scans each frame as a separate scan. It would be much
faster if it would scan all 6 together and then process each
separately. I assume there is no way to convince VueScan to do this?
Ed: any chance of adding this in the future?

Posting via Google, so if this hasn't already been answered....I don't
know whether multiple frames can be scanned per pass. But I thought
VueScan could scan the whole thing to the HD unadjusted, then re-scan
from the new file much more quickly. You might need a good amount of
memory to do this. I can't say for sure and can't offer a specific
method, since I've only used the demo so far. But if you hadn't
considered it, maybe this will give you some ideas.

false_dmitrii