What film for best automatic color balance (Vuescan)?

[OlegK]

Would you recommend some specific (negative) film for best
automatic color balance when scanning with Vuescan? "Amateur" film,
not the high-priced pro one.

I want to improve the scanning productivity, and would love to avoid
manual color corrections for as much frames as possible.
I already calibrated the scanner and locked the film-base color. Still
not what I'd like. Haven't tried Erik's alternative calibration
suggestion though.

If the choice of film can influence the color-balance success rate,
I'm going for it.

Thanks,
Oleg.

 

[David C Miers]

As Hamrick software recommends in the instructions usage of the kodak gold
or generic settings with white balance is often the best choice for "other"
films not specifically listed. However in the scanning procedure there are
no perfect quick ways out and time fine tuning scan settings and editing
afterwards for good images are a way of life. When I first started scanning
I used to be satisfied with imperfect results. The more I do it the more
picky I get, thus requiring special attention to each and every image and
NOT using a batch scan option. Unless every image on your film was exposed
using the exact same light with the exact same background conditions, and
further assuming there was no user error and all was perfect, you cannot
really expect the scan settings for every image to be the same on a roll of
film. Scanning and editing are an artform in itself and require a lot of
patience and dedication. Even digital camera images are less then perfect
and require usage of the digital darkroom. If you want the easy way out
shoot film and take it to a good photo processor.

Just my 2cents(rant) worth.

Dave

 

[David C Miers]

Just one further thought that gave me a smile. I remember a couple of
years ago when I first started scanning film I commented on one list or
another about how fast I could scan and edit at the same time. I used to
edit an image as fast as the scanner could kick them out giving me about an
hour per roll of 24. I have now went through all my archives and deleted
those same images glaring at them with detest, realizing my incompetence at
that time...

As Hamrick software recommends in the instructions usage of the kodak gold
or generic settings with white balance is often the best choice for "other"
films not specifically listed. However in the scanning procedure there are
no perfect quick ways out and time fine tuning scan settings and editing
afterwards for good images are a way of life. When I first started scanning
I used to be satisfied with imperfect results. The more I do it the more
picky I get, thus requiring special attention to each and every image and
NOT using a batch scan option. Unless every image on your film was exposed
using the exact same light with the exact same background conditions, and
further assuming there was no user error and all was perfect, you cannot
really expect the scan settings for every image to be the same on a roll of
film. Scanning and editing are an artform in itself and require a lot of
patience and dedication. Even digital camera images are less then perfect
and require usage of the digital darkroom. If you want the easy way out
shoot film and take it to a good photo processor.

Just my 2cents(rant) worth.

Dave

Would you recommend some specific (negative) film for best
automatic color balance when scanning with Vuescan? "Amateur" film,
not the high-priced pro one.

I want to improve the scanning productivity, and would love to avoid
manual color corrections for as much frames as possible.
I already calibrated the scanner and locked the film-base color. Still
not what I'd like. Haven't tried Erik's alternative calibration
suggestion though.

If the choice of film can influence the color-balance success rate,
I'm going for it.

Thanks,
Oleg.