I've decided I would use the RAW file function of Vuescan to compare the
output to what I get from a normal scan process via the program. The Raws
(once inverted) look like garbage, very very compressed tonal range on the
histogram, not much I can really work with. At best, by using photoshop's
levels adjustment, I get a mediocre usually very contrasty image. The
Vuescan processed image looks fine. What am I doing wrong. What's the point
of the RAW feature?

It's more useful if you don't like what Vuescan automatically does.
You might prefer scanning as B&W slide and then inverting. I've found
those results to be fine, but essentially identical to using the right
B&W settings with Vuescan.

Alan Smithee wrote:
It's primary purpose is for Vuescan's scan-from-disk, at least that's
the author's intent. Read the Vuescan help file.

It has unadjusted, gamma 1.0. The only way I know to work with these
files in photoshop is by applying the "Posi linear" profile that came
with (my) Elite 5400. I believe there are other ways to make a curve to
bring up the gamma. Simply moving the mid-slider in Photoshop seems
very bad for histgram smoothness, and not the way to go.

Perhaps someone else will comment, on how to work with raw files
directly in Photoshop, I am interested as well.

Mendel Leisk <mendel_leisknospam@hotmail.com> wrote:

You can create a Gamma 1 version of your favourite working space in
color preferences. There's a short description on
http://wiki.panotools.info?title=Dcr...th_ Photoshop

--
Erik Krause
Digital contrast problems: http://www.erik-krause.de/contrast

Mendel Leisk wrote:
It seems like there is no "generic" setting for B&W film. I always have to
choose a manufacturer and film type along with a "contrast index" number
(e.g. .40 - . 80 in D76, or .40 -.80 in TMax developers). I would prefer to
get an unadulterated file from Vuescan and then adjust contrast in
Photoshop. Is this a reasonable sounding workflow?

Roger wrote:
What are the "right" setting though. How do I avoid the Manufacturer, Film
Type and Contrast Index for example?

I think what you really seem to want is to go and change input type to
"slide". Then go to color, change slide vendor to Kodak and choose
Reversal B&W as your slide type. This will give you inverted files
that you can then invert and set levels on in Photoshop.

Try this on a favorite shot. Then play with the film types and
contrast settings until the preview looks okay and scan. In my
experience once you find the "right settings" it looks pretty darn
similar to scanning as a slide and without all the hard work. Of
course you may be more demanding or experienced than me so you should
try it yourself and report back.

Alan Smithee <somewhere@asdf.com> wrote:

Set Input tab 'media type' to B/W negative and 'Bits per Pixel' to the
maximum RGB bit depth your scanner supports (to get maximum number of
levels). On Color tab set B/W vendor/brand/type to
GENERIC/COLOR/NEGATIVE (yes, this works ;-) Use advanced workflow (you
can reuse the film base color values for other rolls since they don't
matter much).

This way you can even scan color negatives to B/W (not recommended,
since you can get far better results in Photoshop).

--
Erik Krause
Digital contrast problems: http://www.erik-krause.de/contrast