Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/05/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Is it possible that many of the people who have B&W scan issues are running ~2000 dpi scanners? I used to run one, and it was fine for color. For Tri-X, it gave me grain that was bigger than on the negative. Evidently Tri-X grain + 2000 dpi pixels = Aliasing City. Chromagenic films scan smoother because the dye clouds are, er, cloudy, as opposed to discrete crystals with clearly defined edges. The problem with B&W scanning is when you have a pixel that is a certain size, and grains that are near that size, but a little smaller or a little bigger, bad things can happen. You can switch film, sure. But you can also mess with exposure and development a bit and see if that gets the pixels and the crystals more compatible with each other. A little more light and/or a little less time in the soup can help. Or a kinder, gentler soup. FWIW, Tri-X and Xtol scans fine for me at 4000 dpi. The grain in the scan looks similar to the grain in the film when looked at with a high-power magnifier. Now, if you have religious objections to grain, then use chromagenic, and expose at EI 250 or 200. But avoid shadowy scenes, or Mr. Grain will return. --Peter At 06:24 PM 5/17/04 -0700, B. D. wrote: >Again, I just don't get all the whining about scanning and film >types...Tri-X, Fuji Acros, Delta 3200 -throw it in the neg holder and >scan it....period.