Screen Cezanne FT S-5000 Strange lines on C-41 Negatives

[RussPhoto]

Hello Everyone,
I recently acquired Screen Cezanne FT s-5000. Scanner still works fine, the only problem I noticed that I'm getting very strange lines on my C-41 color, 6x6 negatives. Please take a look on attached image (right side) When negative is scanned and shadows are adjusted in Photoshop it's getting pretty visible. No matter in which direction I'm placing negative on the scanner's platen, these lines appear either vertical or horizontal way. It's only happens with C-41 negatives, when I'm scanning E-6 slides or B&W non C-41 I don't see any lines?! I have already cleaned twice scanner interior including mirror and it did not help. I switched scanner bulbs and it's still all the same. Does anybody have an idea what could be cause of that and why it happens only with C-41 color negs? I'm on Mac G4, OS 10.4, Tiger with ColorGenius 2.07, firmware was successfully updated. Will appreciate any input. Thanks so much!

[Peter De Smidt]

Are you making sure that the scanner has warmed up for a full 30 minutes before scanning? If you scan the negative as a positive, do you still get lines?

[RussPhoto]

Just did test scan in positive mode after 30 minutes warm up, brought file into Photoshop, invert it, adjust contrast and yes, lines still there.

[Peter De Smidt]

But it's not on any of the other type of film? Are you sure it's not a problem with whoever processes your negatives?

[onnect17]

Russ, try scanning the negatives rotated 90 degrees in case the image is already damaged in the emulsion.

[RussPhoto]

I tried few other labs and they all come the same for C-41. As usual it could be seen in part of the image where the sky is, some sort of weird banding, the way the scanner sensor reacts to emulsion of C-41 neg. Never have seen it on my E-6.

[Corran]

I get similar banding in skies with C-41 on pretty much every scanner I've had, including my Cezanne, usually on higher-density areas. The best way I've found to deal with it is hold back the orange/red densities - ergo, using a warming filter is always helpful, and GND filters when possible.

Your issue seems highly regular though, with repeating strips. Mine only does a few very light bands of orange-ish tint. If I move the negative they stay put. So it's the scanner (new bulbs, clean calibration strip, clean mirror). Personally, I just avoid shooting color negative film with big open skies. I much prefer E-6 anyway, and shoot C-41 for portrait work or other things that have no big skies.

[RussPhoto]

I tried it and lines comes in different direction (horizontal). I even removed the glass tray and did few scans and still I can see them. I checked the mirror inside with flash light - clean, lens is clean as well. May be something sitting on the scanner sensor but I don't know how to get there.

[onnect17]

Good. Now we know the image in the emulsion should be fine. Could you scan the c41 as a positive and check if you see any lines?

[LF_rookie_to_be]

If your Screen scanner uses a CCD assembly that's built similar to the one on my Microtek 9800XL, the sensor is well protected. Could be something on the filter in front of the sensor, but, as Corran noticed, the banding is highly regular, suggesting a deeper problem. On the Microtek, banding disappeared when I cleaned the mirrors, and the dirty lens caused partial yellowing of the entire scan. This looks nothing like any of those issues. Maybe some kind of software malfunction or software/hardware conflict? I get (again, irregular) cyan or red banding on my Scanview drum scanner at some scan settings in ColorQuartet. Do you have a different version of ColorGenius to try?