need help: negs sharp at 300dpi but 2400 dpi is super soft

[Heespharm]

yeah seems like a focus issue... do you think i should try scanning with the neg directly touching the glass?

[David de Gruyl]

yeah seems like a focus issue... do you think i should try scanning with the neg directly touching the glass?

the first thing I would try is putting some shims (paper?) under the feet of the negative holder: if you are lucky, raising it will help. Once you know how far, you can use tape or some such.

a quick scan on the glass is also a good idea, but you need to flatten the negative. If you can, use a piece of anti-newton-ring glass with the AN side to the negative.

[Brian Ellis]

yeah seems like a focus issue... do you think i should try scanning with the neg directly touching the glass?

That's the first thing I'd try since it's the easiest thing you can do. I scanned 8x10 negatives on a 4990 with the negatives on the glass and it worked fine.

Also, when you talk about what's sharp and what isn't, are you basing this on prints or just looking at the scan on your monitor? To really check you should be making prints, as I'm sure you know monitors aren't going to be representative of what you'd see on a print since they have such a low resolution (relative to a printer).

[venchka]

I use EpsonScan with an antique Epson 1680.
4x5 @ 1600 dpi
I apply a bit of capture Unsharp Mask (medium I think) during scanning
Lightroom preset sharpening during edit.
I print small mostly. The occasional 10xwhatever on 11x14 paper.
Output print sharpening: Standard for the paper I'm using (gloss or matte)
Prints look good.

[venchka]

Question:
How do you have the scan input area vs. scan output area set up?
My input dimensions equal my out put dimensions. In other words, 4x5 input @ 1600 DPI = 4x5 output @ 1600 DPI.
Also, be advised that if you are looking at a 100% image @ 1600 DPI, that is the same as sticking your nose up close to a small section of a print 26" long at 300 DPI printing output. Move back.