scanning at 16 bit grayscale with 4990

[Jeff Graves]

Hello,

I'm trying to scan at 16 bit depth grayscale with a epson 4990 using silverfast se plus. The 16->8 bit grayscale tab works but I can't select the 16 bit option tab.

After scanning and checking the properties in PS it is a 8bit scan.

It should be as easy as clicking on the tab but I can't select it. It has to be something simple I'm missing?

Thanks,

Jeff

[Jeff Graves]

I am however able to convert it to 16 bit in PS after scanning. Just does not seem right.

[jim kitchen]

Dear Jeff,

How much RAM do you have and how large are the scanned file dimensions?

I had that problem many, many moons ago, because I did not have enough ram, and the resultant file was too big.

Just curious... :)

jim k

[Heroique]

In addition to checking ram...

If your 4990 came w/ Epson Scan, see if that will scan 16-bit grayscale.

This test might help identify or better isolate the problem.

[Jostie]

There are different versions of Silverfast. The one that comes bundled with certain scanners usually has certain features 'switched off' and the only way to 'switch them on' is with a paid upgrade.

There is nothing to be gained from converting to 16 bit in Photoshop, the full bit depth has to be captured at the scanning stage.

[Struan Gray]

Some epsons have a limited buffer to hold the data for each scan line before sending it to the computer. My 3200 will let me scan at 16-bit depth for small formats or low bit densities, but 4x5 at 16-bit maxes out at 1200 dpi.

Try selecting a small area of the film (cropping) and scanning just that. If you find you can choose 16-bit data in that case you will have to choose whether high bit depth or more pixels is important to you for the whole-frame scan. Alternatively, you can scan the frame in two pieces and stitch them together.

[Ken Lee]

The Epson software which comes with the scanner, allows you to scan in 16-bit grayscale - and the corresponding 48-bit color. I do it all the time.

[Bob McCarthy]

I believe you have a lesser version of Silverfast. Unless you bought the pro version of the Epson, you got the lesser software.

They want you to upgrade (more$$$)

Just use Epson scan or pop for a lifetime license of Vuescan. Great software too.

Bob

[Ken Lee]

Not all OEM scanning software is inferior.

Some people actually prefer the Epson scanning software. I do, and i have a license for both VueScan and Silverfast.

You might find this article to be helpful: Scanning Tips (with an Epson 4990) (http://www.kenleegallery.com/html/tech/scanning.html)

[Bob McCarthy]

I agree with Ken, Epson Scan is not inferior.

I used Vuescan because it is one license for all of your scanners and I had both a Nikon 5000 for small film and the Epson for LF.

Wish it supported my Screen!,

Vuescan does offer multi pass and hdr which I used occasionally.

Bob

[tgtaylor]

I just scanned a 6x9 B&W image with an Epson 3200 scanner in 16 bit mode using the Silverfast SE software that came bundled with the scanner. Frankly I couldn't tell the difference between the 8 bit and 16 bit modes on my computer screen (LaCie) but I did notice that when I opened up the image with Photoshop Elements 3, 16 bit wasn't supported and it reverted the image to the 8 bit version. However it opens as a 16 bit file with CS3.

[Peter De Smidt]

The main advantage of 16-bit-per-channel files is increased editing headroom. If you edit an 8-bit-per-channel filee leads fairly quickly to posterization, especially with grayscale images. Without doing any editing to the files, it should be very difficult, if not impossible, to visually distinguish an 8-bit from a 16-bit file, all other things being equal.

[Ken Lee]

What Peter said so succinctly !

Remember that most monitors can only see 8-bits, as can most printers. Ordinary JPG files are 8-bit too.

But those represent the final destination - after all adjustments have been made.

During the adjustment phase, it's the "headroom" we're after :)

[Kirk Gittings]

If your set-up does not allow for 16 bit scanning, IME there is still a "headroom" advantage to converting the scan to 16 bit before doing any editing. Not as good as scanning in 16 bit, but better than editing in 8 bit.

Many older drum scanners cannot do 16 bit. I found that converting these files to 16 bit before editing did help.

[Leigh]

Eight-bit data gives you 256 possible levels of gray, while 16-bit gives you 65,536 different levels.

I double-dog dare you to distinguish gray level 13,241 from 13,242 even with a good densitometer.

However, as has been mentioned, 16-bit data can give you much more "wiggle" room when editing or manipulating the information.

- Leigh

[Jeff Graves]

Thanks Guys,

Up to this point all of the scanning I have been doing was for digitizing my prints for my website and for gallery/photo competitions. So I was doing it in 8 bit. But now that I'm diving head first into digital negatives for p/p printing process I'm wanting to go with 16 bit.

I currently working on a dedicated computer (for imaging) with 6 gb of ram and a 650gb hard drive running cs5 so thats not the issue.

I have been able to use the epson software and scan at 16 bit.

I was hoping to use Silverfast because I've been using it for 5 years and I'm familar with it. The version I'm using is SE Plus and the interesting thing is it offers(and is active) 16 bit HDR grayscale. It has in the drop down window a listing for 16 bit grayscale but it is inactive along with 48 bit color and 1 bit line art. The only other active grayscale option is "16->8bit grayscale" which scans at 8 bit.

I just left the Silverfast website (as convaluted as it is) and I'm assuming that this version does not support 16 bit with the 4990.

I'm just wondering if there is something that I'm missing other than a costly upgrade from silverfast.

[Jeff Graves]

Just found this......http://www.silverfast.com/showdocu/en.html?docu=928

[renes]

I need your advice. I just bought 4990 scanner with Epson software only. I am not quite sure if I sould buy VueScan or SilerFast SE or AI software. My main aim is to scan my 6x9 B&W negatives now and 4x5 later. No colour. Is it worth to buy one to get the better scans from my 120 B&W films or to stay with Epson software becouse it works as good as them in B&W film scanning?

I am going to buy a BetterScanning film holder too.

[Tom Monego]

Use the professional section of Epson Scan, on my V700 I tried Silverfast SE when I first had the scanner and didn't feel it was any better than Epson Scan. I have used Epson Scan now for 5 years and haven't seen any reason to switch. I can do 16 bit b&w scans up to 2400ppi, don't generally go higher on 4x5s. I have also tried 48 bit color scans on b&w negs and there I can't see a difference between either.
The Home and Automatic sections of Epson Scan are next to useless, but the Professional section does work well.

Tom

[Ken Lee]

I am not quite sure if I sould buy VueScan or SilerFast SE or AI software

Save your money. Use the Epson software.

[Peter De Smidt]

I am not quite sure if I sould buy VueScan or SilerFast SE or AI software

Save your money. Use the Epson software.

+1.

[Jeff Graves]

I just finished the entire scan/digi-neg workflow and ended up with a nice looking negative. Epson pro did everything for me that silverfast does for this application. Only noticable difference was a tonal difference with the scanned tiff file which was then tweeked in PS.

[Peter Gomena]

I'm pretty sure SilverFast SE does not support 16-bit scan output. Upgrade to Silverfast Ai. I call the SE version the "Stupid Edition." It lacks some of the features of Ai, including the ability to alter gamma settings. I use Ai and have for several years. It's good software if a bit clunky.

Peter Gomena

[renes]

Thanks. I will stay with Epson software.