Questions on Scanning

[Janet]

OK, fire away. :) This topic keeps coming up, so I requested a forum for it. I'll be moving some of the other threads here, and will work on writing out some info on resolution, etc.

[jenscherr]

I don't know if you saw my post on another thread but I scanned all of my wedding pictures (which were not copyrighted, just so everyone knows) and they all have a reddish or blueish tinge, depending on where in the hotel the pictures were taken. The actual pictures are fine, but the scanned copies are really weird. I have a very good quality HP scanner and this has not happened with any other set of photos. I am very perplexed. Maybe you have a suggestion?? Thanks, Jen

[Janet]

Sorry - I missed the other thread. Are you scanning in photos or the negatives?

Some film scans with a color 'cast' to them. That's just the nature of the company's stuff (gotta look up which ones have which cast again). If you're scanning in the photos - could it be that the photographer didn't adjust for the white balance? If it's taken under florescent lights, it'll have a blue-green cast to it.

There are ways around either issue. Can you attach one of them as an example? (under the advanced posting stuff, scroll down for manage attachments to add it to your post - or just put it up in the gallery with a link)

[dobegal]

Janet - Sooo glad you have your own forum on this! It will be very helpful.

[jenscherr]

How do I attach a photo here?? I tried to drag it and it just made it huge, but it won't let me copy and paste...help!

I am scanning photos although I have the negatives also. I have an HP Scanjet 4890 and I was thinking about scanning the negatives as it has the attachments for that also. Photos that were taken at upstairs in the hotel have a blueish cast that is a little bit easier to correct but the photos taken downstairs have the horrible red cast. The hotel the wedding was in is over 100 years old and I neve reven considered the lighting.

[Janet]

Click on "post Reply" down below my message here on the left side (or you can click on 'go advanced' under the quick reply box - gets you to the same place). Then Scroll down. The next box is 'Additional Options" and within that is a button that says 'manage attachments'. A window will pop up that will allow you to browse on your computer and upload. Whatever you upload has to be the type of file attachments listed and under 100k. Once it's uploaded, it'll show in that 'attach files' box down below where you type your message.

Sounds like this might be a lighting issue, but upload an example. If you can, and you wish to fiddle with negatives, scan them, often you'll get a bit crisper image as it's first generation (as opposed to second generation which is the print) from the camera.

[jenscherr]

Ok, I got it. Here are the pics. I labeled the red one and blue one...for obvious reasons.

Thanks so much for your help!

[Janet]

OK...that helps...but more questions for you.

Do these pictures look like this already? If so, then it's probably the lighting (photog adjusting for white balance issues).

If they DON'T actually look like this, but scan in like this, then it's the scanning. Some scanners auto correct for color (not sure if yours does or not). It's basically the same thing as setting the white balance on your camera. You tell it what 'white' is under the lighting conditions you're in. If there's a checkbox/setting for this, try turning it off and see if it's better.

What they do is pick a bright spot that SHOULD be white and make it white, and the other colors adjust around it. You can also pick black and grey points. Sometimes the scanners do a great job of this and other times it's awful and needs to be done manually. It also can vary from photo to photo with some being great, and others really off.

[jenscherr]

No the pictures don't look like this that's why I have been so frustrated. I will check for that option or box or something and then rescan them. I really appreciate all of your help!!

Thanks,
Jen

[Janet]

OH - and the other thing that might be off is saturation. And, of course, monitor callibration can really throw things off. I recently switched monitors, and while I LOVE the size, getting it set right has been a nightmare. One setting that has helped tremendously is this sixteen step grey scale I found at a stock photography site: http://www.acclaimimages.com/help/grayscale_calibration.html

The instructions about it are on the page.

[Janet]

No the pictures don't look like this that's why I have been so frustrated. I will check for that option or box or something and then rescan them. I really appreciate all of your help!!

Thanks,
Jen

No problem! :) I just went back through and realize I didn't read carefully enough -- you already said they didn't look that way. Yes, I can see your frustration! The biggest clue to me that this might be the issue is that part of the dress in the 'red' picture is blown out (no detail). Auto color correction can be great if it gets it right. If not, it's awful to deal with.