Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Mike's Software => Profile Prism => Topic started by: LarryJ on April 19, 2013, 06:00:38 PM



Title: Do scanners go bad?
Post by: LarryJ on April 19, 2013, 06:00:38 PM
I've been using Prism for years getting very good results on numerous different papers.  I recently purchased a new printer and went to profile it, and started having problems with my scans.

I pulled up a scanned target from over two years ago and compared it using an eyedropper in Photo Paint to one just scanned.  Using the same settings - no image correction - they are different.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled Prism and the updated the scanner software.  So have you ever heard of a scanner going bad or do I need to mess with the scanner driver some more?

Epson 4870 Photo scanner, Windows XP, Prims 6.03


Title: Re: Do scanners go bad?
Post by: Terry-M on April 19, 2013, 09:27:52 PM
Hi Larry,
Welcome to the forum.
Quote
So have you ever heard of a scanner going bad
No I've not heard of such a thing but older scanners have some sort of fluorescent light source I think so I can imagine those could degrade over time.
LED scanners (Canon Lide) are particularly recommended for use with PP.
It may help to go back the scanner driver - can it make "raw" images from scans, ie. no adjustment made by the scanner software? I use Vuescan software which does have that feature.
Terry


Title: Re: Do scanners go bad?
Post by: LarryJ on April 22, 2013, 04:01:21 PM
Hi Terry,

Yes, this scanner has the ability to turn off all color controls - which I have done.  I even found a button to reset everything to factory.

I am using the R070919 target.  On the scan from two years ago, the A8 patch reads 129,44,46.  On the recent scans it reads 177,32,67 - which Prism flags as out of range.  The gray scale is coming in almost perfect, though it is now flagging the white and black patches.  Looking at the target overall, it appears that the saturation has been kicked up; but the driver/interface is set for no correction.

I am getting better results [read: fewer flagged patches] when I scan in 48bit instead of 24bit (though the older scans were 24bit and had fewer flagged patches).  I see that Vuescan has a free trial, I may give that a shot.



Title: Re: Do scanners go bad?
Post by: rayw on April 22, 2013, 10:39:02 PM
Hi Larry,

I've just looked up some info re. your scanner - http://www.photo-i.co.uk/Reviews/interactive/Epson%204870/page_12.htm
It has a florescent tube, and they do deteriorate, as Terry mentioned. However, there are plenty of settings in the driver, and you may be able to get results that are good enough for use in pp. In any case you can edit the profile afterwards.

Best wishes,

Ray