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GitAmager1
GitAmager1
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How to best open a 35 mm slide RAW scan with 4000 dpi in Camera RAW CS5?

Jul 20, 2012 2:59 AM

I have, at present, set Camera Raw to open files as ProPhoto RGB and as 360 dpi. I want to keep all options open for later use of the files (for albums or enlargements). How do I get the best results so that I do not diminish the quality obtained in the scanning process (where I try to use only ICE and to leave all other editing to PS later - I know that the changes made by ICE are permanent so that I already here do not have a real RAW - but it is my impression that the choice of RAW over TIFF in the scanning is still worth it).

 

I have also some older scans but these are TIFF's, also 4000 dpi but only 8 bit. I want to get the best result from both types of files.

 

I plan to perform all edits before I finally save files in various print sizes. I am still quite scared as to make mistakes when resizing so that I get an inferior quality in the new size.  I, of course, keep a copy of the original scans safe and unedited.

 

I am also in doubt as to wether I should go directly into PS or via Camera Raw with the scans.

 

Excuse these foolish questions from a grandmother who is a complete newbie as to film scanning and still quite "green" as to PS.

1022 Views   10 Replies   Latest reply: Zach3, May 11, 2013 12:49 PM
 
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  • Trevor.Dennis
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    May 24, 2010
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    1. Trevor.Dennis,
    Jul 20, 2012 3:56 AM   in reply to GitAmager1
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    I had not heard of scanning software that would import files in a RAW format but I see from THIS THREAD that it is indeed possible.  In fact you might get your answers just from reading that thread.

     

    How do the RAW files compare with TIFF regards file size?  (Tiff can produce some monster files sizes)    I'd definitely be inclined to experiment with using ACR - espcially if you have Lightroom 4 or CS6 because its tools are so good.

     
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  • Brett N
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    2. Brett N,
    Jul 20, 2012 3:17 PM   in reply to Trevor.Dennis
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    If the files are actually some form of raw, such as from a camera, you will have no choice but to work with Camera Raw first. All edits in Camera Raw are non-destructive, so you can edit forever and never damage the file. Other than whether or not to use Camera Raw (and you should) I'm not sure if you have another question here.

     
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  • GitAmager1
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    3. GitAmager1,
    Jul 21, 2012 12:17 PM   in reply to Trevor.Dennis
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    Thank you. It helps some. Choosing Raw unfortunately does not save space but I am getting to understand other advantages.

     
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  • GitAmager1
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    4. GitAmager1,
    Jul 21, 2012 12:24 PM   in reply to GitAmager1
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    Thank you. I am getting more convinced that I should choose the RAW from the TIF from the scanner and also that I should start my editing in Camera Raw. The question arose as I was beginning to get the feeling that my files detiorated in Camera Raw - especially as I tried to get rid of any clipping. I shall have to improve my editing since my lack of experience is probably at fault and not the software. I was also afraid that the way I opened the files in Camera Raw migtht have a negative influence.

     
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  • station_two
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    5. station_two,
    Jul 21, 2012 5:10 PM   in reply to GitAmager1
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    I doubt very much that Adobe Camera Raw would be able to open files from a scanner that are unfortunately called "RAW".  That Nikon Scan or VueScan "raw" file has nothing to do with Camera Raw as from a digital camera's sensor.

     

    ACR will open a TIFF or a JPEG, though.

     
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  • station_two
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    6. station_two,
    Jul 21, 2012 5:11 PM   in reply to GitAmager1
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    Edited my previous post:

     

    ACR will open a TIFF or a JPEG, though.

     
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  • GitAmager1
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    7. GitAmager1,
    Jul 24, 2012 7:11 AM   in reply to station_two
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    Thank you. So far I have not scanned as RAW files but felt persuaded that I should choose that format. Especially after having read the arguments in Sascha Steihoffs "Scanning Negatives and slides".

     

    I went back and found a new edition of the book where it has been added that in PS (the book is from 2009 and refers to CS3) ACR cannot open the scanned nef's, only nef files from a camera. It seems that you have to use Nikons own editing software for opening these files. I tried to ask Nikon if the scanned nef's could be opened in the latest editions of PS but got the answer that they "did not know".

     

    So I have probably to stick to the tif's. Pity! Unless CS5 or 6 can open them of course. I wish I could get an answer from Adobe concerning that. They should be interested in encouraging people to use their software instead of Nikon software.

     

    I probably should still give it try but that would probably mean that I should do it without the ICE in the hardware to get a real nef RAW (or maybe it still is not a real RAW).

     
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  • Brett N
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    8. Brett N,
    Jul 24, 2012 2:27 PM   in reply to GitAmager1
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    Does the scanner scan as NEF? I've never heard of such a thing. But you have to remember that just because a file has an NEF extension doesn't mean it's the same as all other NEF files. We have to release new versions of the Camera Raw plug-in all the time because every time Nikon releases a new camera, it's raw NEF files are different than the raw NEF files from previous cameras. So I don't know if these scanner raw NEF files are supposed to be the equivolent of camera raw NEF files, but in all likelyhood they are not. There is no shame or harm in using TIFF rather than NEF in this case. If you really aren't sure whether Photoshop will work with the scanner NEF files, scan one and test. If it doesn't work, then use TIFF. If it works, then continue to use the NEF format.

     
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  • Chris Cox
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    9. Chris Cox,
    Jul 24, 2012 3:13 PM   in reply to Brett N
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    Nikon's film scanners saved their "raw" scans with the extension NEF.

    But the contents of the file are more like a common TIFF and nothing like a camera RAW file.

     

    Over the years, Nikon has put many different things inside the extension NEF, and even changed their camera RAW data representation quite a bit - while keeping the same file extension.

     
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  • Zach3
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    10. Zach3,
    May 11, 2013 12:49 PM   in reply to Brett N
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    I have experimented with saving a couple of scans as NEF files.  I am using CS6 and I have no problem with ACR opening up the file.  I am not sure, at the moment, beyond that what they mean by a NEF file in the scanner software.

     

    I am using Nikon Coolscan V with Nikon Scan 2..02 on a Windows XP 32 bit machine.  (The thought of having to go to Windows 7 is scaring me to death.)

     
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