If you use your scanner's software, you're going to run into 2 major problems...
Do you see that "Digital ICE" button? Or the "Dust Removal" button? If you use any of those buttons, you're images are going to look less sharp. Here's what I mean...
With the first image, I did a "natural" scan. The second, I've applied Digital ICE and Dust Removal.
Yes, Dust Removal fixed dust and scratches. But it also blunts the pixels. That's because your scanner will apply Dust Removal on the ENTIRE image. It won't discriminate if something is important detail, or if it's a speck of dust.
Do you see those "Color Balance", "Histogram", "Color Fix" buttons. If you press them, your scanner is going to do the same thing: apply the fix on the ENTIRE image. And you'll get wonky colours, like this...
As you can see, the scanner over-saturated the colours. That's because the scanner doesn't know water is suppose to be blue, not purple. All the scanner "knows" is: "flat dull faded, colours... enhance, brighten!".
Do you see a pattern? Your scanner applies these fixes on the ENTIRE image. It doesn't discriminate. It doesn't know if something is important or a speck of dust. Or that water is suppose to be blue not purple.
But who does?
You! A human being.
Instead of Digital ICE, Dust Removal, Color Fix, etc., get a natural scan. Then use more powerful software to fix your digital images. This way you can focus on a problem, and not apply a fix on the entire image. Have a look...
In the example above, I manually removed the dust. I didn't touch the sign.
Or...
In the example above, I manually adjusted the colours so the water looks blue.
This is why I never let my scanner fix my digital images. I use my scanner to do what it does best: scan at high resolutions. I don't press any scan enhance buttons like Dust Removal. I get a natural scan. Then I fix the natural scan in Photoshop, GIMP, or Elements. And don't worry, I will show you exactly how I do this in these Advanced Scan Tips.
There's only one step you need -- and it's very easy. Do not click on ANY scan enhancements.
Avoid using any Dust Removal, Digital ICE, etc.
Just setup your resolution, crop your images, and hit the scan button.
Your scan is going to look ugly. But that's good! You want as much UNTOUCHED digital data as possible. Then you can use software designed to fix digital images to repair your scans.
And that's next -- I'll show you, step-by-step how to use Photoshop, GIMP, and/or Lightroom to fix your scans.
Which of these scanning troubles do you want to overcome?
Hey, my name is Konrad. I've been scanning professionally since 2005. I've helped multi-billion dollar companies, pro sports teams, pro photographers, artists, museums, book publishers, etc. I've scanned over 930,000 slides, negatives, photos.
The reason I'm telling you this is because no matter what challenge or frustration you're having, I know exactly what you're going through. So, to help you RIGHT NOW, I've put together a super simple scanning guide to get you started.