I have just remembered a problem I had scanning a portrait one time. I just could not get the skin tones to come out right. On one scan they were too red, on another one too brown, and another one too blue, etc. Shortly after that I discovered that my computer had a virus and that is probably what was affecting the scans. I like this idea of scanning a gray scale. I think I will check my scanner like that. Evelyn At 07:23 PM 08/10/2004 -0400, you wrote: >Kathy, > >Sounds like it's time for some basic troubleshooting. Here are a couple >things you could try: > >Scan something that is black, white and gray. Place a small piece of black >paper on the scanner bed; just a few square inches is fine. Add a small >piece of something gray; a photographer's gray card, or a piece of chipboard >from the back of a legal pad. Lay a full sheet of white letter-size paper >over top of these two things and close your scanner lid. Scan this mess with >your scanner's default settings (or auto settings) for a color photograph. >Let your scanner software do all the thinking. Save the scan. Now scan again >without touching anything. Save. And then scan AGAIN without touching >anything. Save. If you get different results each time, reinstall all of the >scanner software. Repeat the test. If you still don't get consistent scans, >it's probably time to scrap the scanner and delete all the software that >came with it. Buy another one, which will come with it's own software. > >Concerning your son's photo, you can email a couple of the scans to me and I >will take a look. You might want to take your son's photo to a friend and >have them scan it. See what happens. If it works great on someone else's >scanner, then you'll be able to draw some conclusions about your own setup. > >Scott Orlowski >On Track Communications >[email protected] > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "kaytt" <[email protected]> >To: <[email protected]> >Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 5:23 PM >Subject: Re: [SP] Scanner advice needed > > > > Hi Andrew, > > > > I have my monitor settings set to match my printer output so that what I >see > > is what I'll get. > > > > I use Jasc Paintshop Pro 7 as my image editor. I've used the "levels" the > > "colour cast" remover, the "fade correction", the "curve" etc. I've tried > > out everything the program has to offer. > > > > In the pre-scan, I crop around the image so that I don't get any white >from > > the lid. In fact, I've sometimes placed a sheet of black paper over the > > picture to replace the white. That will also produce different results. > > > > In most cases, I can do a reasonable job of colour correcting. It's >mostly > > in the skin tones, and hair colours that I have problems, especially if >it's > > only one person and only a few coulours in the picture. > > > > I have a grad picture of my son. He has mousy medium brown hair, and a >fair > > complexion. The background behind him is a greyish-purple. Maybe that's > > the problem. > > The scan has a reddish-purple cast, and shows him with mousy brown > > sideburns, but the top of his head is a vivid auburn. His skin looks like > > he was in the hot sun for many hours. He's as rosy as can be. > > > > I've been experimenting over the last day or so. I've scanned this >picture > > several times now, using the default settings. Each time I scan it, I get > > different results. The coulouring is a bit brighter or darker, or more > > purple. Sometimes the black gown is washed out - literally. Is this > > normal behaviour? > > > > I swear! The scanner has a mind of it's own. > > > > Kathy > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Andrew McPhee" <[email protected]> > > To: <[email protected]> > > Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 8:15 AM > > Subject: Re: [SP] Scanner advice needed > > > > > > > Hi Kathy, > > > > > > It would be handy to know what photo software you use. Any decent > > software > > > should have an adjustment called "Levels" - this enables you to adjust > > red, > > > green and blue individually. By doing this, most color casts can be > > removed. > > > > > > For example, I recently scanned some old slides that had changed color > > over > > > the years and they had a bluish cast. After I did the levels adjustment > > > the colors were accurate again - skin tones looked correct and white >parts > > > of the image were white again instead of the insipid blue. > > > > > > Regards, > > > Andrew McPhee > > > http://mixedbunch.com/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At 07:03 PM 9/08/2004 -0600, you wrote: > > > >I would like to hear some opinions on which scanners do a good job of > > colour > > > >portraits. In particular, which scanners will give an accurate colour >of > > > >faces, hair, etc. when scanning a graduation, or wedding photo, etc. > > > >I'm not terribly concerned about whether or not it has a slide adapter. > > > > > > > >I now have a HP 3400c flatbed scanner, and I'm getting very frustrated > > with > > > >it. > > > >Maybe it's worn out. Of course, there's also the streaky glass on the > > > >underside. > > > > > > > >It scans great scenery pictures if there are many many different >colours > > in > > > >the photo. A child sitting in a flower bed looks great. > > > > > > > >When I scan a colour portrait, the results are always too red or >purple. > > > >Someone with brown hair ends up with auburn hair. The blacks are a >very > > > >deep burgundy-black. Faces look like they have a sunburn. > > > > > > > >I've tried adjusting the colour in the pre-scan by adding a little >yellow > > > >and/or green, but of course, that changes the other colours too. > > > > > > > >Thanks, > > > >Kathy > > > > > > > > > > > > > >