Real world scans - part 2

The Descreen filter
Whole picture	Detail - no descreen
Using the General descreen setting	Newspaper setting (85 lpi)
Magazine setting (133 lpi)	Fine Prints setting (175 lpi)

The Descreen filter also worked quite well on my sample shot, although the recommended setting for a magazine produced a very soft scan. The above scans are from a small section (2 x 1.25 inch) in a magazine, as you can see the focus has been softened considerably, this always hides a multitude of sins. The best results were obtained by using the Fine Prints setting together with a High setting on the Unsharp Mask Filter. On larger pictures you could use the Magazine setting and apply a medium amount of the USM filter.

3D Objects
Full scans
100% detail magnification

I don't use a flatbed for scanning 3D objects, I prefer to use a digital camera for this, I have included a couple of samples for those of you who are creatively more adventurous. The Barbie shot shows how much detail this scanner can capture, and the apple shows the scanners depth of focus. Both pictures show that the scanner has several millimeters of usable depth, you won't have a problem scanning a photograph in a recessed card mount.

The last thing I will look at before moving on to film scanning is the scanners ability to use Digital ICE on prints. I have a few old family prints and I just want to see how well ICE repairs them. I have not manipulated these pictures in any way.

Straight scan of original print and details
With Digital ICE set to Standard
With Digital ICE set to High

Digital ICE is without doubt one of the best features on any scanner, but to be able to use use it on printed materials is an added bonus. The 4990 has two ICE settings, Standard and High. In the above example the Standard setting has produced the best result. The repairs are almost 100% satisfactory. The High setting has added as many problems as it has cured; the coat has lost focus, her gloves have been ironed out, and my Grandmother looks like she has been beaten up. The original 3 x 5 picture took seven seconds to scan, using Digital ICE Standard the same image took 52 seconds and with using the High setting it took 58 seconds, a good time, certainly a lot quicker than my retouching.

No ICE	Digital ICE Standard

I will be scanning film next