Actually being a scanning expert for my job I will try a response... The Imacon Flextight is essentially a drum scanner, and as such has a pretty good DMAX, 4.6 for the 646 to be precise. And, I'm not sure (because it doesn't say in the B&H big book) but I think it can do up to 16-bit grayscale. Of course TIFF only supports 8-bit grayscale, so if you're scanning with TIFF files as your format of choice for the end-result file, I wouldn't scan in RGB. You'll end up with a file that's more than 3 times as large, and won't really gain any tonality you won't get with a 16, or even 12 bit grayscale image. Obviously you can only work with the 12 or 16 bit in Photoshop, and save as PSD, but if you're down-converting to 8-bit grayscale for your TIFF, then scanning in RGB is overkill by an order of magnitude. The Nikon Coolscan 8000 scans at 4000dpi, and again, can produce a 12-bit grayscale image. Also, it has a DMAX of 4.2, it should pull out quite a bit of shadow detail.
My opinion, as someone who has overseen the scanning of over 20,000 grayscale images at high resolution, RGB is just not useful, and you won't get a better tonal range by doing it. In fact, if anything, you'll just get a muddier image, and waste disk space. Shel, please contact me directly if you need any more advice. I work at the Marriott Library, at the University of Utah in the Digital Technologies division. One of my primary job duties is managing workflow of large-scale scanning operations. If you want to see some of our output visit this website: http://www.lib.utah.edu/digital/digcol.html Here at my shop, we use the Nikon Coolscan 8000, a Coolscan LS-2000, two CreoScitex Eversmart Jazz+ flatbeds (true 2900 dpi across a 16"x20" bed), a Leica S1 Digital scanning camera (effective 25MP) a Zeutschel 10000 A1 bookscanner, and some other assorted scanning devices, so I have some pretty good experience with high end equipment. Thanks, Jeff Jonsson Digitization Systems Analyst, Marriott Library 801.585.5587 -----Original Message----- From: Shel Belinkoff [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2004 12:01 PM To: PDML Subject: Scanning Question Hi gang ... Over the next few weeks I'm going to attempt scanning a lot of conventional B&W negs. I have heard a number of conflicting opinions on the best way to do this. Most comments center around whether to scan in RGB or greyscale. Greyscale would be nice as I could save some space, but if RBG will give higher quality results, I'll bite the bullet. I have scanned using both methods before, although with the help of a friend who did most of the work and setup, so I'm still pretty much uneducated and inexperienced wrt the subtleties. Scanners used will be an Imacon Flextight 626 (I believe that's the number) and the Nikon Coolscan IV 4000dpi unit, if that makes any difference. Thanks for any help, shel
