scanning adds blue

Hi all,

I've noticed especially when I scan b&w photos, the final scanned image seems to have more blue in it, making it quite different from the original image. Is this because of poor quality scanner or is it just a very nature of scanners that they add a bit of blue while converting it to RGB? The scanner I use is Mustek 1200 UB Plus.

Thanks
Ben

Cheap flourescent bulbs have a blue or yellow cast.
Nicer bulbs can be full spectrum.

Guess which type YOU have. =)

--
Farlo, the Urban Fey Dragon

On 10 Jan 2004 18:17:40 -0800, (Ben) wrote:

Hi all,

I've noticed especially when I scan b&w photos, the final scanned image seems to have more blue in it, making it quite different from the original image. Is this because of poor quality scanner or is it just a very nature of scanners that they add a bit of blue while converting it to RGB? The scanner I use is Mustek 1200 UB Plus.

It is because of a poor scanner combined with insufficient experience in color correction in the scanning process. It seems you are using the "one button" scan option that doesn't provide any corrective measure.

Another possible problem: Is your monitor set for office use (color temperature 9300K)? then everything will look a little too blue.

Michael

Thanks
Ben

On 10 Jan 2004 18:17:40 -0800, (Ben) wrote:

Hi all,

I've noticed especially when I scan b&w photos, the final scanned image seems to have more blue in it, making it quite different from the original image. Is this because of poor quality scanner or is it just a very nature of scanners that they add a bit of blue while converting it to RGB? The scanner I use is Mustek 1200 UB Plus.
Thanks
Ben

It is not uncommon for scanners to add a slight color cast to images. This is likely due to bulb aging, since even wide-spectrum types gradually lose their spectral uniformity. If it's more than a very slight color cast, there may be another problem related to color management settings.

It is because of a poor scanner combined with insufficient experience in color correction in the scanning process. It seems you are using the "one button" scan option that doesn't provide any corrective measure.

Yes I'm using "one button" scan option but i do fix the colors using Photoshop after scanning cause I like to do it manually rather than relying on scanner's color settings.

Another possible problem: Is your monitor set for office use (color temperature 9300K)? then everything will look a little too blue.
Michael

How do I find out whether my monitor is set for office use?

Ben

On Sun, 11 Jan 2004 14:43:07 -0800, Ben wrote:

-<snip>-

Another possible problem: Is your monitor set for office use (color temperature 9300K)? then everything will look a little too blue.
Michael

How do I find out whether my monitor is set for office use?
Ben

My old Sony has a button that says "color" on it. When I press that it will give me an onscreen display that can be adjusted using some of the other buttons.

Other monitors have various intricate menu-systems ... If you play around with it for awhile, you'll find the color settings.

If everything else fails, read the fine manual :-)

cheers // Jens M Andreasen

On 11 Jan 2004 14:43:07 -0800, (Ben) wrote:

It is because of a poor scanner combined with insufficient experience in color correction in the scanning process. It seems you are using the "one button" scan option that doesn't provide any corrective measure.

Yes I'm using "one button" scan option but i do fix the colors using Photoshop after scanning cause I like to do it manually rather than relying on scanner's color settings.

You should do it manually - in the image acquisition phase of your workflow, where you do an overview scan, select the scan area, do a prescan, set black and white points, do the color corrections and then start the final scan.

Color corrections in the image processing software come later than necessary and (if 24 bit software is used) can lose image information.

Another possible problem: Is your monitor set for office use (color temperature 9300K)? then everything will look a little too blue.

How do I find out whether my monitor is set for office use?

That depends on your monitor. If I open the monitor OSD there is one menu for color temperature.

Michael

Ben wrote:

It is because of a poor scanner combined with insufficient experience in color correction in the scanning process. It seems you are using the "one button" scan option that doesn't provide any corrective measure.

Yes I'm using "one button" scan option but i do fix the colors using Photoshop after scanning cause I like to do it manually rather than relying on scanner's color settings.

Another possible problem: Is your monitor set for office use (color temperature 9300K)? then everything will look a little too blue.
Michael

How do I find out whether my monitor is set for office use?
Ben

You might try using the scanning software that came with your scanner. Mine let's me choose B/W scans.

-Raf

--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert
mailto:
http://www.ralphandsue.com