Fotopic site update (testing new scanner)

I'm testing out a new scanner that allows me to scan the negatives of old photographs. This has allowed me to continue adding some of the old photographs my Dad took during the 1990's onto our fotopic site. I would be interested to hear if people think I have the setting right e.g. colour depth etc.

Bluebell Railway - September 1990



http://daniel-hamblin.fpic.co.uk/c1806982.html


East Wimbledon Depot 1991 Open Day



http://daniel-hamblin.fpic.co.uk/c1806984.html

Steam on the Brighton main line - December 1993



http://daniel-hamblin.fpic.co.uk/c1806989.html


The Mid-Hants Daylight Railtour 8th May 1994



http://daniel-hamblin.fpic.co.uk/c1806992.html


Regards,

Dan

 

And last lot:

Swanage Railway - August 1994



http://daniel-hamblin.fpic.co.uk/c1806994.html


Regards,

Dan

 

Intresting pictures, thanks for sharing, and yes they look OK to me! I remember the steam on the Brighton Main Line, just, I was only 8 and I did a search for some photos a while back and hardly found any so its nice to see some. I also remember the tour with 70000, I used to go and see most the local toursl with my Mum and Dad but was too young take any good pictures!

 

Without knowing what your scanner allows in terms of alternative settings and controls, and this is just my opinion, but if the scanner itself does not offer scope then I would say it would be worthwhile to experiment with post-scanning adjustments using photo manipulation software.

 

A comment by someone on the UKTrainsim forum suggested that the scanner settings should be adjusted for the different types of film being used. I think there might be something in that because the 1990/1991 photos appear to have better colour definition than those taken later on. I know that our house was burgled around that time and Dad had to get a new camera, so maybe that had an impact as well.

Regards,

Dan

 

Yes that is certainly right about adjusting for different types of film, provided that the scanner does allow a choice. My scanner has 3 settings for film type : 1. positive film i.e. transparencies,
2. colour negative film. and 3. b/w neagtive film.

Using the wrong setting makes a big difference. But scanners can not fully compensate fordefects in an original image which are due to things like camera lens quality or the lack of it. Software can do something about image colour though. So I still think that whatever output your scanner gives, the biggest improvements in the end result will come from what you can do to the scan with photo software on the computer. For example, to my eyes the picture of 41708 above looks to have an overall bluish colour cast to it. It should be possible to correct that with photo software.