Guidence scanning negatives with XSANE

[daw]

Hi,I'm very happy with pclinuxos,,,,,,but trying to Scan photograph negatives with XSane,,foto's I have no probs(its easy and very good),,trying to do kodak negatives,,I think I've tried every option to get some acceptable results,,,ie,changing the different types of film used etc and all the other settings,,I'm using an epson perfection 2400 Photo scanner,has all the attachments for slides/negs etc.......when I did use (hate to use the word,,windows XP)it did work ie scanning negatives and I had some good results.
    I know its proberly me who's not doing things correctly.lol.
If anyone can guide me into using Xsane correctly to scan these negs (and belive me I have loads to do) and get good results,,,,,,it would be so very much appreciated.
   Dave.
p.s. I dont want to get a stand alone  negative scanner(from Amazon) if I dont need to (they are not to expencive,thats not the point).

[djohnston]

Kinda hard to tell anything from your post. For example, what, specifically, is unacceptable about the results you are getting? And, what have you tried? In the main XSane window, have you clicked the Negative: Invert colors for scanning negatives button? How about the Autoadjust gamma, brightness and contrast button?

[daw]

Many thanks Djohnston for your reply.
   yes I clicked on the negative buttons,and tried adjustting the different gamma settings,,,I seemed to make it worse,,lol,,,,I was hoping it was all automatic,,I guess its all manual...it proberly is the settings,,but I have no clue what so ever on gamma settings etc..
   scanning photographs and all the settings there,I've got to grips with and get some very good result.
   Like I said I think it is me not knowing what I'm doing with the settings to do with the negatives,any advice on the individual settings with the gamma's/white levels etc the negative film is a "Kodak safety film 5035" so I have used the kodak and the normal settings,doing a pre-scann first, then selecting the area to be scanned at the resolution that I selected (dpi),,,,I can see images but nothing clear or in realistic colors.
   I'm sure its me not doing things correct (settings).
   Many thanks.
Dave.

[daw]

Helo Everyone,
          Well after loads of mucking about,,and getting some results and not in other cases,,,I've just realized that the tiny little fluorescent lamp in the hood of the scanner needs replacing or the circuitry has gone "AWL",,,,,lol,,,,(I have had the scanner for about 5-6 yrs,even the tubes in the kitchen dont last that long).
   I'm just hoping that they havnt stopped making them,,,,its the smallest fluorescent I've seen.
Many thanks,,,,,,I will report back,just for other peoples notes.
Dave.

[Just17]

Glad to read you have found the source of your problem .....  as you say fixing it might be another matter.

Maybe it would work out cheaper to get a dedicated unit for negative scanning rather than replace the board or light in the present device ......  just something to consider 

[daw]

yes indeed,,,,,perhaps I will have to buy something else,,,,but holding a mini-fluorescent torch (by hand),about 20mm above the negative,with a sheet of printer paper(diffuser) ,(all a bit heath/robbinson) around it ,,,I got some results,,,negative needs cleaning etc(it was an old B&W negative,,will try color next),but all in all it was very encouraging,(I'm laughing at myself because I didn't spot it earlier,lol),,,,,"Rodney you are a plonker",,,,,,
  so,,if I cant find a replacement tube  (if anyone knows etc ,please contact me),,,,,,might invest in a table top fluorescent,,,(not working at the moment,so I'm not very rich), but happy scanner is working(with exceptions),,and Xsane is also spot on..so happyish.
  Dave.

[daw]

have googled epson 2400 fluorescent tube ,spares,replacement  etc,,but as of yet not found,must be out there some where.
dave

[Just17]

Maybe check connections ...... possible power saving mode is on?

Q:
Why isn’t the fluorescent scanning lamp on?
A:
The scanner has a power saving function (sleep mode); press the Start button to "wake" the scanner. Or unplug the USB cable or power cable, then plug it back in. If you are using the transparency unit, make sure it is plugged into the back of the scanner. Make sure the power cord is connected to the scanner and plugged into a power outlet.

[djohnston]

Well after loads of mucking about,,and getting some results and not in other cases,,,I've just realized that the tiny little fluorescent lamp in the hood of the scanner needs replacing or the circuitry has gone "AWL"

Glad you found the problem, too. And, I'm glad you reported it because it's one I would never have thought of.