Follow these steps to produce a high-quality, high-resolution scan:

Basic Scanning

1. Prepare to scan
2. Set general parameters
3. Set scan parameters
4. Scan

Advanced Scanning (optional)

1. Set white dark points
2. Adjust image brightness and contrast
3. Enhance image color
4. Adjust image luminance and saturation
5. Sharpen image
6. Scan

Prepare to Scan

1. Install the scanner according to the installation guide.
2. Turn on the scanner, and then turn on the computer.
3. Clean the originals and clean the base glass.
4. Mount the originals, emulsion-side down, on the mask.
5. Place the mask over the registration pins.
6. Make sure the stitching area is clean and is not covered by an original.
7. Close the top cover.

Set General Parameters

1. To start the oXYgen Scan software, double-click the oXYgen Scan icon.

2. From the Type list, select Transparent or Reflective according to the type of original. 3. From the Mode list, select a scan mode (Color RGB 8 bit, Color RGB 16 bit, B/W, Line-art, Color CMYK, or DT). 4. From the Format list, select a format that matches the original or mask you are using: Single original without mask: Select a format that includes the size of the original. In the Layout Display window, you can manually adjust a selected format. Original(s) with mask: Select a format according to the mask you are using. In the Layout Display window, you can select the image(s) in the mask that you want to preview. 5. From the Media list, select Positive or Negative according to the media type of the original. 6. For automatic color settings, from the SmartSet list select a SmartSet table that suits the output device. The table determines the color profiles and the End Points, Gradation, and Sharpness tables.

Set Scan Parameters

1. Click the Preview button to view a low-resolution scan of each selected image.
2. To adjust each image separately: Crop the image in one of the following ways: In the Crop Size area, enter height and width values. In the Image Display window, use the Crop tool to manually crop the image. In the Resolution area, select a scan resolution and resolution unit. In the Scale box, use one of the following methods: Enter an enlargement size. In the File Size box, enter a size.

3. Click Apply.

Scanning

1. Click the Scan button.
The Save Scan As dialog box opens. 2. Enter a name for the scan file. 3. Specify a file destination. 4. From the File Format list, select a file format. 5. Select the Embed ICC Profile check box to attach the color profile of the scanner to the image. 6. To begin scanning, click Scan.

End Points  

Use the End Points dialog box to produce tonal changes.

During preview, the scanner performs an image analysis of each crop, and then automatically selects its whitest and darkest points. These points are displayed in the End Points dialog box.

Before                     After

Negative End Points 

A negative original requires special care because it has a built-in orange layer that produces a yellowish cast. This cast differs depending on the type of film and emulsion. To ensure accurate cast removal, select the appropriate film type in the Setup dialog box. Then use the Negative End Points dialog box to perform final corrections.

Quick Balance

The Quick Balance tool enables you to make color balance changes in a negative image. Use the numeric keypad as a controller. You can save changes in the Negative End Points dialog box.

Gradation  

After setting the whitest and darkest points, you can use the Gradation dialog box to enhance image brightness and contrast. You can adjust each color channels simultaneously. Use curves to adjust gradation within a shadow-to-highlights range.

Before                    After

Color Correction  

In the Color Correction dialog box, you can adjust specific colors in the image using HSL, CMYK, or RGB controls. You can also control the range of hues affected by color corrections.

LS Curves  

In the LS Curves dialog box, you can adjust the luminance curve to make an image brighter or darker. To increase or decrease the vividness of an image, you can adjust the saturation curve.

Before                    After

Max Detail  

Use Max Detail to perform a scan of an enlarged area. Such an enlargement is useful for examining the results of sharpening as well as editing the sharpness parameters at the actual scan scale.

Sharpness  

In the Sharpness dialog box, you can sharpen an image to compensate for quality lost during scanning or printing. The default sharpness table produces good results in most cases. Adjusting the Intensity value can also provide satisfactory results. In general, it is recommended that you change the sharpness settings in the enlargement that you produce using Max Detail, and then keep additional changes to a minimum.

Split Screen

Use Split Screen, an interactive, soft-proofing tool, to compare an image before and after you make adjustments. You can use Split Screen horizontally or vertically, in Preview, Prescan, or Max Detail modes.


         Before                    After

DT Files  

A DT file is a raw-data, 16-bit file. You can open a DT file with oXYgen Scan software or with oXYgen Open software (and a dongle), and then set parameters, edit colors, and make other modifications in the same way as with an analog original. You can also open a DT file in ADOBE PHOTOSHOP software with the Creo DT Tone plug-in.