Re: filmscanners: Vuescan and Overexposed Negs

[Arthur Entlich <artistic@ampsc.com>]

I assume this image is on negative film, because if it is on slide film,
the detail is gone forever if it isn't visible on the film.

If it is on neg, your detail is probably there, but the overexposure of
the whites makes for a very dense area on the neg.  You need to expose
for those areas while scanning, which will probably cause the middle and
dark areas to get too dark.  You might wish to make two scans at
different "exposures" and then using a photo manipulation program, like
PS, layer them.  One of the easiest ways to fix this is to place the
"blown out" dress image (which has good exposure otherwise) on top, and
the one with the good dress detail underneath.  Then, set your erase
tool to 15-25% using a soft edged brush and slowly remove the upper
layer in the area of the dress allowing the detail version to come
through.  This way you can control each area of the dress, and bring up
the detail just to the point it looks best to you.  If the dress from
the lower level doesn't look oddly exposed in itself, you can use the
erase tool at nearly 100%, and just erase the blown version that is on
top, for a quicker result.

Art


Stephen Jennings wrote:
> 
> I have a neg of a bride in window light and her gown is burned out.  Any
> suggestions for bringing in detail in the scan process?
> 
> STEPHEN    JENNINGS
>     P h o t o g r a p h e r
>        Cambridge, MA
> sgjennin@ix.netcom.com