Scanner Probs (with pic)

stephenb

stephenb

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I have been given a number of photos that are in need of a bit of repair, however my Canon multifunction scanner thingy wotsit just isn't up to the job. This pic is not on flat paper and when I scan it, and others on similar paper, I end up with thousands of little bright dots all over the image.

Before I buy a real scanner I would like to know if I will end up with the same effect, I have tried taking pics of the old photos but many of them are bent and creased so that doesn't work either.

Any help and advice would be much appreciated thank you.

http://
Gillian.jpg
 
Not a clue I am afraid, I have had the same problem before but not as obvious, I could only see it when zoomed in so wasn't a major issue :(
 
Hi Stephen, my day job is with Xerox, the copier people, so I get to see a few scanning issues, when you say it's not on flat paper, do you mean a curled sheet, or a pearl finish. the highlights look like hotspots from a pearl / embossed, ie. non glossy original.
do smooth glossy prints exhibit the defect? If not I doubt a scanner upgrade will help. :shake:

hope this helps

Dave
 
I think it is a pearl finish paper, glossy prints are no problem apart from dust etc and the creases in the paper can be cloned out but it is all the bright spots that are the problem.
 
Hi Stephen,

If this effect is the result of reflections from a pearl type paper then a new scanner will not help!

The best way I have found to minimise it is to complete 2 scans with the original rotated 180 Degrees for the second scan. You then rotate the second scan in photoshop and overlay it onto the first with the layer blend mode set to 'Darken'.

To help with getting the overlay perfect set the layer mode to difference and when the image goes black the two are aligned.

On extreme cases you may need to complete 4 scans at 90 Degree rotations!

Good luck!


Ian
 
I do a little restoration work myself and have had the same problem.

I use Photoshop and after adjusting the black and white points using a Levels adjustment layer I flatten the image before using the noise filter on 'Despeckle'.

Works almost all the time.
 
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