|
Discussions of specific software options and techniques makes for a winning survey for any involved in digital photography. SCANNING NEGATIVES AND SLIDES: DIGITIZING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE tells how to handle an archive of slides and negatives that cannot be directly integrated into the new digital formats or workflows. This 2nd updated edition tells how to use negatives for maximum digital effect, how to use film scanners, and how to handle software tools.
I've noticed this in other Rocky Nook publications I have read. That is somewhat explainable with respect to hardware because everyone else has pretty much left the dedicated consumer grade film scanner market, leaving Nikon with a virtual market monopoly (and there are unsubstantiated rumors that Nikon will also be leaving this market). Basic workflow suggestions are also provided, although I think there could be more depth of treatment in that area. The only real alternative to this book for someone who wants to gain some introductory knowledge about this subject is the much less efficient one of trying to piece together information by searching the web. They need to do a better job of proofreading, but I can't say that it detracts substantially from the overall reading experience. First, this book focuses on film and slide scanners almost entirely.
Having read both the first and second editions of this book, I highly recommend it to those who are new to film scanning or wish to broaden or refresh their knowledge about film scanning. published by Peachpit Press, which goes into more depth and is broader in its coverage. I don't see that as a drawback -- the focus is on scanning film. What they produce is a kind of TIFF, which already has certain parameters baked in, unlike true RAW. Scanners apparently do not produce RAW files like digital cameras can. I do have some issues to raise. Film scanning at this point seems to be a bit of a dying art, as reflected in this book, and the other books on this subject, with one exception (see below), are all dated and mostly too superficial. This book will help someone new to film scanning make more informed choices amongst the (few) hardware and software choices out there.
Fifth, while I very much enjoyed reading this book, there are some obvious editorial gaffes which are a little hard to excuse for a book at this price. The book does try, if not with total success, to give objective treatment to the software alternatives to Nikon Scan. Third, the book tends to be a little Nikon-centric. Yet much of the discussion of the pros and cons of scanning software is framed in terms of the ability of the software to produce RAW files. Second, the book is about scanning film (negatives, positives and slides).
Thus, this book leaves one a little confused about whether to spend money on additional software or just stay with the image editing programs that they already own. All that said, for someone who is looking for a good introduction to this area, or simply wants to know a little more, this book will clearly fit the bill. Files output from film scanners can be readily optimized in conventional photo editing software. It will also help the reader to understand the issues that crop up in film scanning and the pros and cons of the various solutions out there. Fourth, the book uses the term "RAW" somewhat inaccurately.
There is really nothing here about scanning reflective material such as prints. That said, if you want to dig in further, I also highly recommend the excellent "Real World Scanning and Halftones" 3rd Ed. Issues concerning flatbed scanners (except the relatively inferiority of flatbed scans compared to dedicated film scanners) get short shrift here.
The book explains all the scanning terms and has numerous examples but I would liked to have seen more suggestions for scanning procedures.
The author has done extensive research to back up his comparisons. It is written so it is easily understood. This is a textbook for one of my classes. It is in great condition.
not enough specfics onto fine detail on how to it ok but to much filler.
|
