This page last modified on 4/1/04
The Epson 2450 Scanner (11/20/02)

The Epson 2450 scanner, which costs around $400, is great for making printer profiles with Monaco EZ color 2 or similar packages. It also does a ggreat job scanning prints. I have also been able to make Epson 7600 prints of up to 24" by 30" from 4x5 velvia transparencies scanned with this scanner. I have a Polaroid Sprintscan 120 which I use for scanning my 35mm and 120 format film. The Polaroid does sharper scans than the 2450 but then it costs $2,500. I can't afford $15,000 to get an Imacon for my 4x5 scanning so I've been using the 2450 and it actually does a pretty good job. The scans are not as sharp as they would be on an Imacon and the 2450 does not have as great a dynamic range. Still, for a well exposured 4x5 one can get a decent scan. To make a nice print, one has to sharpen these 2450 scans considerably more than one would have to sharpen an Imacon or drum scan. Using the Sharpen Only Edges BH action, described on pages 105 and 276 of Photoshop 7 Artistry, and editing the edge mask that action creates a bit, I'm able to get nice large prints from this scanner. I've received several e-mails from other readers who have also had the same experience.

I do my scans using Epson Twain with the No Color Correction option on in the Configuration section. I do 2400 dpi Color Photo (48-bit) scans with sharpening turned off. This basically gets the hardware info on your film from the scanner into Photoshop. You then do your color correction and sharpening in Photoshop. You can also scan with SilverFast, which comes with this scanner, and you may get even better results. If you really want the best scans from your 4x5s, spend the $15,000 for an Imacon or get good drum scans. Not all drum scans are good and much there depends on the scanning operator. If you don't have an extra $15,000 and like to do your own scans, $400 for one of these 2450 scanners is not too much to risk. Let me know how it works for you.



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