Film Scans: Any Capture NX2 or Viveza Fans?

[gtownby]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I'm three weeks into my Nikon Coolscan 9000 and am trying out Capture NX2 for processing some Portra VC so far. I'm saving files in Nikon's "NEF" RAW format. It is a bit slow on my MacBook Pro but has some nice features. I'm also going to try out Nik Viveza as a PS plug-in, as the "control point" feature of Capture (licensed from Nik Software) is one of my favorite features.

 

So, I'm curious if there are any strong fans here of either software. I would lean toward the Viveza plug-in to PS so as to keep things a bit more simple, unless someone shows me there is something in Capture NX2 that nothing else can match.

 

All this is for "hybrid shooting" workflow.

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[andybarton]

I use Viveza (sparingly!) on tiffs created using my Coolscan V, from Astia slides. Works very nicely indeed as a PS plug-in. Here's the first scan that I treated with Viveza, and it looks very nice indeed as a 30 x 20" print

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/88029-simple-mayo-shoreline.html

 

I have downloaded a trial of Capture NX2, as part of my D700 learning curve, but I haven't had a chance to play with it much yet.

[el.nino]

you do (way!!!) better with scanning a real linear raw-file (silverfast, vuescan or nikoscan with tweaks) and convert in photoshop using the fantastic colorneg-plugin.

C F Systems Innovations in Sight and Sound - Photoshop plug-ins page (ColorNeg - Ihr RAW Konverter für Negativscans for the german site).

it takes a day or two to get used to it, but from all i have seen so far (and i tried a lot) this plugin does the best negative-conversion!

[tobey bilek]

I scan neg, color neg, slides, with the software provided for my KM5400-1. I scan in pro mode to get an unclipped histogram and color balance correct. I keep film clean so nothing else is required. the file goes to photoshop as a TIFF where I can fix levels/curves dodge-burn as required and tweek any color balance errors.

 

NX2 also works as well and is easier for some things. I am drifting away from ps towards NX2 for Nikon camera raw conversions. It gets better colors, eliminates some masking, auto fixes CA better than I can do in PS, applies camera controls to cameras that do not support it. I can always move the file to PS to apply text or do thing NX does not have.

It also fixes lens distortion on supported lenses automatically and get really sharp fine detail in corners I simply can not get with PS CS3 without some really fancy masking.

[Chroma project]

hey everyone!

 

I scan my film with Epson's V750 PRO and I do it using the german silverfast, export tiff 48b to Capture NX. I never work with the original scan, Masters only.

 

dust removal and color management using color-controls in Capture NX, i do my own prints using Epson 3800 PRO on A2 satin paper! Photoshop CS III for softproof and applying my signature.

 

Photoshop has never been intended for photographers.

 

-what Nikon's Capture NX does better than Photoshop?

 

Quality.

 

Have you time and enthusiasm for your hobby?

 

-Then I guess we are not from S.Kellby's school which built on one fact........deliver on time!

 

for quality, color depth and micro-contrasty prints use captre NX, for painting with light, and stupid HDR and over sharped images use whatever you like.

 

Good luck .

[gtownby]

Some interesting techniques, guys. I'll continue to explore the NX2 to work on the NEFs coming out of the Nikon Scan software. I've got another month on the try-out.

Thanks!