Better Light 7 manual Prescanning, Making a Prescan

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Prescan and Scan controls.

Prescanning

The usual method of operating the Better Light camera centers around the tasks of prescanning the scene, adjusting parameters to achieve the intended image, then scanning the ﬁnal image. This method allows for iteratively adjusting the composition, lighting and exposure to give the photographer conﬁdence that

the image on screen will be the same one captured in the ﬁnal scan.

Making a Prescan

The digital camera has a signiﬁcant advantage over ﬁlm in that representative image data can be viewed immediately after the exposure, allowing accurate and repeatable determination of exposure, color balance, and tonal range. This enables the photographer to precisely adjust the exposure and processing conditions for each image, and to neutralize any unwanted color cast, or to introduce color ﬁltration as desired.

In addition to evaluating the preview image visually, a digital spot meter permits the photogra- pher to accurately measure any point location within the preview image, and a histogram display pro- vides an overall indication of the distribution of image data values.

There are two types of prescans available; the normal prescan and the fast prescan. Both types of

prescans can be initiated by clicking on the button in the main control area.The camera will then begin a prescan at the lowest resolution available for your model camera:

model 4000 series: 20% (1000 x 750 pixels, 4.2 MB)

model 6000 series and Super 6K™ series (1000 x 750 pixels, 4.2 MB) Super 8K™ series (888 x 666 pixels, 3.4 MB)

To give the most accurate representation of the ﬁnal scan image normal prescans are taken using the currently selected Line Time, ISO, Color and Tone settings. The time necessary to complete the prescan is displayed above the Prescan button.

Prescans of images to be captured without a tone curve (the “None 14-bit” tone curve selection in the Tone panel) are captured and displayed using the previously selected tone curve before switching to “None 14-bit”. This creates better image data and exposure rep- resentations during the prescan and ﬁnal scan preparation process. The ﬁnal scan will be made without a tone curve.

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Contents Revision D March Large Format Digital Scanning Camera SystemAcknowledgements Page Page Contents Locking Both Lock Crop RatioLimit Line Audio Focusing Aid Multiple Color FocusingAltering Color Balance for Mood or Eﬀect Saving a High Bit Depth ImageAutomatically Opening the Image Exporting NotesLine Time Hardware Setup Software OperationLighting Parts List Connector Identiﬁcation Getting Started Installing and Conﬁguring the ViewFinder SoftwarePC PC version of the software is required Memory RequirementsSystem Requirements MacintoshMate the female end of the cable with the DB Quick Start GuideConnect the camera insert to the control unit Connect the control unit to the host computerTurn on the host computer Connect the AC power to the control unitInstall the viewing overlay on the camera’s ground glass Turn on the digital cameraMm thick Tungsten infrared blocking ﬁlter Install the infrared blocking ﬁlterStart the ViewFinder software Select the image capture settingsCompose and focus the image Put the insert into the cameraView the ﬁnal image PrescanTake the picture Transfer the ﬁle to the computerMaking a Prescan PrescanningFast Prescans Cropped Prescans Super View Prescans Saving and Viewing Prescans Canceling a PrescanColor Managed Prescans Guides RulersResolution Image Capture SettingsPage Line Time ISO Exposure Lock Capture ModeScanning Canceling a ScanScanning to the Camera Disk Automatically Naming Images Naming the ImageAdding Notes to Your Picture Digital Spot Metering Exposure EvaluationRGB Data Values, EV Units Determining Relative Exposure Static Spot Meter Tool Setting the Spot Meter Size Judging Overall and Spot Exposures HistogramStatic Spot Meter Location Readings Magnify Tool Tool BarHand Tool Panorama Tool Measure Tool Mac onlyToneZones Tool Page Grid Tool Crop Mask ToolPage Size Panel Tab PanelsScan Area & Cropping Diﬀerent unit. Example 15.24 cm x 10.16 cm at 300 pixels per Size of the cropped area may still be adjusted whileClicking up or down buttons of Scan Area Lock Crop Ratio To set a speciﬁc shape for crop rectangleLock File Size To specify an exact ﬁle size Seconds Scan direction Faster Scans for FreeEstablishing Neutral Color Balance Color PanelSaving Color Balances Deleting Color Balances Changing Existing Color BalancesAltering Color Balance for Mood or Eﬀect Tagging Images with ICC Proﬁles Reverting to a Previous Color BalanceTone Curve Selections Tone PanelSaving a High Bit Depth Image Brightness/Contrast Tone Curve Adjustments Manual Tone Curve Adjustments Bit Tone Curves Limit LineSpot Meter Reference Points Negative CurvesTone Curve Histogram Setting the EV Scale ReferenceSelecting an Output Tone Scale Deleting Tone Curves Saving Tone CurvesLarge Focus Display Focus PanelSelecting a Focus Site Reading the Focus Displays and Adjusting Focus Multiple Color Focusing Audio Focusing Aid Mac onlyInfrared Focus Image File Management and Retrieval ViewFinder File Manager Adding more Notes to Your Pictures Sorting Image FilesExporting Notes Automatically Opening the Image Automatically Saving Files to a FolderRetrieving Image Files Selecting the Retrieval Tone Curve USB controller only Hard Drive Storage Capacity Deleting Image FilesFile Menu MenusEdit Menu Display Menu Camera Menu Opens the Clean/Park window to expose the CCD for cleaning Capture ModeClean/Park DiagnosticsRight of the Save scan folder label User PreferencesAutomatically Retrieving Images Saving Files After highlighting the desired folder, clickAuto Naming Automatically Save PrescansAutomatic Scan Viewing in an Application Auto File Open Mask Auto-rotate Retrieved FilesGuides GridBaseline ISO Setting Using SoundsISO Increment Selection Crop Pano SettingsUse this feature, the factory settings are adequate Time LapseAppendix a Cleaning the CCD Cover GlassLine Time Exposure AdjustmentsAppendix B Manipulating ExposureTone Curves Color Balance SensitivityLens Aperture Lighting Appendix C Line Time SettingsModel 6000-HS, 6000E-HS Resolution SelectionsAppendix D Model 4000E-HSSuper 6K-HS Super 8K-HS Status Status IndicatorsPower Appendix EScene Panorama Hardware SetupAppendix F Panoramic AdapterPage Rollout Panorama Hardware is assembled just as it is for a Rollout panorama Object PanoramaCamera reported error Conversion Error Error MessagesCamera reported error Not Ready Camera reported error No RoomOther Errors Unknown Error Camera reported error Value ErrorCamera reported error Math Error Scsi Errors Comm returned errorCamera Timed Out