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How to scan the profiler test set
(unfinished, work in progress)

Introduction

This document described how to scan the provided test charts from www.testdata.coloraid.de . It only provide a guidance on how to scan the charts and should not be taken as requirement.

Preparations and handling

Each user receives five framed slide films and/or five reflective 13x18 (5x7") reflective prints. Usualy the slides are shipped in a sealed bag with desiccant. I usualy also provide an evelope and reclosable bag for returning the test charts after scanning.

Do not touch the targets on the surface. If possible, always wear gloves when handling the targets. Avoid exposing the test charts to strong light, humidity or heat. It took many hours peparing the test charts and they can not be replaced or reproduced. So please, avoid causing scratches or other harm to them!

Do not remove the slide films out of the frames. If you scanner can't scan slides with their frames, let me know and I will shipp you unframed films.

Scanning

As we mainly want to adjust and test profilers, you should scan the target exactly the same way you would normaly scan an IT8 target. The only request I do make is, scan them with >8 Bit if possible as the density range of the charts is too big for 8 bit. Use the maximum resolution of your scanner if possible (but this is not that important). Scan the complete target, with the margins and not just the rectangle with the patches.

Important:

• Do not apply any color profile or other advanced color correction unless they are required by your scanner software and can not be disabled.
• If your scanner driver doesn't offer any raw scans for profiling, use the default settings of the scanner driver.
• Avoid setting a black/white point for the scan.
• Do not apply any histogram or tone-curve function.
• Avoid clipping colors. R, G, B values should not reach 255 or 0 (or 65535/0 with 16 Bit). If your scanner clips colors, it is recommended to verify your scanner driver settings and see if the software or hardware is causing the problem.

Image 1	Image 2	Image 5
Image 3	Image 4

Saving the scandata

• You should save the scans into an empty directory.
• Each file saved should indicate the test set number and number of test chart. You can find this information printed on each slide frame or print.
  For instance, if you received the test set 5, save the images in files named:
  
  testscan_5_1.tif
  testscan_5_2.tif
  testscan_5_3.tif
  testscan_5_4.tif
  testscan_5_5.tif
  
  
• The file format used should be either TIFF or PNG if possible. Do not save images as JPEG unless the software used doesn't support any lossless data format
• Create a textfile named readme.txt in the same directry
• Provide as much information about the scan settings used in the textfile as possible. Very important are (here an example)
  
  • Scanner manufacturer name: Nikon
  • Scanner model name: LS 40ED
  • Firmware version of scanner: 1.4
  • Scanner driver (incl. Version) used: NikonScan 4.0
  • Operating system: Windows 2000 SP3
  • Scan resolution: 2700dpi
  • Scan bit depth used: 12 Bit
  • Comments on all details that help repeating your scans by someone else: ROC/GEM disabled, default driver settings,...
  • Your name and email address in case questions come up.
    
• If you do have several drivers (VueScan, NikonScan, Silverfast) available, please scan the test charts with each driver and save the results as described above for each driver in an extra directory.
• If you do own a profiling software, please generate an ICC profile from the IT8 scan (image 5) and include it too. Also note the used profiling
  software (name, version, settings).
• Save all data to a CD-R or DVD. Do not email me scans as they are most likely too large for emailing.

Reference files

In order to save postage, reference files are not shipped with the test images. In case you do want to create a profile based on the test charts, download the reference files from www.testdata.coloraid.de .

Returning the charts

Return all test charts and the data CD/DVD to

Wolf Faust
Berger Str. 195
60385 Frankfurt
Germany

In case of further questions, just email or give me a phone call (phone ++49-69-5486556, mobile ++49-179-6924769):