Posted by Bill Green on February 16, 2008 at 9:08 PM
I am using a Nikon Coolscan V to scan my slides and found that the scanner appears to have both 8 and 14 scan bit depth. I am also using Photoshop Elements 2.0 which does'nt seem to recognize 14 bit depth.
Could anyone tell me if I need to upgrade to a more recent version of Elements to use 14 bit depth and does it make any difference?
Bill Green
Posted by Dan Borzynski on February 16, 2008 at 11:16 PM
You should be able to use the Nikon scanner software to scan in 14 bit. Elements 3 and higher allows you to work with 14-bit files, with fewer restrictions as you reach higher versions.
I think what will happen, if I remember my time with Elements 1 correctly, is that if you scan with the Nikon software to 14 bit, and open the file in 1 or 2, the file will be automatically downsized to 8 bit, with appropriate warning messages. Either that, or just tell you to go away since it can't handle the file.
You definitely cannot scan from Elements 1 or 2 in 14 bit.
The biggest places where 8 bit vs 14 bit makes a difference is in an image with a subtle tonal range, or needs heavy work, especially in shadows.
In all honesty, if you are currently working with Elements 2, I'd seriously consider upgrading to the current version. There has been a lot of capability added to the program, not just the ability to directly scan using 14 bit.
Discussion
1 repliesCould anyone tell me if I need to upgrade to a more recent version of Elements to use 14 bit depth and does it make any difference?
Bill Green
I think what will happen, if I remember my time with Elements 1 correctly, is that if you scan with the Nikon software to 14 bit, and open the file in 1 or 2, the file will be automatically downsized to 8 bit, with appropriate warning messages. Either that, or just tell you to go away since it can't handle the file.
You definitely cannot scan from Elements 1 or 2 in 14 bit.
The biggest places where 8 bit vs 14 bit makes a difference is in an image with a subtle tonal range, or needs heavy work, especially in shadows.
In all honesty, if you are currently working with Elements 2, I'd seriously consider upgrading to the current version. There has been a lot of capability added to the program, not just the ability to directly scan using 14 bit.