Nikon Scan software, installation and settings (english)

“Nikon Scan” is the original software made by Nikon for the Nikon Coolscan series. Nikon Scan is not supported anymore. If you want something more contemporary you can use Vuescan software. 

Installation of Nikon Scan on Windows 10 and Windows 11

Nikon scan was only made for Windows Vista and older, however it should be able to run on Windows 10. Check links below. The basic point is not to install the drivers that comes with Nikon Scan but to use newer drivers. Use on your own risk, may not work on all computers.

1. Download Nikon Scan 4.03 here. It is free to download.
https://www.nikonimgsupport.com/eu/BV_article?articleNo=000050788&lang=en_GB
or google “Download Nikon Scan 4.03”
Do not use older versions, they may not work, because in 4.03 “Compatibility with Microsoft Windows Vista (32-bit version) has been added.”

2. If Vuescan is allready installed and working with the scanner you can skip this step and go to step 3. Vuescan has already installed the driver. Installing a trial of Vuescan will also install the driver. The driver will work also after the trial expires.

If Vuescan is not installed download NikonUsbScanners64.zip
here http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/bin/NikonUsbScanners64.zip
Unzip the files.
Open “device manager” (enhedshåndtering)
Right click on scanner (under other devices).
Choose update driver, navigate to the folder with the unzipped driver files.

3. Run Nikon Scan installation. When the screen “select drivers” appear, uncheck both drivers (LS-4000 / 8000 / 9000 and LS-40 / 50 / 5000) in the installation process (this is the important step). Choose sRGB for color space.

How to use Nikon Scan

1. Set preferences (left) in preview windows ( blue button “prefs”)
File Saving: File format = JPEG ( or TIF ), Compression level = High Quality.
Advanced Color: Auto contrast calculations (% excluded), the same as black and white point in Vuescan, should be set to 0.2 or 0.1
Single Scan: “Save to disk” = on
2. Choose “Positive” or “Kodachrome” left in drop down menu in preview window
3. Choose “View” in the topmenu, “Toolpalette 1”, to view the options in toolpalette.
Choose “Digital ICE4 advanced”
Choose “Enable digital ICE” ( removes dust ).
If colors are changed choose “Enable post processing” = on “Digital ROC” = 2 or 5. Do not use this for slides with good color.
Choose “Digital GEM” = 0 ( do not reduce film grain ).
Choose “Enable digital DEE” if the picture is dark or underexposed (Coolscan V, 5000, 9000 only). Only use if needed or it will look unnatural. The effect can be adjusted on the slider. The lower settings is most natural.
The “Scan Image Enhancer” automatically adjusts hue to produce images with clear contrast. This makes some pictures better but often it is too much so that details disappear.
4. Insert slide, choose “Preview”
Set crop box using the mouse.
5. Choose picture orientation: Tool Palette, “Layout tools” left arrow
6. Choose “Scan”
Choose where to save the files.
In “File Saving Options” choose File format = “JPG”
Compression Level = “High Quality”.

Reg. Focus: Toolpalette, Scanner extras, “Autofocus when film is inserted” = on (default). This means that the scanner focuses when the slide is inserted, not before preview or scan.

Download Nikon Scan pdf manual here.

Digital ROC ( Restauration of Colors )

The “Digital ROC” in Nikon Scan can be set in steps from 1-10 however the difference is small and even the lowest step makes a big difference, so there is no way to make “half” a digital ROC if you want to keep part of the faded look. The difference in the steps seem to be mainly more saturation in the higher steps, the smallest steps seems to be the best choice.

The digital ROC is a function somehow equivalent to “Restore fading” in Vuescan. It is made to restore the original colors of the slides if the colors has changed over time. It analyzes the picture and adjusts colors and lightning, different adjustment for different pictures. However the two functions are quite different in Nikon Scan and Vuescan. The digital ROC in Nikon Scan seems to be closer to the original “Kodak Digital ROC”. It works amazing on many color changed pictures, but in many cases gives odd and overprocessed results. The “Restore fading” in Vuescan usually works better as an all round tool for color changed slides and gives a more natural look.

Links
http://axelriet.blogspot.dk/2009_10_01_archive.html
Nikon LS-40 / LS-50 / LS-5000 Scanners on Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista 64-bit!
https://archivehistory.jeksite.org/chapters/scan_part4.htm
Guidance on Using Scanning Software Nikon Scan