Mark, thanks again for your expert advise.
ScanCafe. Mail your slides to Bangalore. At least I remember they brag about using Nikon LS9k scanners. Think they use Nikon scan software. Digital ICE. I think 8 bit jpegs delivered. But it is an unbelievable bargain price. For sure a good option for some. There are safer choices, such as Affordable Photo, if I have the name correct. They are based in Chicago. There are others as well on this continent.
SRD the non IR dust tool in SF I found to be dangerous. Maybe I over did it. I am so afraid of it that I skip it entirely and just do the clean up in PS.
Your comment on Kodachrome grain issues is a welcome one. Think I will use Neat Image for a safe level of noise reduction and pass on PKS for this project. Like to stay in LR as much as possible.
Reading time? I use 2 ADF trays for batch HDR scans. While 1 is scanning I am cleaning & numbering another 1 and get about 2 minutes rest before the 1st tray finishes. In this WF I do not use MultiScan. I found it is detrimental to slides that do not require it. I think you recommend it for all.
Feeling a bit guilty now for importuning on so many smart people for advise. One last one if permissible.
Workflow
Batch scan to HDR. The 64 bit IR choice. Will use Tiff. If it was an archive I controlled I would use DNG for the validation feature.
Develop files in HDR Studio. Using a conservative white point of about 242 for reasons mentioned above.
Open that file via bridge in PS.
Use Neat Image for NR and do manual cleanup as needed. Maybe do other stuff while in PS.
Export that file and use it as a Master file in a new LR Catalog. Do the finishing tone/color work there.
The finished files will be exported to an external drive for delivery. Every thing baked in. 16 bit tiff, ARGB. My friends/clients are clueless about digital imaging. They may get a photo printer for letter size out put from these files. Any web out put will convert to sRGB anyway, so I believe. Think it is a middle path output.
Feed back on this WF will be much appreciated.
thanks again to all you smart persons,