We are now using the Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 exclusively for 35mm Slide Scanning!

The Nikon Coolscan 9000 comes with the upgraded version of Digital ICE: Digital ICE4 AdvancedTM with Digital ICE ProfessionalTM. Super Coolscan 9000 ED DIGITAL ICE4 Advanced Technology contains a special optimized version of DIGITAL ICE Technology called "DIGITAL ICE Professional Technology", which provides more robust compatibility to work with KODACHROME film types.

What Is Digital ICE?

Digital ICE is a proprietary technology developed by Applied Science Fiction that automatically removes surface debris, such as dust and scratches, from scanned images.
The version of Digital ICE that is installed in the Nikon Coolscan 9000 allows us to scan pretty much every type slide with the benefits of Digital ICE. With previous versions, Digital ICE would sometimes result in a much cleaner scan, but obscure details of the image. On other images, Digital ICE would mistake fine lines (such as power lines, or patterns) for scratches and thus “remove” them from the image accidentally. This version of Digital ICE produces more consistent, cleaner, clearer image without the loss in detail.

Scanned without Digital ICE on the Nikon 5000 at 2500dpi	Scanned with Digital ICE on the Nikon 5000 at 2500dpi	Scanned with Digital ICE on the Nikon 9000 at 2500dpi

Scanned without Digital ICE on the Nikon 5000 at 2500dpi (magnified to 200%)	Scanned with Digital ICE on the Nikon 5000 at 2500dpi (magnified to 200%)*	Scanned with Digital ICE on the Nikon 9000 at 2500dpi (magnified to 200%)
*NOTE: The choppy lines on the boy's lower lip (we call this effect an ICE 'halo') are due to errors in the way Digital ICE effects the image on the Nikon 5000. Notice that the ICE 'halo' is corrected by the upgrades version of Digital ICE that comes with the Nikon 9000

Scanned without Digital ICE on the Nikon 5000 at 2500dpi (magnified to 200%)	Scanned with Digital ICE on the Nikon 5000 at 2500dpi (magnified to 200%)*	Scanned with Digital ICE on the Nikon 9000 at 2500dpi (magnified to 200%)
*NOTE: The choppy lines of the ship's chains (we call this effect an ICE 'halo') are due to errors in the way Digital ICE effects the image on the Nikon 5000. Notice that the ICE 'halo' is corrected by the upgrades version of Digital ICE that comes with the Nikon 9000

Above are some examples of the Digital ICE technology on the Nikon Coolscan 9000 vs the Nikon Coolscan 5000. The images are from 35mm Kodachrome slides. When scanned on the Nikon Coolscan 5000 without Digital ICE the images show much more of the debris embedded in the film. Scanning the same image again with Digital ICE on the Nikon 5000 yielded better results. However, in the top example on the right, the same slide was scanned a third time on the Nikon Coolscan 9000, and look at the difference! Notice how the cracks and scratches are mostly gone, but the integrity of the image is still there!

The second and third series of scanned slides show examples of 'ICE halo' effect. This occurs when ICE misrepresents actual parts of the photo as dirt and scratches and attempts to remove them from the image. On the Nikon 9000's upgraded version of Digital ICE, the halo effect is diminished.