I hope this is the right forum to post for help regarding scanning images...

I am using an iMac G5 with Photoshop CS2 and importing scanned images from a Canoscan 9950F. I am finding that my scans are importing much darker than the photos that were actually taken. I am scanning the 35mm colour negs. I was fiddling today in the gamma section of the scanner import window and noticed that the scanner gamma and the monitor gamma values don't match. They are linked in the window but was wondering if they should be the same or if there is a ratio that they are following.

I can certainly improve the scanning via curves or black/white point prior to scanning etc., but I am looking for a way to get consistently good scans with minimal tampering before or after. It just seems that what is on the neg does not closely match what gets scanned.

Your help is appreciated.

Sure play with the settings and it maybe the gamma / color settings are out right now. Another option is make an action in Photoshop to correct the issue and then just use it in batch to get a base level of all your scans. If you scan a neg that you know requires no real editing, then recored the levels and or curves required to make the color look right. Now save that action as your scanner action.