I'm just being nosy, but perhaps others will find this enlightening. Could you share your specific scanning workflow? Settings, software, tricks, tips, etc.

I use an Epson 3200 which I leave at 600ppi unless I'm scanning something very small (assuming we're talking photos here). I turn off all auto everything and scan from within Photoshop with the Epsonscan software. I leave it at RGB, and scan in the center of the flatbed (to avoid the inevitable light falloff on the edges). About the only actual builtin scanning function I use is crop, but that's just to the outside edges of the original. I then convert (not assign) to aRGB, save the file, and then save a working copy.

I use a Nikon 9000 dedicated film scanner or have it sent out for a drum scan.

With the Nikon, I use Nikon's Color Match RGB which is my preferred workspace. ( I will then convert to straight ColorMatch within Photoshop, but I don't think there is a difference other than the Nikon in the name). I will generally turn on Digital Ice on the normal setting. Make a curve adjustment to approximate the color I'm after and do the final tweaking in Photoshop - generally a flat, open scan that I'm sure captures all the highlight and shadow detail of the negative/chrome. If it a particularly contrast image that I have trouble scanning, I will adjust the analog gain. I scan at maximum size (4,000 ppi). I will save a tif of the corrected scan and keep a copy of the raw scan generally also.

I work pretty much like Doug. Epson 3200 also. Default software. I generally scan at 300 ppi unless I need an enlargment seldom more unless I am scanning line art of someone's logo for dropping into InDesign, then I'll scan at 1200 ppi.

I do make color adjustments in the scanner when necessary and also use descreen for printed or paper texture problems. I very rarely use the sharpen features in the scan software, preferring to do it in Photoshop.

HP 3800.

From Photoshop, import using default HP scanning software.
Select 16-bit (48 bit) colours.
Set crop area - including the photo's border if present.
Turn off all other adjustments.
Adjust black and white points, gamma if necessary (while monitoring the histogram).
Select ppi to give an output file size of 20 to 40 MB.

In Photoshop.

Straighten.
First colour adjust.
Change to 8-bit.
Crop / Resize.