The print used in the discussion of scan density range was scanned in "Sharp Millions of Colors" and "Sharp Black and White Photo" modes. It is a print made by exposing Ilford Multigrade FB paper with a Kodak Step Wedge. In this example, only the exposure made with 120cc yellow light (VERY soft paper setting) was used to extend the measurable range as much as possible.

Although the color scan produced noticeably less "D-Max" (a Photoshop value of 19 as opposed to 2 for the grayscale), the full range can be restored within Photoshop, indeed could have been achieved with a slight pre-scan adjustment.

There is a significant difference between the color and grayscale scans, not in quality, but in the shape of the curve. No pre-scan adjustments were made for either scan, leaving open the opportunity for adjusting either to match the other.

Although the red, green, and blue curves appear similar in this example, the illustrations below might lead one to question the similarity.