color negatives

I indicated 175 points already.

Is the "emultion" side of the negative towards the scanner's optical lenses?  What scanner are you using?

Emulsion side is down. I am using an HP-6100C scanner. Have increased pixel count to 450 X 600.

The 6100C is a flatbed scanner and with the negative being transparent, the scanners light WILL cause what you are describing.  I would be like "overexposing".  I have not seen a scanner that can scan a negative properly.

You can try to adjust the gamma value to for example 1.8 to 1, to make it darker.

Judt curious, when you scan the negative does the color appear to be correct??

Maybe you could try placing a paper behind the negative when scanning to make it "opaque".  You could also try performing an Edit - Adjust - Auto Levels on the scanned pic.  I've tried it on some of the pictures I've scanned which were quite bright and it turned out well.

Just a comment... I have yet to see any flatbed scanner w/transparency adapter successfully scan transparencies, especially 35mm slides. Polaroid's stand-alone slide scanners do a decent job also Agfa's Duoscan is mediocre at best. When you scan 35mm you really need a high density rating (at lest 3.6) as well as high optical scanning resolution. I would suggest you get it professionally scanned at a Service Bureau, using a drum scanner (cost: $40-$50 per image).

      If it isn't for "professional" usage, and spending that much is not feasible, you can always make a print of the neg and then scan it as a reflective piece. this would be a cheaper option.

      Otherwise, keep tweaking the settings in your scanning software, and hope you come up with something useable, but I really don't think it's going to produce good results.

Do you even have a Transparency Adapter for that scanner? Or are you just placing it on the platen with the cover down?
Does your scanning software even allow you to scan color negs? does it allow you to register the negative? Are you scanning in reflective mode or transparency mode?

Try this--
  Tape the negative to a black piece of paper, and scan it in with the black background.  If this doesn't work, try white paper.  It will be different depending on the scanner.

At the very least a transparency hood will be required for your flatbed scanner and a scanning software that allows a transmisive option

I use the reflective device on the HP 6100C for slides but not negs. Paper with varying degrees of translucency have been tried but to little avail.

I tried to scan negatives before and I had no success
I think the best way would be to buy a negative scanner or an adaptor for your scanner to do negatives.

It was not really help, just a comment and of no use whatsoever.

oooh! sorry MR. fshn! if you know what is of use and what is of-no-use, then I dont think you need help in the first place.
the end

Thanks to Osiris. His answer gave me the sought after information. Your answer reflects on your expertise on the subject. I seriously thought the HP would do the job. Thank you.