Re: filmscanners: Silverfast vs Nikon Software?

[RogerMillerPhoto@aol.com]

Since you're asking about SilverFast, I assume you've already made up your 
mind that you want it and are looking for validation that you've made the 
right decision.  OK, "Buy it, you'll love it!"  I think you'll enjoy its 
features and its flexibility, such as letting you do a raw scan with Ai and 
come back later to process the image with HDR.

Keep in mind though that, not only is it much more expensive than something 
like Vuescan, but you'll be paying for upgrades forever.  Vuescan gives you 
free upgrades for life and for any scanner you happen to own now or later.  
SilverFast charges for upgrades for each scanner.  They also charge a 
separate upgrade price for HDR and Ai, even though the programming code is 
virtually identical between the two.  

SilverFast is probably the most powerful piece of scanner software available 
and it's nearly as hard to learn to use as it is to learn Photoshop.  Their 
documentation absolutely sucks, but that's the norm for all scanner software 
documentation.  Things should be much better now that SilverFast has started 
a forum where you should be able to get answers to your questions from other 
users who have figured out how to use the feature you are asking about.  

Make sure you get the 5.5 upgrade version, especially if you be working with 
negatives.  The NegaFix addition has film profiles that's supposed to make 
things easier for you.  I haven't tried it yet (see my last paragraph for 
why).

SilverFast is having a lot of trouble right now with the launch of the 5.5 
upgrade.  Bad serial numbers were issued, and that sort of thing.  They 
aren't answering their e-mail very quickly at this time, but I was able to 
get "service with a smile" when I called their (toll) phone number.  I expect 
they'll have those problems taken care of very soon.

A good reason for using SilverFast, and the reason I use it, is because it 
offers IT8 calibration (normally and extra cost option, of course).  I, and 
at least one other person, have had serious trouble getting the IT8 
calibration software to work.  It told us that we hadn't properly framed the 
IT8 target slide in the preview screen, even though we had.  For me, the 
problem resolved itself when I upgraded to 5.5.  

My problem right now is that using SilverFast to scan a slide from a medium 
format scanner gives a Photoshop error.  The SilverFast people says its a 
memory problem and I have to reinstall Photoshop.  That also means I have to 
reinstall all of SilverFast, reinstall 5 other Photoshop plug-ins, do an IT8 
calibration on three scanners, etc.  Don't know if this is actually related 
to SilverFast in any way, but I sure have the urge to blame someone.  (It's 
probably Bill Gates' fault.)  Anyway, you should hope for a smooth SilverFast 
installation, but be prepared for some bumps along the way.

In a message dated 8/12/2001 4:36:03 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
rlb@triad.rr.com writes:


> I have been communicating with the makers of Silverfast software regarding
> their issue for the Nikon 8000 scanner. They project it to be ready soon.  I
> have never used Silverfast but friends that do highly recommend it.
>
> I would appreciate some thoughts from those that use Silverfast.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob Bedwell