After an inital bout with Silverfast's peculiar interface, I've gotten over
its issues. I use it for most of my scanning. It's professional software,
with a power-users interface. And its German, which brings its own way of
thinking.
Here's my advise on how to get Silverfast to work FOR YOU:
- Go through the IT8 calibration process.
- Read Ian's tutorials.
- Don't try to learn it with a deadline staring you in the face
- Devote a few hours to the program, and it will reward you
As for griping about updates, a $45 udpate that includes the functionality
updates such as NegFix isn't out of line by any stretch of my imagination.
Many of us, including me, have been spoiled by Ed Hamrick's steadfast and
generous low pricing and no-charge updates. But most of the commercial
world still has to pay their bills. Updating software that is customized
for an OEM product isn't free. The dot.com model of VC$$+advertisting
revenue = profits doesn't work. If you want to stay with what's supplied in
the box, fine. Or use Vuescan for $40. Otherwise, pay the measley $45 for
the update. I can't believe that anyone is THAT CHEAP!
Skip
>From: Ian Lyons <ilyons@mac.com>
>Reply-To: filmscanners@halftone.co.uk
>To: <filmscanners@halftone.co.uk>
>Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
>Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 10:12:09 +0000
>
>Roger,
>
>
>
> > SilverFast is very hard
> >> to learn (there's no adequate instruction manual for it, but one has
>been
> >> promised), is expensive to maintain as you have to pay for upgrades,
>and has
> >> other disadvantages.
>
>
>The new manual was posted to their PDF pages about 6 weeks back. It is 270
>pages and includes Negafix, HDR, PhotoCd Job Manager and some other info
>not
>previously available. As for upgrades being charged for, yes 5.5 was a
>charge on existing V5 users but that is VERY rare. The dot releases are
>usually free. Version upgrades are charged for as most other software
>companies charge - new user and upgrade are charged at different rates.
>
>
>
>
>Ian Lyons
>
>
>
>
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