SilverFast Ai
From ProPHOTO WIKI
SilverFast is a software for scanning and image processing, which is developed by LaserSoft Imaging (Kiel, Germany) since 1994. Providing a software supporting any conventional scanner to digitize analog graphic material like photos, slides, documents and similar is LaserSoft's main field of activity. Beside this they are developing some specialized image processing applications for usage with digital cameras, printers and 48 Bit raw image processing.
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SilverFast SE / SE Plus
SilverFast is a software for scanning and processing photos, documents, slides and similar, which is supporting more than 315 flatbed- and filmscanner. SilverFast can be used as a stand-alone application, as a Photoshop plug-in or as an universal TWAIN module. Not beeing just a tool to control the scanner, the software contains significant image processing algorithms.
- QuickTime tutorial movies for easy learning (also built in the software)
- Predictable color from the preview for all kinds of negatives
- ScanPilot: A help for beginners, ensuring a correct workflow
The SE Plus version features Multi Exposure for increasing the dynamic range and Multi Sampling for reducing the noise.
SilverFast Ai / Ai Studio
In SilverFast Ai the user has the possibility to adjust many options manually; from simple brightness controller to complex curve tools. Included are various features like global and selective color correction (SCC), dust and scratch removal tools (SRD & iSRD) or a MidPip color cast removal tool. Further on individual adjustments, self-defined workflows and self-created profiles for specific film-types and so on are savable. Automated controls and the ScanPilot (a sort of a step-by-step help, that guides through the complete process of scanning) are a big aid for the beginner. When scanning a lot of originals the Job Manager can reduce time and effort by allowing batch processing.
The SilverFast Ai Studio version is for professionals and experts. There are many additional features in this version, like the auto frame alignment or the auto adaptive contrast optimisation (AACO). (more features and tools)
optional: IT8
- In the process chain (original - scanner / digital camera - monitor - printer) it's essential to calibrate any participating device for assuring a binding color reproduction, due to the fact that their actual color spaces differ device-specific from the referential color spaces. An IT8-target is needed to perform a so-called IT8-Calibration.
Auto-IT8-Calibration
- The IT8-Calibration runs automatically in SilverFast. After placing the IT8-target on the scanner the user is able to start the calibration with a single mouse-click. A combination of Barcode-technology and auto-alignment allows the patent-registered process of calibration to run completely automatically. (read more)
ICC-Printer-Calibration
- A printer calibration is necessary for keeping the colors and hues as original and predictible as possible. Therefor an ICC profile, which takes the actual printer, the ink cartridges and the paper used into account, has to be created. Traditionally this is done with a spectral photometer, which becomes redundant when using SilverFast Ai IT8, because SilverFast utilizes the scanner as the measuring device for the profiling. (read more)
SilverFast Archive Suite
The Archive Suite is a bundle of SilverFast Ai IT8 Studio and SilverFast HDR Studio. It is designed to speed up the process of digitizing, processing and archiving whole image collections. Due to its integrated color management system (calibration data is embedded within the files) the calibration process has to be done just a single time. The originals get scanned and saved quickly into lossless HDR file formats (48Bit RAW data) with Silverfast Ai, where the processing and optimizing can be done later on using SilverFast HDR Studio.
SilverFast X-Ray
SilverFast X-Ray is a special version of SilverFast Ai that was designed to digitize radiographic films, appropriate to scientific and medical radiography.
SilverFast for Heidelberg high end drum scanners
This is a special SilverFast Ai Studio version to work with the drum scanners made by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Linotype - Hell) on actual operating systems like Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Mac OS X 10.3-10.5. Generally these high-end scanners are used in the field of professional prepress. The following scanner models are supported:
- CHROMAGRAPH 3300/3400
- TANGO/XL
- TOPAZ
- NEXSCAN
- PRIMESCAN
See also
- SilverFast HDR - 48Bit HDR image processing software
- SilverFast DC - digital camera software
- SilverFast PrinTao - printer software
Free Demo Versions
LaserSoft Imaging provides free demo versions of their product range for downloading.
- Restriction: Watermark on output.
Literature
An introduction to image processing, especially and comprehensivley in combination with SilverFast, is available in english:
- Taz Tally, Ph.D. SilverFast - The Official Guide. Sybex, 2003. ISBN 978-0-7821-4197-9
- Taz Tally, Ph.D. SilverFast - Das offizielle Buch. Mitp-Verlag, 2004. ISBN 978-3-8266-1521-4
External Links
- Homepage - LaserSoft Imaging
- Info - SilverFast SE
- Info - SilverFast SE Plus
- Info - SilverFast Ai
- Info - SilverFast Ai Studio
- Info - SilverFast Archive Suite
- Info - SilverFast X-Ray
- Help - SilverFast Manual | Tutorials | Documentation | Movies
