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Silverfast drives me nuts!


sfage

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I'm sorry, I don't mean to be nasty be silverfast drives me crazy. Even when we all got this software way back in the digilux2 days, it was horrible. Now, I just bought a Plustek scanner because I am on the road and it will fit in to a suitcase. As you can imagine, this is important.

 

I posted this upon their forums.

 

 

I am having a problem with the final output using a Plustek 7600iSE.

 

I set up all of my parameters after the prescan and get the colours where I would like them to be. I am scanning 5X7 at 1440 dpi. When I am happy with the colours, contrast, et cetera, the images are very purple.

 

see a screen shot here:

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm317/sfage/PURPLE.jpg

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Is this with negafix profiles? I'm sure you've googled "silverfast negafix tutorial".

It's so annoying that in this day and age theres not a program that allows you to scan a blank frame to use that info to perfectly colour correct the scanned negatives positive.

Pete

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Just for completeness, since this doesn't explain the difference between preview and scan - there is a box to select the film type and there should be a calibration slide delivered with the software. Also, in my case I regognized an increase of quality after a software upgrade when scanning Kodachromes.

 

Silverfast is not the most intuitive software on the planet. I use it in "pilot mode" (the small plane symbol will automatically do the required steps) to extract as much information as possible and do the post processing with the solution I'm used to.

 

Stefan

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Well, I've just installed the updates. I have tried and tried and tried to get this terrible software to work.

 

For starters, the software -with the update- STILL won't recognize the two buttons on the front of the scanner (intelliscan and quick scan). This is RIDICULOUS. Not that I would really "want" to use them... but the point is, we should have -at very least- a "veiled attempt" of recognition of the frigging hardware.

 

Thanks for the link to the other software. I will buy that and tell every I know that Silverfast is STILL terrible.

 

Want to know something that is really pathetic? You can buy (exactly) the same machine with the upgraded silverfast software for a 150 bucks more. I didn't do that because I remembered how terrible this software was 5 years ago.

 

Thank Christ I had the foresight to do that.

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I'm in the same boat as Sfage, not entirely happy with silverfast.

 

If I download VueScan do I need to uninstall silverfast to default to the new software?

 

Can´t say for sure. Some s/w has a way to "pinch" the scanner, so nothing else can find it; Epson´s original driver for the good old Perfection 2450 does that. If so, you´ll have to dump it (and good riddance....).

 

With VueScan, remember to start the scanner first, then launch VueScan when the scanner is warmed-up. If the scanner is then recognized, all is well.

 

Likewise, always exit VueScan before turning the scanner off.

 

At least, those were the rules when I started using VueScan, and I keep doing it that way. But it is updated very often, and gets better all the time, so quite possibly this procedure is no longer necessary.

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I've been a Silverfast user for a long time in conjunction with my Polaroid SprintScan 4000 and I have few if any complaints about the software. I've not experienced the purpling problem illustrated here, but I can empathize with the user as I've dealt with "unusable" software in the past.

 

It is my understanding that the goal is to use the software to drive the hardware not the other way around so I've never expected a lot of hardware push button control to function on 3rd party software. It is unfortunate that this is not clearly indicated in the product literature in this user's case.

 

My SprintScan came with Polacolor for push button / point and click functionality and Silverfast for higher end imaging functionality.

 

My Epsons came with homegrown software for push button use and Silverfast for higher levels of capture and control.

 

I install both and use the one that suits my purposes for the requirement. Silverfast is a phenomenal tool and I still prefer it to Vuescan. It does have a learning curve that users will either follow or continue to be frustrated. I think that I would work with it a bit before jumping ship...if there's a software problem in this case then the solution is likely straightforward with a bit of study. If it's hardware related then spending money on Vuescan won't do anything other than frustrate you further.

 

I hope whatever you do works out well.

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Thanks for your replies.

 

I downloaded VS and it worked to perfection, even with a demo version. No fuss, no muss, no money out of my pocket (on time).

 

I will buy the VS, pay the money and dump this piece of crap instantly.

 

Silversuck, ciao. I really am going to fire your CD in the garbage.

 

In the future, make it so we can get to work without screwing around. Don't release crap code before you're ready. Please don't cost me money after I have paid you money.

 

THUNK... in the garbage can.

 

Slam.

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Guest ccmsosse
... and dump this piece of crap instantly. Silversuck, ciao. ... THUNK... in the garbage can. Slam.

 

Wow - I feel your pain.

I printed the manual at work - some 400-500 pages or so. It sure has a learning curve.

B+W scans are without issues.

Color ... I pick fro the preset of offered films and for the most part is had worked well. Better than the off color crap prints I got back from my local CVS etc.

 

Good luck to you

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I like Vuescan. I used to just use it for B&W, but now that I built up some photoshop dust busting actions using the IR channel data, I've started using Vuescan for all my color too. I find adjusting to pleasing color not all that difficult - screw all those negafix profiles and stuff. :D

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Couldn't agree more... Silverfast's UI and general model is something only a mother could love. It looks like ass, and runs even worse. When I connect my v700 via USB it works fine; connect it via FireWire... Crash. This is on a Mac, FWIW.

 

Sadly, I do use it from time to time as a collection of tools (EpsonScan and Vuescan included). Each program has its own quirks - and advantages. Silverfast is no exception. But if I didn't need these bits, I'd NEVER use it.

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