SilverFast
| SilverFast Ai / DC / HDR / PrinTao
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|---|---|
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|
 SilverFast Ai Studio GUI |
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| Basic data
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| developer | LaserSoft Imaging |
| Publishing year | 1995 |
| Current version | 8.8.0r18 (December 23, 2019) |
| operating system | from Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.7 |
| category | Scanning, image editing, printing, digital camera, HDR |
| License | proprietary |
| German speaking | Yes |
| SilverFast.de | |
SilverFast is a software for scanning and image processing that has been developed by the German company LaserSoft Imaging AG since 1994 . The main focus is on the development of scanner software for digitizing analog image material such as photos, slides, documents and the like.
There are also other applications for image processing using digital cameras or printers and for 48-bit raw data image processing .
history
SilverFast has been developed and sold by LaserSoft Imaging since 1994. The first version was presented in 1995 at CeBIT in Hanover . The software found worldwide distribution through the bundling of products with scanners from various manufacturers. Some of the functions developed for SilverFast, especially in the area of color management, error detection and automatic dust and scratch removal, have been patented. In 2008 the software received the award of "Best Color Management Software of the Year 2008" from the European Digital Press Association for increasing the density range of many scanner models . The current version 8 of the scanning software has been available since August 2011, the HDR image editing software of the same version since 2012.
Product range
SilverFast is offered individually tailored to the respective scanner model. When operating several scanners, it is therefore necessary to purchase a corresponding number of additional licenses; upgrade tariffs are also offered when purchasing a new scanner. The license costs depend on the scanner and are based on the purchase price of the device.
Overview of the available products:
| Scanner software | HDR software | Archiving software | Printer software | Photoshop plug-ins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SilverFast SE | SilverFast HDR | SilverFast Archive Suite SE 1), 2) | PrinTao 8 | SRDx plug-in |
| SilverFast SE Plus 1), 2) | SilverFast HDR Studio 3) | SilverFast Archive Suite 1), 2), 3) | ||
| SilverFast Ai Studio 1), 2) | ||||
| SilverFast X-Ray |
optional with: 1) Multi-Exposure, 2) optional: ICC printer calibration , 3) ColorServer
Optional functions
As indicated in the table above, some products are available with additional features:
Multi-Exposure - Multi-Exposure is a technique for combining different exposures when scanning transparent originals such as slides, negatives and film strips with increased dynamic range . This is achieved by scanning the original several times with different exposure times . This increases the dynamic range and more details are retained in the light and shadow areas of the image. Multiple exposure does not work with reflective originals and differs from “multi-sampling”, in which several scans are carried out, but with the exposure unchanged.
ICC printer calibration - The SilverFast ICC printer calibration calibrates the printer with the help of a previously calibrated flatbed scanner as a measuring device for profiling the printer.
ColorServer - The ColorServer automatically carries out the processes of color conversion, scaling , sharpening, color separation , optimization and even batch processing of image data in the 48-bit color space. JPEG 2000 allows a compression ratio of 10: 1 with no visible loss of image quality.
SilverFast scanner software
SilverFast is a software for scanning and processing photos, documents, slides and the like. They can be used as a stand-alone application, as Photoshop - plug-in or as universal TWAIN use module. The following product variants are available:
- SilverFast SE (basic version)
- SilverFast SE Plus (Plus version Multi-Exposure )
- SilverFast Ai Studio (Premium Version)
- SilverFast X-Ray (a special SilverFast version for digitizing X-ray films , suitable for scientific and medical X-rays.)
The software allows the adaptation of a large number of settings, whereby special functions of certain scanners, such as dust and scratch detection and removal or batch processing, are also supported. The often extensive configuration settings can be saved for later reuse. Automatic controls and the WorkflowPilot (a kind of step-by-step aid that guides you through the entire scanning process) facilitate familiarization.
SilverFast HDR software
SilverFast HDR (High Dynamic Range) is software for image processing of 48-bit raw data images. Instead of downsampling images to 24 bits when scanning, many newer scanners are able to output the image directly with all the information available, i. H. it can be saved as a 48-bit raw image and later digitally edited.
- SilverFast HDR (Plus version)
- SilverFast HDR Studio (premium version)
SilverFast HDR has the functionalities of the scan software SilverFast for 48-bit raw data, such as the determination of the output size, automatic image control, histogram, gradation curves, selective color correction, unsharp masking, color separation, CMYK preview, etc. a. SilverFast HDR can be used as a native plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, as a universal TWAIN module or as a SilverFast stand-alone application.
The HDR Studio version offers additional features, such as a. the automatic contrast optimization AACO, JPEG 2000 , camera raw data conversion, unsharp masking USMPlus, PrinTao, and a stamp tool.
HDRi (64-bit raw data format with infrared channel)
From version 6.6.1 every SilverFast HDR version supports the raw data file format HDRi . These 64-bit HDRi color files or 32-bit HDRi grayscale files contain, in addition to the 48-bit color raw data or 16-bit gray-scale raw data, also 16-bit infrared raw data, the can be recorded as a fourth channel by special scanners. The HDRi format thus contains all readable image information as raw data and allows it to be used at a later point in time. A main purpose of this information is the subsequent correction of dust and scratches on the original.
SilverFast archiving software
The two programs SilverFast Ai IT8 Studio and SilverFast HDR Studio are offered bundled with an integrated color management system under the name “SilverFast Archive Suite”. The product package is primarily suitable for archiving slides, negatives and reflected light originals, with the option of subsequent processing of the images after they have been scanned.
- SilverFast Archive Suite SE - consisting of SilverFast SE Plus and SilverFast HDR (Plus version)
- SilverFast Archive Suite - consisting of SilverFast Ai Studio and SilverFast HDR Studio (premium version)
PrinTao 8
PrintTao 8 is a printing solution for large format printers from Canon and Epson . PrinTao can be used as a standalone application or as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom .
PrinTao 8 takes over the color management and all printer driver settings. It contains various print templates such as package templates for portrait photographers or gallery wrap templates for printing on canvas.
SRDx Photoshop plug-in
SRDx (Smart Removal of Defects) is a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop that can be used to remove defects such as dust particles, stains, small scratches, and fingerprints from digital images.
Most tools for removing dust and scratches use soft focus, which affects image quality. SRDx works without such soft focus. SRDx uses an adjustable automatic detection of dust and scratches, which can be fine-tuned manually with the help of a defect marker and an eraser tool.
SilverFast DC
SilverFast DC has been discontinued. SilverFast DC was an independent software solution for processing digital camera images. It contained functions for reading the image data from the camera, for processing, optimizing and archiving the images on the computer, and for printing the edited images.
Color management
SilverFast is equipped with a color management system that enables a largely automated calibration of scanners using IT8 targets supplied by the manufacturer. In addition, some program versions support the calibration of printers by printing a color table on them and then reading and analyzing them on an already calibrated scanner.
SilverFast for Heidelberg drum scanners
“SilverFast Ai Studio” for the drum scanners from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Linotype - Hell) is a solution to these scanners (Chromagraph 3300/3400, Tango / XL, Topaz, Nexscan, and Primescan) , which are mostly used in the field of professional prepress to be used with current versions of the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.
literature
- Ralph Altmann: Photo processing with Paint Shop Pro X. dpunkt-Verlag, Heidelberg 2006, ISBN 3-89864-333-6 .
- Sascha Steinhoff: Digitizing slides and negatives. With Nikon Scan, VueScan, SilverFast. dpunkt-Verlag, Heidelberg 2005, ISBN 3-89864-352-2 .
- Taz Tally: SilverFast. The official book. Mitp-Verlag, Bonn 2004, ISBN 3-8266-1521-2 .
- Taz Tally: SilverFast. The Official Guide. Sybex, San Francisco CA et al. a. 2003, ISBN 0-7821-4197-8 .
Web links
- LaserSoft Imaging AG (German)
- LaserSoft Imaging AG (English)
- Mark Segal: Detailed review of SilverFast (PDF; 2.2 MB) December 2009 (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Best Product of the Year: Best Color Management ( Memento of the original from July 1, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. - EDP (European Digital Press)
- ↑ Questions about the scan software SilverFast from LaserSoft Imaging filmscanner.info
- ↑ Test report: SilverFast HDR filmscanner.info
