Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Ian Lyons]

Roger,

>> I sent my tables in another post.  Your tutorials are great.  I would have
>> given up on SilverFast if it weren't for them.


The tables were received. The basis format is as I provided previously but I
agree going through the tutorial time after time is an unnecessary bind. I
should be able to retrieve them and upload them again as PDFs. Previously
some folk printer them out and then laminated them to keep handy but still
in pristine condition. I "might" have to alter them slightly depending on
events over the next few days (big hint!)


I think you will be smiling from Ai to HDR


Ian Lyons

http://www.computer-darkroom.com

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[EdHamrick]

In a message dated 12/5/2001 5:46:01 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> Does wxWindows allow you to have more than one window open?  If so, you 
>  must have given thought to drawing the Preview and Scan in a separate 
>  window.

Yes, wxWindows allows this.  I'd prefer to have a set of options tabs on
the left and the preview/scan tabs on the right.  I'm considering doing
this, and putting a scroll bar on the left tabs and putting all the options
in each tab in a single column.

This goes hand in hand with making changes to options update
the images in real time.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Tris Schuler]

Well, we'll see how this flies.  Someone named Annie got back to me this 
evening from SilverFast in Florida. She gave me the correct URL for the $10 
upgrade of AI. The fly in the buttermilk is SilverFast wants me to provide 
"proof of purchase." Now I was forced to send in my original receipt 
(stupid me, I never made a copy) and the bar code off the packing box in 
order to get my $200 rebate from Polaroid. I've asked this Annie what else 
might serve as "proof" for SilverFast. I have my fingers crossed but I 
don't know. 

Annie didn't mention the HDR either way so I suppose the upgrade for that 
now is the straight $45.

Tris

>Hi David,
>
>Maybe I got lucky, I purchased the SS 4000 on 9/25/01 from Micro Tech.
>Some one on this list posted a URL location for the software upgrade at a
>special price. I went to the location and after registering the machine etc
>I got an E-mail from a nice woman in Fla who asked if I wanted the upgrade
>for both. I am very busy this time of year and I haven't had time to use the
>new scanner.  I didn't even know what HDR was at that time. She said the
>upgrade for both was $20.00.
>  I told her that for only another $10.00 I would take it and figure out what
>it was later.
>  She wanted me to e-mail my credit card number and since I did not want to
>do that , I e-mailed her back and left my phone number and she called right
>away. Downloaded it, installed it and I will start using it after Christmas.
>Total credit card charge was $20.00 for both.
>
>John in OKC

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[RogerMillerPhoto]

I sent my tables in another post.  Your tutorials are great.  I would have given up on SilverFast if it weren't for them.  But every time I turned on my scanner, I had to look through your tutorials and find the settings I needed to use.  I was always afraid I'd miss something and make a mistake, so I tried to put everything into a table as a summary so that the settings would be easier and quicker to find and reduce the chance I'd make a mistake.  Feel free to call me stupid anytime you want; just point me in the right direction and continue giving me your help.  I freely admit that I'm not smart enough figure out how SilverFast works and I appreciate the hand-holding.

In a message dated 12/5/2001 11:02:57 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


I did have tables at one time but the feedback was negative. Folk wanted do
this and that because of, etc. I think that there is no single best way to
present the info. I tried to make the process understandable , after that
the user should find his/her own approach to making it all work in their
workflow.

I did a tutorial on the X number of options for the CMS dialog. some like it
and others think that I'm implying that they are stupid - I can't win :-(
Let me see an example of what you mean and I'll give it serious thought.

Ian

RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Hemingway, David J]

You got a deal!!!

 -Original Message-
From:   JackG [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] 
Sent:   Wednesday, December 05, 2001 3:04 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject:Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
Vuescan

Hi David,

Maybe I got lucky, I purchased the SS 4000 on 9/25/01 from Micro Tech.
Some one on this list posted a URL location for the software upgrade at a
special price. I went to the location and after registering the machine etc
I got an E-mail from a nice woman in Fla who asked if I wanted the upgrade
for both. I am very busy this time of year and I haven't had time to use the
new scanner.  I didn't even know what HDR was at that time. She said the
upgrade for both was $20.00.
 I told her that for only another $10.00 I would take it and figure out what
it was later.
 She wanted me to e-mail my credit card number and since I did not want to
do that , I e-mailed her back and left my phone number and she called right
away. Downloaded it, installed it and I will start using it after Christmas.
Total credit card charge was $20.00 for both.

John in OKC

- Original Message -
From: "Hemingway, David J" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 10:34 AM
Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| For any Sprintscan 4000 purchased after 9/01/2001 the upgrade for
Silverfast
| AI is $10 US. For Sprintscan 120 and Sprintscan Ultra the upgrade is free.
| The upgrade price for Silverfast HDR is $45 US
|
| David
|
|  -Original Message-
| From: Skip Williams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
| Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 11:36 AM
| To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
| Vuescan
|
| 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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| >Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
| >Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 10:12:09 +
| >
| >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
| >
| >http://www.computer-darkroom.com
| >
| >
|
|
| _
| Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
|

RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Johnny Johnson]

At 12:27 PM 11/4/01 -0800, you wrote:

>I didn't get that on the SilverFast site. Is this upgrade available from 
>Polaroid direct?

Told you it was hard to find.  Go to:

http://www.silverfast.com/silverfast/upgrade-polaroid55-en.htm

Their instructions aren't really complete/accurate.  Instead of an Email 
you'll receive a phone call requesting your credit card number.  After you 
give them that you'll receive an Email giving you the download instructions.

Later,
JJ

__
Johnny Johnson
Lilburn, GA
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Julian Vrieslander]

On 12/5/01 6:14 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, wrote:

>In a message dated 12/4/2001 11:34:27 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
>> I do wish it were possible to have the preview box open and visible as you
>>  make changes on the color tab or device tab.
>
>I'm trying to figure out how to make changes to options affect the
>preview and scan as a live update.

That would be terrific.

Does wxWindows allow you to have more than one window open?  If so, you 
must have given thought to drawing the Preview and Scan in a separate 
window.  That would reduce the user's need to flip between the tabs.  Are 
there strong reasons to keep everything in one window?

--
Julian Vrieslander 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Tris Schuler]

Please do point me in the right direction. A simple link to the correct 
page would work.

Tris

>At 08:42 AM 11/4/01 -0800, Tris Schuler wrote:
>
>>Does this mean I'll have to pay $90 to SilverFast to upgrade my copy of 
>>the software which came with the SS4000? I take it they want $45 for both 
>>the AI and HDR modules? Do I have that wrong?
>
>Hi Tris,
>
>It'd be $20 - $10 each for the A1 and HDR modules if you purchased your 
>scanner after 9/1/01.  Let me know if you need help finding the special 
>upgrade page.  It's kinda hidden.
>
>Later,
>JJ

RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Tris Schuler]

I didn't get that on the SilverFast site. Is this upgrade available from 
Polaroid direct?

Tris

>For any Sprintscan 4000 purchased after 9/01/2001 the upgrade for Silverfast
>AI is $10 US. For Sprintscan 120 and Sprintscan Ultra the upgrade is free.
>The upgrade price for Silverfast HDR is $45 US
>
>David

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[JackG]

Hi David,

Maybe I got lucky, I purchased the SS 4000 on 9/25/01 from Micro Tech.
Some one on this list posted a URL location for the software upgrade at a
special price. I went to the location and after registering the machine etc
I got an E-mail from a nice woman in Fla who asked if I wanted the upgrade
for both. I am very busy this time of year and I haven't had time to use the
new scanner.  I didn't even know what HDR was at that time. She said the
upgrade for both was $20.00.
 I told her that for only another $10.00 I would take it and figure out what
it was later.
 She wanted me to e-mail my credit card number and since I did not want to
do that , I e-mailed her back and left my phone number and she called right
away. Downloaded it, installed it and I will start using it after Christmas.
Total credit card charge was $20.00 for both.

John in OKC

- Original Message -
From: "Hemingway, David J" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 10:34 AM
Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| For any Sprintscan 4000 purchased after 9/01/2001 the upgrade for
Silverfast
| AI is $10 US. For Sprintscan 120 and Sprintscan Ultra the upgrade is free.
| The upgrade price for Silverfast HDR is $45 US
|
| David
|
|  -Original Message-
| From: Skip Williams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
| Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 11:36 AM
| To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
| Vuescan
|
| 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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| >Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
| >Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 10:12:09 +
| >
| >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
| >
| >http://www.computer-darkroom.com
| >
| >
|
|
| _
| Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
|

Re: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[petru.lauric]

> From: "Hemingway, David J" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: 2001/12/05 Wed AM 11:34:36 EST
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
> 
> For any Sprintscan 4000 purchased after 9/01/2001 the upgrade for Silverfast
> AI is $10 US. For Sprintscan 120 and Sprintscan Ultra the upgrade is free.
> The upgrade price for Silverfast HDR is $45 US

And to add to the confusion: Lasersoft charged me $20, not 10+45, for upgrading Ai and 
HDR (10+10?) to v5.5. 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Ian Lyons]

Roger,


>> Ian, thanks for the info on the new SilverFast user manual.  I knew they were
>> working on it but I'm surprised that it was released so quickly.  Is it any
>> good?  Will it put you out of business??

It's a lot better than the previous version. Not sure about the out of
business part -they keep adding more features.

> It's a lot easier
>> and less error prone for me to refer to the tables for the settings when
>> doing a scan rather than digging through your tutorials each time to figure
>> out what settings to use.  It would be nice if the new SilverFast
>> documentation included such tables, or at least a well organized description
>> of what settings to use.


I did have tables at one time but the feedback was negative. Folk wanted do
this and that because of, etc. I think that there is no single best way to
present the info. I tried to make the process understandable , after that
the user should find his/her own approach to making it all work in their
workflow.


> If the documentation doesn't do that, you might consider adding a
>> tutorial that summarizes the settings as I've described as I find such a
>> summary very beneficial.

I did a tutorial on the X number of options for the CMS dialog. some like it
and others think that I'm implying that they are stupid - I can't win :-(
Let me see an example of what you mean and I'll give it serious thought.




Ian

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Johnny Johnson]

At 08:42 AM 11/4/01 -0800, Tris Schuler wrote:

>Does this mean I'll have to pay $90 to SilverFast to upgrade my copy of 
>the software which came with the SS4000? I take it they want $45 for both 
>the AI and HDR modules? Do I have that wrong?

Hi Tris,

It'd be $20 - $10 each for the A1 and HDR modules if you purchased your 
scanner after 9/1/01.  Let me know if you need help finding the special 
upgrade page.  It's kinda hidden.

Later,
JJ

__
Johnny Johnson
Lilburn, GA
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

I have the Nikon LS-30 with Nikonscan.  I used Nikonscan for about a week - had to 
fiddle around with numerous level and curve controls etc., got a good result but I 
still had to re-adjust it all in (at that time) Corel PhotoPaint.  The image as seen 
on the NikonScan panels was not of good enough quality or large enough size to adjust 
properly, plus when brought into PhotoPaint it always was different enough from what 
it looked like on the NikonScan screen that it needed further adjustment.

I had already gotten Vuescan to try out on my flatbed, I scanned from the LS-30 
quickly without detailed adjustments - essentially the default settings except for 
inserting the film type and adjusting the crop, and got a scan very good in terms of 
complete information from the film (though it will look bland).  I then adjusted it in 
PhotoPaint - Levels, Curves and sharpening, and my result was better - because I was 
making the fine adjustments using a graphics program where I could see what my 
adjustments would result in better than I could in NikonScan.

To make a long story short, why adjust twice when Vuescan gives me all the film's 
detailed information quickly and easily, and (now) Photoshop tweaks that information 
to my liking.  It makes the scan process itself quick and easy - it has a specific 
film setting for (I estimate) over 90% of all films ever made.  Plus, when adjusting 
Levels and Curves based on a Preview view (which one has to do in a scanning program), 
one can never know for sure what the scan result will actually look like.

Re SilverFast - I only have SilverFast SE (lite) for the Epson flatbed and have barely 
used it, so I can't speak to it's qualities.

Maris


- Original Message - 
From: "Tris Schuler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2001 10:19 AM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| 
| I have to ask this, Maris, and please don't take it the wrong way:  you 
| seem very high on Vuescan. Why? What is it you like about Vuescan over and 
| above SilverFast AI or whatever software that came with the scanner you 
| use? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages?
| 
| Tris
| 
| >Not to beat a dead horse, but Vuescan will do a RAW scan as well, and if 
| >you were to take a 1/2-hour break from learning Silverfast I guarantee 
| >even you would know enough to use Vuescan well.
| >
| >I have also tried working with RAW scans - the primary problem with 
| >negative film is the orange mask but it can be done.  It's just easier the 
| >regular way.
| >
| >Maris
| 
| 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Tris Schuler]

Thank you, Roger, and that's exactly why I want to learn how to properly
use SilverFast AI and HDR. I couldn't figure any of that out at first,
though I was led to believe the capability existed in the software, so I
just worked with it inside Paint Shop Pro instead, I want all the
information that's possible from the scans and don't care about the size
of the files--though there is a practical limit for me as my Intel 815
chip only reads 512MB of RAM. I envy those who can put a Gig or three
Gigs in there for this purpose--I would in a heartbeat.
Now, though, based on your prior post to this list, I'm also curious
about the upgrade. Does this mean I'll have to pay $90 to SilverFast to
upgrade my copy of the software which came with the SS4000? I take it
they want $45 for both the AI and HDR modules? Do I have that
wrong?
Tris
It's
often easier to make the color corrections with the scanner software
rather than with Photoshop (and I assume that also applies to Paint Shop
Pro) because scanner software often includes film profiles, which is very
helpful in removing the orange mask from color negative film.  But a
lot of scanner software can't "read" 48-bit raw files, so
you're forced to use Photoshop or equivalent for the color
processing.  That's why I like SilverFast HDR since it can read the
48-bit raw files.  I like to create the 48-bit files with SilverFast
Ai (I use Insight to create them for my medium format scanner as
SilverFast Ai crashes with large files) because I can do the time
consuming color correcting with SilverFast HDR days later if I want to,
and if I make a mistake with the color correction, I can always go back
to the original raw file and start over.  That saves me doing a
rescan.  Some people like to "arch! ive" the raw 48-bit
files as it has all of the information you can possibly get from the
scanner and you might want to process it differently some time
later.  I don't do that as medium format scans at 48-bits are about
600 MB in size and take too much storage room.  If you do a good job
of color correcting in the 48-bit mode, you can convert to 24-bit little
no fear of regrets later. 
I think you'd find it easier to use SilverFast HDR to process your raw
scans, but if Paint Shop Pro works for you, use it. 
In a message dated 12/4/2001 9:22:04 PM Pacific Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 

I believe you, Maris, but I'm not
too swift when it comes to learning the 
ins and outs of software. Let me get a handle on SilverFast, then we'll
see. 
On a different note, I finally did a RAW scan and worked with it in Paint

Shop Pro  until the result matched my mind's eye of what the scene
looked 
like when I tripped the shutter. Up until now I exported TIFF files 

exclusively from Insight. Do others here work with RAW images? What are

your results? I kind of like it. 
Tris 

RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Hemingway, David J]

For any Sprintscan 4000 purchased after 9/01/2001 the upgrade for Silverfast
AI is $10 US. For Sprintscan 120 and Sprintscan Ultra the upgrade is free.
The upgrade price for Silverfast HDR is $45 US

David 

 -Original Message-
From:   Skip Williams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] 
Sent:   Tuesday, December 04, 2001 11:36 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject:Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
Vuescan

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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
>Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 10:12:09 +
>
>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
>
>http://www.computer-darkroom.com
>
>


_
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Tris Schuler]

I have to ask this, Maris, and please don't take it the wrong way:  you 
seem very high on Vuescan. Why? What is it you like about Vuescan over and 
above SilverFast AI or whatever software that came with the scanner you 
use? What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages?

Tris

>Not to beat a dead horse, but Vuescan will do a RAW scan as well, and if 
>you were to take a 1/2-hour break from learning Silverfast I guarantee 
>even you would know enough to use Vuescan well.
>
>I have also tried working with RAW scans - the primary problem with 
>negative film is the orange mask but it can be done.  It's just easier the 
>regular way.
>
>Maris

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[filmscanner]

> Could you describe some error messages you'd like to see?

All errors that are related to 'file not found' / 'directory not found'

All errors that may occur when a user chooses values outside of the
acceptable range. I believe VueScan just goes and uses the maximum possible value,
but does not tell you so. A warning would be nice.

Best regards, Barbara Nitz

-- 
GMX - Die Kommunikationsplattform im Internet.
http://www.gmx.net

Re: filmscanners: Re: VueScan Improvements Was: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[JackG]

Hi Rob,

As a "newby" to film scanning, I would be thrilled to read your tutorial. I
purchased a SS4000 a couple of months ago, but due to workload this time of
year, I have just scanned a couple of slides to make sure it worked.

TIA,

John in OKC

- Original Message -
From: "Rob Geraghty" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 1:02 AM
Subject: filmscanners: Re: VueScan Improvements Was: Re: filmscanners:
Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| "Preston Earle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
| >| Perhaps it would be helpful for some of you guys who know the program
| >| from a user's standpoint to write some instructions on how you scan,
| >| what settings you use (and why), what works for you and what doesn't.
| >| Knowing what scanner you use and your expectations (low, medium, high)
| >| would be helpful. Us neophytes could study through them and pick up a
| >| lot of knowledge you've dredged from the hard school of experience.
|
| Ed asked if anyone was interested in writing documentation a while back,
| and I made an offer.  I don't remember why I was turned down.  I would be
| happy to write a tutorial if others want to send me their suggestions
(preferably
| an outline of the workflow you use), or just an outline of the workflow
| I use.
|
| A lot depends on the software you use, what kind of film you are scanning,
| what scanner you're using, etc.  Hopefully the basics would translate
reasonably
| well from one *film* scanner to another.
|
| Rob
|
|
| Rob Geraghty [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| http://wordweb.com
|
|
|
|

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[JackG]

Hi Roger,

Would you post your tables?

John in OKC

- Original Message -
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 2:00 AM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| Ian, thanks for the info on the new SilverFast user manual.  I knew they
were
| working on it but I'm surprised that it was released so quickly.  Is it
any
| good?  Will it put you out of business??
|
| For what it's worth, I made a series of tables showing what settings to
use
| with SilverFast.  They were based on your tutorials.  For example, three
| tables show the settings to use when scanning negative film (with
SilverFast
| NegaFix) with SilverFast Ai in the 48-bit mode, for SilverFast Ai in the
| 24-bit mode, and for SilverFast HDR (48-bit files).  I made three more
| similar tables for use when scanning transparency film.  It's a lot easier
| and less error prone for me to refer to the tables for the settings when
| doing a scan rather than digging through your tutorials each time to
figure
| out what settings to use.  It would be nice if the new SilverFast
| documentation included such tables, or at least a well organized
description
| of what settings to use.  (I haven't had time to check the new
documentation
| yet.)  If the documentation doesn't do that, you might consider adding a
| tutorial that summarizes the settings as I've described as I find such a
| summary very beneficial.
|
| In a message dated 12/4/2001 2:17:31 AM Pacific Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
| writes:
|
|
| > 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
| >
|
|
|

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[EdHamrick]

In a message dated 12/4/2001 11:34:27 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> I do wish it were possible to have the preview box open and visible as you
>  make changes on the color tab or device tab.

I'm trying to figure out how to make changes to options affect the
preview and scan as a live update.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[EdHamrick]

In a message dated 12/4/2001 7:49:22 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> I don't pine for fancy UI gewgaws either -- hell, I'd probably be
>  entirely happy with a mostly command-line scanning infrastructure.
>  The one thing I'd love to see corrected is that in my admittedly
>  limited tenure with Vuescan, I haven't yet seen an error message.

Could you describe some error messages you'd like to see?

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Mark Otway]

>> What free upgrades do is encourage good word of mouth 
>> referrals.  Word of mouth referrals are very effective, 
>> especially "word of e-mail" referrals.

This is true - I didn't hesitate to register my copy of VS after being
on this list and owning my scanner for just a week!

The only problem I have with Ed being so quick to release upgrades and
incorporate this list's feedback into Vuescan, is that I'm almost
tempted to hold of scanning some of my films in readiness for the next
new-and-improved version!!!

Mark

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

Yes, but that would require a preview rescan anyway, which could be made automatic, 
absent a MAJOR modification of the program.

But I'm not a programmer so I'll leave any further comments to Ed.

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: "Hersch Nitikman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 1:52 AM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


Maris, if I understood Stan, he'd like a dynamic update of the preview, 
like Photoshop does with the Levels dialog box, and others, so you can see 
what you are doing, as you do it..
Hersch

At 10:43 PM 12/04/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>What difference would that make, as the changes would not appear until you 
>clicked "Preview" again or "Prev Mem"?
>
>Maris
>
>- Original Message -
>From: "S Schwartz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 10:31 PM
>Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
>
>
>Ed,
>
>I do wish it were possible to have the preview box open and visible as you
>make changes on the color tab or device tab. I recall you mentioned that as
>a possible user-selectable option in the future.
>
>Stan
>
>-Original Message-
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 4:30 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
>Vuescan
>
>
>In a message dated 12/4/2001 4:55:46 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> > I´d like to add a question: Its true that VueScan has gained a very
> >  favorable reputation amongst serious scanner users (I like the results
>too),
> >  however almost everybody seems to agree - me included - that the user
> >  interface is not only "unpleasing to the eye" but also not very
>confortable.
> >  No buttons or shortcuts, no browser boxes for file locations etc etc -
>it´s
> >  a bit like shareware 6 or 7 years ago.
>
>You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .
>
>It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
>a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
>That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
>three years.
>
> >  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
> >  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?
>
>I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
>3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
>on evolutionary change.
>
>For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
>file name selection instead of typing file names.
>
>Regards,
>Ed Hamrick
>
>
>

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[RogerMillerPhoto]

It's often easier to make the color corrections with the scanner software rather than with Photoshop (and I assume that also applies to Paint Shop Pro) because scanner software often includes film profiles, which is very helpful in removing the orange mask from color negative film.  But a lot of scanner software can't "read" 48-bit raw files, so you're forced to use Photoshop or equivalent for the color processing.  That's why I like SilverFast HDR since it can read the 48-bit raw files.  I like to create the 48-bit files with SilverFast Ai (I use Insight to create them for my medium format scanner as SilverFast Ai crashes with large files) because I can do the time consuming color correcting with SilverFast HDR days later if I want to, and if I make a mistake with the color correction, I can always go back to the original raw file and start over.  That saves me doing a rescan.  Some people like to "arch!
ive" the raw 48-bit files as it has all of the information you can possibly get from the scanner and you might want to process it differently some time later.  I don't do that as medium format scans at 48-bits are about 600 MB in size and take too much storage room.  If you do a good job of color correcting in the 48-bit mode, you can convert to 24-bit little no fear of regrets later.

I think you'd find it easier to use SilverFast HDR to process your raw scans, but if Paint Shop Pro works for you, use it.

In a message dated 12/4/2001 9:22:04 PM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


I believe you, Maris, but I'm not too swift when it comes to learning the 
ins and outs of software. Let me get a handle on SilverFast, then we'll see.

On a different note, I finally did a RAW scan and worked with it in Paint 
Shop Pro  until the result matched my mind's eye of what the scene looked 
like when I tripped the shutter. Up until now I exported TIFF files 
exclusively from Insight. Do others here work with RAW images? What are 
your results? I kind of like it.

Tris

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[RogerMillerPhoto]

I agree that $45US to upgrade SilverFast is not an unreasonable price.  However, it's more complicated than that.  A lot of us paid a lot of money for SilverFast only to learn that the new version was released before we even got our version installed and working.  Lasersoft should give free upgrades to anyone who purchases an older version six months or less before the release of a newer version.  We felt like we were ripped off when we paid full price for obsolete software.  Then there's the misleading description of the upgrade on the Lasersoft website that led a lot of us to believe that the upgrade included both SilverFast Ai and HDR.  It didn't, so the upgrade price was actually $90.  The upgrade should include both Ai and HDR since the software for both is virtually identical, it costs Lasersoft nothing extra to upgrade both vs. just one, and the user can only use one at a time and really!
 doesn't receive any real extra value from upgrading both vs. just one (for example, upgrade only HDR and then use an old version of Ai to create raw files for the upgraded HDR).  In addition to this, Lasersoft suffered a complete and total meltdown when they released the upgrade (passwords that didn't work, etc.) and were not responsive to request for support (most likely due to the number of requests for help they received).  On top of that, the software was/is buggy with not a lot of help or support from Lasersoft in getting it to work.  Maybe Lasersoft could hire Ed Hamrick for a few weeks to get their house in order, and then I would feel a lot better about spending $45 for the upgrade (but $90 is too much).

In a message dated 12/4/2001 8:40:52 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


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

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[RogerMillerPhoto]

Ian, thanks for the info on the new SilverFast user manual.  I knew they were working on it but I'm surprised that it was released so quickly.  Is it any good?  Will it put you out of business??

For what it's worth, I made a series of tables showing what settings to use with SilverFast.  They were based on your tutorials.  For example, three tables show the settings to use when scanning negative film (with SilverFast NegaFix) with SilverFast Ai in the 48-bit mode, for SilverFast Ai in the 24-bit mode, and for SilverFast HDR (48-bit files).  I made three more similar tables for use when scanning transparency film.  It's a lot easier and less error prone for me to refer to the tables for the settings when doing a scan rather than digging through your tutorials each time to figure out what settings to use.  It would be nice if the new SilverFast documentation included such tables, or at least a well organized description of what settings to use.  (I haven't had time to check the new documentation yet.)  If the documentation doesn't do that, you might consider adding a tutorial that summarizes the settings as I've described as I fi!
nd such a summary very beneficial.

In a message dated 12/4/2001 2:17:31 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


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

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Hersch Nitikman]

Maris, if I understood Stan, he'd like a dynamic update of the preview, 
like Photoshop does with the Levels dialog box, and others, so you can see 
what you are doing, as you do it..
Hersch

At 10:43 PM 12/04/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>What difference would that make, as the changes would not appear until you 
>clicked "Preview" again or "Prev Mem"?
>
>Maris
>
>- Original Message -
>From: "S Schwartz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 10:31 PM
>Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
>
>
>Ed,
>
>I do wish it were possible to have the preview box open and visible as you
>make changes on the color tab or device tab. I recall you mentioned that as
>a possible user-selectable option in the future.
>
>Stan
>
>-Original Message-
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 4:30 PM
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
>Vuescan
>
>
>In a message dated 12/4/2001 4:55:46 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
> > I´d like to add a question: Its true that VueScan has gained a very
> >  favorable reputation amongst serious scanner users (I like the results
>too),
> >  however almost everybody seems to agree - me included - that the user
> >  interface is not only "unpleasing to the eye" but also not very
>confortable.
> >  No buttons or shortcuts, no browser boxes for file locations etc etc -
>it´s
> >  a bit like shareware 6 or 7 years ago.
>
>You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .
>
>It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
>a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
>That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
>three years.
>
> >  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
> >  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?
>
>I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
>3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
>on evolutionary change.
>
>For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
>file name selection instead of typing file names.
>
>Regards,
>Ed Hamrick
>
>
>

filmscanners: Re: VueScan Improvements Was: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Rob Geraghty]

"Preston Earle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>| Perhaps it would be helpful for some of you guys who know the program
>| from a user's standpoint to write some instructions on how you scan,
>| what settings you use (and why), what works for you and what doesn't.
>| Knowing what scanner you use and your expectations (low, medium, high)
>| would be helpful. Us neophytes could study through them and pick up a
>| lot of knowledge you've dredged from the hard school of experience.

Ed asked if anyone was interested in writing documentation a while back,
and I made an offer.  I don't remember why I was turned down.  I would be
happy to write a tutorial if others want to send me their suggestions (preferably
an outline of the workflow you use), or just an outline of the workflow
I use.

A lot depends on the software you use, what kind of film you are scanning,
what scanner you're using, etc.  Hopefully the basics would translate reasonably
well from one *film* scanner to another.

Rob


Rob Geraghty [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://wordweb.com

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

Not to beat a dead horse, but Vuescan will do a RAW scan as well, and if you were to 
take a 1/2-hour break from learning Silverfast I guarantee even you would know enough 
to use Vuescan well.

I have also tried working with RAW scans - the primary problem with negative film is 
the orange mask but it can be done.  It's just easier the regular way.

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: "Tris Schuler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 10:08 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| 
| I believe you, Maris, but I'm not too swift when it comes to learning the 
| ins and outs of software. Let me get a handle on SilverFast, then we'll see.
| 
| On a different note, I finally did a RAW scan and worked with it in Paint 
| Shop Pro  until the result matched my mind's eye of what the scene looked 
| like when I tripped the shutter. Up until now I exported TIFF files 
| exclusively from Insight. Do others here work with RAW images? What are 
| your results? I kind of like it.
| 
| Tris
| 
| >Tris,
| >
| >Try it.  It is the easiest-to-learn program I use for graphics except for 
| >viewers.
| >
| >Maris
| >
| >- Original Message -
| >From: "Tris Schuler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
| >Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 7:35 PM
| >Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
| >
| >
| >|
| >| You've got that right, Ed. I don't even own your product and still I've
| >| mentioned you a couple of times to people. Once in a forum, the other time
| >| in an email. (By the way, the reason I haven't tried your software is
| >| solely due to my reluctance to learn yet one more program from scratch.
| >| It's all I can do here to try and figure out SilverFast AI. Meanwhile I've
| >| been leaning on Insight.)
| >|
| >| Tris
| >|
| >| >In a message dated 12/4/2001 11:40:52 AM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| >| >writes:
| >| >
| >| > > 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.
| >| >
| >| >The free upgrade model works well.  I'm pretty sure my profits
| >| >are higher than LaserSoft's.
| >| >
| >| >What free upgrades do is encourage good word of mouth
| >| >referrals.  Word of mouth referrals are very effective, especially
| >| >"word of e-mail" referrals.
| >| >
| >| >Regards,
| >| >Ed Hamrick
| >|
| >|
| 
| 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Tris Schuler]

I believe you, Maris, but I'm not too swift when it comes to learning the 
ins and outs of software. Let me get a handle on SilverFast, then we'll see.

On a different note, I finally did a RAW scan and worked with it in Paint 
Shop Pro  until the result matched my mind's eye of what the scene looked 
like when I tripped the shutter. Up until now I exported TIFF files 
exclusively from Insight. Do others here work with RAW images? What are 
your results? I kind of like it.

Tris

>Tris,
>
>Try it.  It is the easiest-to-learn program I use for graphics except for 
>viewers.
>
>Maris
>
>- Original Message -
>From: "Tris Schuler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 7:35 PM
>Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
>
>
>|
>| You've got that right, Ed. I don't even own your product and still I've
>| mentioned you a couple of times to people. Once in a forum, the other time
>| in an email. (By the way, the reason I haven't tried your software is
>| solely due to my reluctance to learn yet one more program from scratch.
>| It's all I can do here to try and figure out SilverFast AI. Meanwhile I've
>| been leaning on Insight.)
>|
>| Tris
>|
>| >In a message dated 12/4/2001 11:40:52 AM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>| >writes:
>| >
>| > > 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.
>| >
>| >The free upgrade model works well.  I'm pretty sure my profits
>| >are higher than LaserSoft's.
>| >
>| >What free upgrades do is encourage good word of mouth
>| >referrals.  Word of mouth referrals are very effective, especially
>| >"word of e-mail" referrals.
>| >
>| >Regards,
>| >Ed Hamrick
>|
>|

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

What difference would that make, as the changes would not appear until you clicked 
"Preview" again or "Prev Mem"?

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: "S Schwartz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 10:31 PM
Subject: RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


Ed,

I do wish it were possible to have the preview box open and visible as you
make changes on the color tab or device tab. I recall you mentioned that as
a possible user-selectable option in the future.

Stan

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 4:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
Vuescan


In a message dated 12/4/2001 4:55:46 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> I´d like to add a question: Its true that VueScan has gained a very
>  favorable reputation amongst serious scanner users (I like the results
too),
>  however almost everybody seems to agree - me included - that the user
>  interface is not only "unpleasing to the eye" but also not very
confortable.
>  No buttons or shortcuts, no browser boxes for file locations etc etc -
it´s
>  a bit like shareware 6 or 7 years ago.

You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .

It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
three years.

>  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
>  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?

I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
on evolutionary change.

For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
file name selection instead of typing file names.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick


 

RE: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[S Schwartz]

Ed,

I do wish it were possible to have the preview box open and visible as you
make changes on the color tab or device tab. I recall you mentioned that as
a possible user-selectable option in the future.

Stan

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 4:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs.
Vuescan


In a message dated 12/4/2001 4:55:46 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> I´d like to add a question: Its true that VueScan has gained a very
>  favorable reputation amongst serious scanner users (I like the results
too),
>  however almost everybody seems to agree - me included - that the user
>  interface is not only "unpleasing to the eye" but also not very
confortable.
>  No buttons or shortcuts, no browser boxes for file locations etc etc -
it´s
>  a bit like shareware 6 or 7 years ago.

You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .

It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
three years.

>  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
>  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?

I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
on evolutionary change.

For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
file name selection instead of typing file names.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: VueScan Improvements Was: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

What scanner to you use?  Do you usually (always) scan slides or film?  And what 
specifically wrong with the scan results?  Then we could make suggestions.

One of the common complaints about Vuescan is that the image is bland or washed-out, 
but this is what Vuescan is designed to do.  Most scanner software is designed to do 
black and white point tweaking, color control tweaking, and other Photoshop-like 
adjustments in the scanner software so that hopefully you would have to do minimal 
further adjustments in PS or your graphics program.

I prefer to do all of my tweaking in Photoshop and Vuescan's strength and design is to 
capture all of the available information in the film and transfer it to Photoshop or 
whatever to do all adjustments in a program designed to do such adjustments, with 
Levels and Curves and layers and everything else that is available.

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: "Preston Earle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 6:44 PM
Subject: VueScan Improvements Was: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast 
AI vs. Vuescan


| After struggling for some time to understand VueScan and get decent
| scans from it, I finally get pretty good scans most of the time, though
| I'm not sure why. I think the difficulty is in the User instructions and
| Help Files. If they were as good as the program, it would be worth $100!
| 
| It's probably a lot to expect that a talented software programmer would
| also be a terrific technical writer. Further, someone who knows the
| program inside out can have difficulty seeing just what a new user needs
| to know (and how to explain it).
| 
| The Help files contain a lot of information about what a guy *can* do,
| but it doesn't give much help as to what he *should* do.
| 
| Perhaps it would be helpful for some of you guys who know the program
| from a user's standpoint to write some instructions on how you scan,
| what settings you use (and why), what works for you and what doesn't.
| Knowing what scanner you use and your expectations (low, medium, high)
| would be helpful. Us neophytes could study through them and pick up a
| lot of knowledge you've dredged from the hard school of experience.
| 
| Ed could then concentrate on improving the software.
| 
| Preston Earle
| [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| 
| 
| 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

Tris,

Try it.  It is the easiest-to-learn program I use for graphics except for viewers.

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: "Tris Schuler" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, November 03, 2001 7:35 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| 
| You've got that right, Ed. I don't even own your product and still I've 
| mentioned you a couple of times to people. Once in a forum, the other time 
| in an email. (By the way, the reason I haven't tried your software is 
| solely due to my reluctance to learn yet one more program from scratch. 
| It's all I can do here to try and figure out SilverFast AI. Meanwhile I've 
| been leaning on Insight.)
| 
| Tris
| 
| >In a message dated 12/4/2001 11:40:52 AM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
| >writes:
| >
| > > 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.
| >
| >The free upgrade model works well.  I'm pretty sure my profits
| >are higher than LaserSoft's.
| >
| >What free upgrades do is encourage good word of mouth
| >referrals.  Word of mouth referrals are very effective, especially
| >"word of e-mail" referrals.
| >
| >Regards,
| >Ed Hamrick
| 
| 

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

Bernhard,

Do you mean beautiful the way the program looks onscreen, or beautiful in the results 
it provides? :-)

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: "Bernhard Ess" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 6:20 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


Well I didn´t know it 1 year ago - I know that you are very fast with new
versions, however my impression was that these changes are more about
functionality than about the "look" - but I may be wrong... I will be
patient for another year - or, lets say 6 months, if its not beautiful then,
I will remind you... :-)

Greetings Bernhard

- Original Message -
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 11:29 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .

It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
three years.

>  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
>  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?

I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
on evolutionary change.

For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
file name selection instead of typing file names.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

I run it on Win98SE and I've never had things not work.

If it happens, write Ed and he'll be quick to help, I'm sure.

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: "Jeff Moore" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 6:45 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| 2001-12-04-17:54:39 Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.:
| > I was up and running with it within an hour as I recall, and the
| > results have (almost) always been excellent (exceptions are
| > exceptional frames - my fault, or old film, etc.)
| > 
| > I am happy with the interface as is.
| 
| I don't pine for fancy UI gewgaws either -- hell, I'd probably be
| entirely happy with a mostly command-line scanning infrastructure.
| The one thing I'd love to see corrected is that in my admittedly
| limited tenure with Vuescan, I haven't yet seen an error message.
| 
| I've seen things not work, I've seen things like the device menu
| sometimes not having entries, and I haven't known what to do except to
| apply common-sense guesswork and trial and error until whatever
| condition is peeving the program (could be a missing subdirectory,
| could be bad permissions, could be an un-loaded SCSI driver) allows it
| to function.  I'd love some clues to point me vaguely in the direction
| I need to be looking in.
| 
| Maybe this is a special feature of the Linux version, though -- I
| haven't tried the others.
| 
| Makes lovely scans, though (and I don't think I'd be making *any*
| scans on Linux without it) once you propitiate it.

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Tris Schuler]

You've got that right, Ed. I don't even own your product and still I've 
mentioned you a couple of times to people. Once in a forum, the other time 
in an email. (By the way, the reason I haven't tried your software is 
solely due to my reluctance to learn yet one more program from scratch. 
It's all I can do here to try and figure out SilverFast AI. Meanwhile I've 
been leaning on Insight.)

Tris

>In a message dated 12/4/2001 11:40:52 AM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>writes:
>
> > 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.
>
>The free upgrade model works well.  I'm pretty sure my profits
>are higher than LaserSoft's.
>
>What free upgrades do is encourage good word of mouth
>referrals.  Word of mouth referrals are very effective, especially
>"word of e-mail" referrals.
>
>Regards,
>Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Bernhard Ess]

Sure, it is posible to work with, more or less, ad the results are - at
least in b&w (thats all I do) - very good, but there are several things that
would make scanning much more pleasant. I will make a small list of "update
suggestions" when I have some time, maybe on th week-end, so far jsut one
example: the preview should be visible from all menues - and it would be
nice to be able to rotate it with 2 buttons with arrows on it, and 2 further
to flip them horizontally and vertically, this is just more intuitive and
faster.

But of course it is normal that some like the GUI more than others. I
repeat, I know that Ed does a very fine job on providing free upgrades at a
very fast rate, but nothing is perfect...

regards
Bernhard

- Original Message -
From: "Maris V. Lidaka, Sr." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


I have to weigh in on the interface - it may not be top-notch graphics
design with buttons and shortcuts, but it is IMHO extremely functional and
easy to use.  I don't need the buttons when I have useful tabs and boxes on
the tabs.

I was up and running with it within an hour as I recall, and the results
have (almost) always been excellent (exceptions are exceptional frames - my
fault, or old film, etc.)

VueScan Improvements Was: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Preston Earle]

After struggling for some time to understand VueScan and get decent
scans from it, I finally get pretty good scans most of the time, though
I'm not sure why. I think the difficulty is in the User instructions and
Help Files. If they were as good as the program, it would be worth $100!

It's probably a lot to expect that a talented software programmer would
also be a terrific technical writer. Further, someone who knows the
program inside out can have difficulty seeing just what a new user needs
to know (and how to explain it).

The Help files contain a lot of information about what a guy *can* do,
but it doesn't give much help as to what he *should* do.

Perhaps it would be helpful for some of you guys who know the program
from a user's standpoint to write some instructions on how you scan,
what settings you use (and why), what works for you and what doesn't.
Knowing what scanner you use and your expectations (low, medium, high)
would be helpful. Us neophytes could study through them and pick up a
lot of knowledge you've dredged from the hard school of experience.

Ed could then concentrate on improving the software.

Preston Earle
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Jeff Moore]

2001-12-04-17:54:39 Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.:
> I was up and running with it within an hour as I recall, and the
> results have (almost) always been excellent (exceptions are
> exceptional frames - my fault, or old film, etc.)
> 
> I am happy with the interface as is.

I don't pine for fancy UI gewgaws either -- hell, I'd probably be
entirely happy with a mostly command-line scanning infrastructure.
The one thing I'd love to see corrected is that in my admittedly
limited tenure with Vuescan, I haven't yet seen an error message.

I've seen things not work, I've seen things like the device menu
sometimes not having entries, and I haven't known what to do except to
apply common-sense guesswork and trial and error until whatever
condition is peeving the program (could be a missing subdirectory,
could be bad permissions, could be an un-loaded SCSI driver) allows it
to function.  I'd love some clues to point me vaguely in the direction
I need to be looking in.

Maybe this is a special feature of the Linux version, though -- I
haven't tried the others.

Makes lovely scans, though (and I don't think I'd be making *any*
scans on Linux without it) once you propitiate it.

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Bernhard Ess]

Well I didn´t know it 1 year ago - I know that you are very fast with new
versions, however my impression was that these changes are more about
functionality than about the "look" - but I may be wrong... I will be
patient for another year - or, lets say 6 months, if its not beautiful then,
I will remind you... :-)

Greetings Bernhard

- Original Message -
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 11:29 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .

It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
three years.

>  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
>  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?

I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
on evolutionary change.

For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
file name selection instead of typing file names.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

I have to weigh in on the interface - it may not be top-notch graphics design with 
buttons and shortcuts, but it is IMHO extremely functional and easy to use.  I don't 
need the buttons when I have useful tabs and boxes on the tabs.

I was up and running with it within an hour as I recall, and the results have (almost) 
always been excellent (exceptions are exceptional frames - my fault, or old film, etc.)

I am happy with the interface as is.

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 4:29 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


In a message dated 12/4/2001 4:55:46 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> I´d like to add a question: Its true that VueScan has gained a very
>  favorable reputation amongst serious scanner users (I like the results 
too),
>  however almost everybody seems to agree - me included - that the user
>  interface is not only "unpleasing to the eye" but also not very 
confortable.
>  No buttons or shortcuts, no browser boxes for file locations etc etc - it´s
>  a bit like shareware 6 or 7 years ago.

You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .

It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
three years.

>  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
>  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?

I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
on evolutionary change.

For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
file name selection instead of typing file names.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[EdHamrick]

In a message dated 12/4/2001 4:55:46 PM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

> I´d like to add a question: Its true that VueScan has gained a very
>  favorable reputation amongst serious scanner users (I like the results 
too),
>  however almost everybody seems to agree - me included - that the user
>  interface is not only "unpleasing to the eye" but also not very 
confortable.
>  No buttons or shortcuts, no browser boxes for file locations etc etc - it´s
>  a bit like shareware 6 or 7 years ago.

You think it's ugly now - you should have seen it a year ago .

It's improving a lot more rapidly than you realize.  I just did
a count, and there have been 199 releases since March 1999.
That's an average of one new version every 5 days for almost
three years.

>  So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
>  scanner is released - the GUI in the future?

I plan on continuing to improve it with a new version every
3 or 4  days.  I don't plan on revolutionary change, but instead
on evolutionary change.

For instance, I'm very close to adding dialog boxes for
file name selection instead of typing file names.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Bernhard Ess]

Ed,
I´d like to add a question: Its true that VueScan has gained a very
favorable reputation amongst serious scanner users (I like the results too),
however almost everybody seems to agree - me included - that the user
interface is not only "unpleasing to the eye" but also not very confortable.
No buttons or shortcuts, no browser boxes for file locations etc etc - it´s
a bit like shareware 6 or 7 years ago.
So, have you planned to modernize - at a moment when no new important
scanner is released - the GUI in the future?

Greetings, Bernhard

- Original Message -
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


> The free upgrade model works well.  I'm pretty sure my profits
> are higher than LaserSoft's.
>
> What free upgrades do is encourage good word of mouth
> referrals.  Word of mouth referrals are very effective, especially
> "word of e-mail" referrals.
>
> Regards,
> Ed Hamrick
>

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[EdHamrick]

In a message dated 12/4/2001 11:40:52 AM EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
writes:

> 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.

The free upgrade model works well.  I'm pretty sure my profits
are higher than LaserSoft's.

What free upgrades do is encourage good word of mouth
referrals.  Word of mouth referrals are very effective, especially
"word of e-mail" referrals.

Regards,
Ed Hamrick

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Skip Williams]

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 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan
>Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 10:12:09 +
>
>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
>
>http://www.computer-darkroom.com
>
>


_
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Ian Lyons]

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

http://www.computer-darkroom.com

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Joel Wilcox]

>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>I have just started using my new Sprintscan 4000.  before I invest a lot of
>time in the learning curve, can anyone recommend which scanner software is
>best for which users?  Insight and Silversoft are included with the 
>scanner,
>and I could easily get Vuescan.

I have used Vuescan for a long time, and I particularly like it for 
negatives. For slide I have come to prefer Silverfast, which is fussy to set 
up correctly but worth the trouble.  Ian Lyons' article (under "Photoshop 
Essays") is very helpful: http://welcome.to/computerdarkroom

Joel W.

_
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[RogerMillerPhoto]

If you are happy with Insight, stay with it.  There's no point in punishing yourself by being forced to learn how a new piece of software works.  The ability to remove the orange mask from negatives is something that some software can have problems with.  Insight has been improved and if it does a good job with negatives, stay with it.  A lot of people have had problems with scanning negatives with the software that came with their scanner, so they switched to Vuescan which works well with negatives.  Vuescan is cheap, has a poor user interface (from what I've read here), but there are a lot of users on this list (including Vuescan's creator) who can help you with it.  SilverFast has some more sophisticated color correcting features that I doubt you need from your description of the work you do.  SilverFast is very hard to learn (there's no adequate instruction manual for it, but one has been p!
romised), is expensive to maintain as you have to pay for upgrades, and has other disadvantages.  In spite of all of that, I use SilverFast.  If I had it to do all over again, I'd have probably stayed with Insight.  If you were to use SilverFast, make sure you have the version 5.5 upgrade as it gives you something called NegaFix that has film profiles that allow it to do a decent job with negative film.  One of the reasons I use SilverFast is that I like to scan all of my film at one time in the 16-bit mode (gives 48-bit files) using SilverFast Ai.  When I'm all done scanning, I can shut off the scanner and either start processing the raw 48-bit scans with SilverFast HDR, or wait until the next day or the next week to use HDR on the 48-bit files.  I don't believe that Insight or Vuescan can read a 48-bit file on your hard disc and require that you do all color manipulation on the image while actually doing the scan.  (Someone correct me if !
I'm wrong on this.)  It's possible to use Photoshop to color correct a 48-bit image, remove the orange mask from a negative, etc., but I find that it's a lot easier to use scanner software (SilverFast HDR in my case) to do the color corrections.

I hope my comments are useful.  But I think you've probably answered your own question.  Insight is good software and if it does the job for you, it's all you need.

In a message dated 12/3/2001 7:51:06 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


I have just started using my new Sprintscan 4000.  before I invest a lot of 
time in the learning curve, can anyone recommend which scanner software is 
best for which users?  Insight and Silversoft are included with the scanner, 
and I could easily get Vuescan.

I am an amateur photographer using both slide and negative film.  My 
preferences run to very sharp, realistic prints in both B&W and color, and I 
might occasionally want to enlarge a portion of a 35mm frame to 8 x 12.  So 
far, I have used Insight and had no particular trouble with color fidelity 
getting through Photoshp 6 and my Epson 1270 printer. So I am not intending 
to spend a lot of time adjusting color.



Bob Goldstein

Re: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[Maris V. Lidaka, Sr.]

Try out Vuescan and compare the 3 for yourself.  Personally I prefer Vuescan, but many 
others prefer Insight or Silversoft.

The download is free and will leave a watermark on the scan but other than that is 
fully functional.

Maris

- Original Message - 
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 9:41 AM
Subject: filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan


| I have just started using my new Sprintscan 4000.  before I invest a lot of 
| time in the learning curve, can anyone recommend which scanner software is 
| best for which users?  Insight and Silversoft are included with the scanner, 
| and I could easily get Vuescan.
| 
| I am an amateur photographer using both slide and negative film.  My 
| preferences run to very sharp, realistic prints in both B&W and color, and I 
| might occasionally want to enlarge a portion of a 35mm frame to 8 x 12.  So 
| far, I have used Insight and had no particular trouble with color fidelity 
| getting through Photoshp 6 and my Epson 1270 printer. So I am not intending 
| to spend a lot of time adjusting color.
| 
| 
| 
| Bob Goldstein
| 
| 

filmscanners: Polaroid Insight vs. Silverfast AI vs. Vuescan

[BobGldstn]

I have just started using my new Sprintscan 4000.  before I invest a lot of 
time in the learning curve, can anyone recommend which scanner software is 
best for which users?  Insight and Silversoft are included with the scanner, 
and I could easily get Vuescan.

I am an amateur photographer using both slide and negative film.  My 
preferences run to very sharp, realistic prints in both B&W and color, and I 
might occasionally want to enlarge a portion of a 35mm frame to 8 x 12.  So 
far, I have used Insight and had no particular trouble with color fidelity 
getting through Photoshp 6 and my Epson 1270 printer. So I am not intending 
to spend a lot of time adjusting color.



Bob Goldstein