Need help with slides - Total Beginner

[hyoung]

I have a new Epson V750 with Lasersoft Ai full version (not studio).
I have spent about 4 hours reading manuals, going online and I can't find out a simple answer to the following question:
HOW DO I SCAN A SLIDE?
Do I keep the lid up so the light can shine thru the slide?

My goal is to scan hundreds of slides, and I would like to be able to use the tray that holds 12 slides and have the software create 12 new files automatically once the prescan images are selected. Is this doable, or do I have to select each slide individually from the prescan and scan for each selection?

I know I must sound stupid to all the experiences scanners here. Please have patience.
(I did do a search in this forum first, but I couldn't locate any answers, so please don't flame me)

Thank you very much.

[LSI_Heidorn]

Dear hyoung,

to scan slides you have to remove the foam plate from the cover ( meant for reflective scanning to press the page to the flatbed ).
Then you fill the holder with slides and selct the holder in SilverFast ( with the find images function ).

If all images should be scanned to 12 files you have to select batch mode in the "general" tab.

If you press scan then the whole job will be done.
Obviously you have to try to find optimal settings for color & tone adjustments and for the resolution.
At first using the automatic function ( aperture symbol in the top left, next to the zoom symbol ) is a good idea.
Resolution depends on your usage, but 2400 dpi would be a good start.

best regards,

Nils Heidorn

[hyoung]

Thanks, LSI_Heidorn:

I'm now copying slides. I'm using 2400dpi and it seems to suffice for my purposes. I've reverted to using the Epson Software that came with my V750 and it seems to work great. It has levels and curves adjustments. Is there anything I'm missing by not using Silverfast? I have heard how great it is, but to me is seems like a pain and I don't see any extra features. I know there must be more to it for it to have such a reputation.

PS: message to moderator. This is a great forum, but it shouldn't take 4 days for my question to be approved for posting.

[JimGlanDwr]

Hi Total beginner
I think we all have problems with new tools and I'm no exception also being 64 years old makes it more difficult for me. I've a Canon 9950F and at first had one or two problems with Siverfast (bundled) and used the Canon software to scan but after reading in a photogarphic printing and scanning book of the merits of Silverfast decided to give it another go and I'm gald I did. I've upgarded as I learnt from the original bundled sofware to Ai Studio. I don't use the slide holders to scan either 35mm, 6x45 or 6x7 slides but just place the film directly on the scanner mounted or unmounted I can scan 12 mounted 35mm slides in one go and up to 6 medium format without fiddling with slide holders, which I was not able to do with the Canon software, Prescan, find image frames then tweak exposure colour etc as normal simple.

[hanschristian]

Hi I'm a total beginner with Silverfast, though I have a couple of year's experience with other scanning software. When batch scanning slides and the program apparantly set to automatically adjust the exposure, I find I still have some slides at random with a levels adjustment turned on and no obvious means of turning it off. I can sympathize with Absolute Beginner, Silverfast is very poorly explained and the video clips only state the absolutely bleeding obvious.

[LSI_Morales]

Dear hanshristian

You can turn off all automatic corrections by opening SilverFast Options dialog, then selecting the "Auto" tab and deactivating all options there.
If you find the explanations of the videos not deep enough, you can always visit the documentation website at:

http://www.silverfast.com/documentation/de.html

There you will find many resources and documents on how to operate the many features offered by SilverFast.

Cheers