Small Preview Window with Transparency Scans (Microtek i900)

[prachun]

When I change to scanning transparencies, my SF preview window drops down to a very small non-resizeable size (about 6.5 x 11.5 cm.) on my 1600x1200 resolution monitors (2).
With Reflective scanning, the preview window is a nice large size. Is this normal? I've also noticed that the preview window handles in the bottom right corners of all preview windows do NOT function -- is this normal?

As in the past, I've tried deleting both preference folders and this does not help.

Windows XPPro
Microtek ScanMaker i900
Silverfast Ai v6
Also have Silverfast Ai v6 for a Nikon 8000ED scanner. The two scanners are of course not turned on at the same time.

Paul Prachun

[prachun]

Ever since SilverFast went to version 6.xxx, I've been having problems with the preview windows for my Nikon 8000ED, Epson 1680, and now my new Microtek ScanMaker i900 scanners. So this is NOT a scanner-specific issue.

My Setup:
Windows XPPro on an Intel P4-3.2GHz processor
Gigabyte Mobo GA-8KNXP
4GB DDRAM
PNY Quadro-4 XGL graphics card with dual DVI output and 2 monitors

At various times (not always - but usually), the preview window in SilverFast would shrink down to a very small virtually useless thumbnail size and would not re-size. Other times this would happen when the preview window was rotated 90 degrees -- a normal sized, but again non-sizeable window would drop down to a thumbnail. This seemingly unpredictable behaviour has been driving me bonkers for the past year or so, and unfortunately LaserSoft has been unable to find a solution other than to tell me to delete the preferences folder and that this behaviour was not what SilverFast was designed to do.

The problem would seem to lie with SilverFast not being very MULTIPLE MONITOR savvy. After "playing" with SilverFast on a temporary SINGLE monitor setup -- because one monitor went south and had to be replaced -- I found NO such odd behaviour. I go back to multiple monitors and the problem is back -- EUREKA -- I see daylight!

It makes a difference on which monitor one opens the SilverFast preview window. I've now found that the problem is solved if I simply move the preview window to the other monitor. The odd thing is, SilverFast functions properly when it is opened on my SECONDARY monitor, but malfunctions on the primary monitor. This is the opposite of what one would think should happen, but as they say, "Truth is stranger than fiction." The problem I have is that my secondary monitor is a LCD for menus, whereas my primary is a CRT for color management. Thus I have to temporarily move the preview window over to the CRT for color management. Bit of a hassle - n'est'ce pas?

I would thus ask LaserSoft to re-visit the programming for SilverFast and its interaction with multiple monitors. While they're at it, they could also make updating the program a little more user friendly and less complicated on their website -- after all, who but someone who already has SilverFast installed on their system would want to download the update? Come on guys, do you really need the serial number, user ID, and a password EVERY single time I update?

All this does of course does speak volumes for the quality of SilverFast itself. I've tried virtually every other piece of scanning software out there, and I'm still tinkering with, and at times swearing at SilverFast. I guess that's why scanners come with their own free software. The only one that touches SilverFast is Ed Hamrick's v**s**n -- and at a very nice price I must admit.

Now if only LaserSoft could make SilverFast as user, install, and update-friendly as v**s**n -- there'd be a knockout product.

My Two Cents