LaserSoft Imaging

I acquired Silverfast AI bundled with my Polaroid SS4000. I have upgraded it to version 6. I have not yet used it. I am using v**s**n currently.

Does Ai include the functions of HDR, in the following sense? I would like to scan negatives/slides, saving the scans in Raw 48-bit 4000dpi form, and later, to 'scan' the disk files and optimize the images. Can I do this with the Ai I have?

SilverFast Ai versus SilverFast HDR

SilverFast Ai is dedicated to scanning, while SilverFast HDR is dedicated to processing raw data. With your Polaroid scanner you must have got a version of HDR which you can also upgrade.
Just be aware the new SilverFast HDR 6 has the SilverFast JobManager included, a over 500$ value.

SilverFast Ai versus SilverFast HDR

SilverFast Ai is dedicated to scanners while SilverFast HDR is designed to process raw data effectively. Also SF Ai and AF HDR together can use HiRePP, the unique capability to open 1 GB files in about 1 second and prepare optimisations in real-time.
SilverFast HDR 6 now has got the SilverFast JobManager by default (no upgrade necessary - a 500$+ value).
As a Polaroid customer you have got SF HDR 5.5 which can be upgraded to SF HDR 6 for 65$ only.
With SF HDR 6 using the JobManager you have unprecedented productivity and you can even process multiple Jobs!

Your answers are appreciated, but did not address my main question: With my newly-upgraded Silverfast Ai version 6, do I have the ability to 1) save raw scans to disk, and later, 2) optimize those scans from the disk copy without putting the film through my scanner again?

With SilverFast's current implementation;

• You can use AI to scan the film and save the data to a 48-bit RAW tiff file.
• You can then use HDR to scan the RAW files and produce your final output files.

...[snipped out]...

Using SilverFast AI to perform the RAW scan has definite advantages over v**s**n because (a) it can embed the scanner's colour management profile, and (b) it can save the raw file in SilverFast's proprietary HiRepp format for fast loading and realtime editing.

regards
Gregory
SilverFast student

Are you sure, Gregory, that Silverfast Ai CANNOT read the HiRepp raw files it can write?

Just to make it clear:

The Ai modules are designed to scan images from scanners or cameras. They can save the images on disk or scan them into a host application. When scanned to disk, the image will contain the HiRepp information. Ai modules cannot read files from disk.

The HDR modul is designed to read files in the formats TIFF, JPEG and PSD. The HDR module can also read the HiRepp information.

Eric.

The HDR module can also read the HiRepp information.

If HDR is used to read a RAW TIFF and output another TIFF using the 48 Bit HDR Color image mode, will the new TIFF file contain HiRepp data?

regards
Gregory

Yes, all SilverFast modules (including HDR) do include HiRepp information, when scanning to file.

BTW, HiRepp is not limited to raw format, it?s also included in 8-bit files.

Eric.