LaserSoft Imaging

I can't see any differences in options between the two versions of SF Ai 6, both of which I've installed. In Photoshop, is there any advantage to using the plug-in version?

Joel

Dear Joel

thanks for your interest in SilverFast software.
Though you can have both versions installed and change between the use of either plug-in, your decision will be influenced by the following factors:

> If you need to use CMS, the TWAIN version is out of question as there is little support in the TWAIN technology for this feature.

> If you are using Photoshop, you want to use the Photoshop plug-in for best compatibility.

> If you want to scan from another graphics app, you probably want to use the TWAIN plug-in for greater convenience. However, not all who claim to possess a TWAIN interface really are compliant to the standard and work flawlessly with SilverFast.
Sometimes you will prefer the stand-alone for scanning and then load your scans into your favorite graphics app.

> A running graphics app plus SilverFast invariable take more resources from your system than the stand-alone version.
You might want to take this fact into consideration when working on a poorly equipped computer.

Dear Mr. Noack

replying to a question in 2003 you mentioned

LSI_Noack wrote: (...; some content deleted)

> If you need to use CMS, the TWAIN version is out of question as there is little support in the TWAIN technology for this feature.
> If you are using Photoshop, you want to use the Photoshop plug-in for best compatibility.
> If you want to scan from another graphics app, you probably want to use the TWAIN plug-in for greater convenience. (...; some content deleted)
> A running graphics app plus SilverFast invariable take more resources from your system (...; some content deleted)

Even now, 5 years after the question was raised, it might be still of interest to get this explained a bit more in a certain detail: I'm asking myself, how the different drivers (Photoshop plug-in vs. TWAIN) would affect a file of a scanned image. I'm using Silver Fast Ai Studio 6.5, don't dispose of Photoshop > 5.5 and simply scan slides with a Reflecta DigitDia 5000. I'd like to create .jpg files and start further processing, if any, from these files. Does the choice of driver impact the .jpg files or any other kind of output file of the scanning process ?

If you find that this question by a consumer (and not a professional photographer) comes due to a lack of basic understanding I'd appreciate a hint where to study the subject in more detail to close the gap.

Best regards Jan-Peter Ohling

Dear JPO,

TWAIN is a standard used to regulate the communication between the computer (and its software) and your scanner, you can picture that as a connector. Further information about TWAIN can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWAIN

or here:

http://www.twain.org/

The difference between the TWAIN version and the standalone/photoshop version is:

The TWAIN version of SilverFast needs a host program to be started (it means that it will not be listed in your program's list) and uses the TWAIN standard for communication between the scanner and your computer program. There is no color management system in the twain version, the color management will be done afterwards in the program you use as a host program or later in an editing application.

The standalone/photoshop version works as a standalone application or can be called from photoshop without the use of the TWAIN standard. This version does not need a host program, it means that you can start SilverFast without any other application. Or if you preffer, you can also call SilverFast directly within photoshop.
The standalone version offers a color management system.

There is no furhter difference between this two versions, if you want to produce JPG files is irrelevant if you use the twain or the Standalone verison, the end file will behave the same way.

Thanks for your interest

Have a nice day