LaserSoft Imaging

Your newsletter announces "Silverfast 8" but doesn't go into a lot of detail.
Can we expect the entire Archive Suite to be new and rewritten, and 64bit native?
I'm patiently waiting for SF8 versus buying the current SF6.6 and getting started.
I'm using a new MacPro Quad with a Nikon LS5000 scanner.

I'd also like to know how/if I can also use a newly purchased Canon 9000F flatbed scanner with Silverfast.
Since the purchase of SF is scanner specific, what's involved in using it with both the Nikon LS5000 and the Canon 9000F?

Hello Rufus

Rufus wrote:Can we expect the entire Archive Suite to be new and rewritten, and 64bit native?

We are working on offering the entire Archive Suite, up until now the scan software is much more developed than the HDR, but eventually both applications will be there.

They are completely new and written to work in 64 bits native as well as 32 bits (for those scanners having only a 32 bit driver)

Rufus wrote:I'd also like to know how/if I can also use a newly purchased Canon 9000F flatbed scanner with Silverfast.
Since the purchase of SF is scanner specific, what's involved in using it with both the Nikon LS5000 and the Canon 9000F?

You can, but a cross upgrade is required to operate both scanners.

Cheers

We are working on offering the entire Archive Suite, up until now the scan software is much more developed than the HDR, but eventually both applications will be there.

Are the plans to release them separately, or wait and release both at the same time as the suite?.... and what kind of time frame are we talking about? (ie: days, weeks, months)
Since your newsletter says "August" for a release date, I would assume "days/weeks", but if there is more of a delay, I would consider getting started with v6.6 and then upgrading when everything is finished on v8.
(I'm currently still running OS10.6, but plan to upgrade to 10.7, thus my interest in v8.)

They are completely new and written to work in 64 bits native as well as 32 bits (for those scanners having only a 32 bit driver)

Can I assume the Nikon LS5000 driver will be 32bit since it's an older scanner, or will it be 64bit? (Just curious)

Hi Rufus

Rufus wrote:Are the plans to release them separately, or wait and release both at the same time as the suite?

We want to release them at the same time, but I personally believe this will not be possible. Most likely we will release the scanner software first.

Rufus wrote:and what kind of time frame are we talking about? (ie: days, weeks, months)
Since your newsletter says "August" for a release date, I would assume "days/weeks", but if there is more of a delay, I would consider getting started with v6.6 and then upgrading when everything is finished on v8.

The plan is to release the scanning software this month (I would say towards the end of August), SilverFast HDR is a different story, right now there is no concrete time frame for it. Perhaps you should consider starting with version 6.6 and Snow Leopard.

Cheers