LaserSoft Imaging

Folks,

I have to agree that Silverfast is an expensive addition to most any scanner, except those that bundle it. However, by using version 5 and 5.5 with my old Umax Powerlook 3 and then 5.5 SE and Ai with an Epson 2450, I have been able to justify the cost of both the initial purchase plus the upgrades as something that lets me do great digital images with no more pain than my pocket. Let's face it; the original Umax MagicScan is not very friendly nor flexible and Epson's TWAIN is on par with HP interfaces! Even the bundled SilverFast 5.5 SE lacked so many of the features that make Ai great, in sufficient quantity to pull $105 out of my wallet.

Now, even that it's been less than three months since I forked out more than $100 for the upgrade from 5.5 SE (Epson bundle) to Ai, I feel very comfortable with the $65 I paid for the upgrade to 6. I think that GANE and SDR features alone are worth the price, and I haven't toyed the color replacement feature yet.

It's probably the first time I feel I'm getting a winning deal with SF.

Regards,

Jorge / Mexico.

This talk about cost of development and value for money etc. is all well and good but what about the people who have shelled out the big bucks for version 6 and found that it is unusable on their system? Maybe they can downgrade, at no cost, to version 5?
NMoss

Dear NMoss,

what about the people who have shelled out the big bucks for version 6 and found that it is unusable on their system?

I should think that is the purpose of having demos. Personally, I have never paid for a SilverFast copy or upgrade without trying it in demo mode for a few days. Don't know if it really happens this way but I should also think that anyone having a legitimate claim over SF6 (or for the matter any other version) can get a refund from LaserSoft.

Regards,

Jorge / Mexico.

I'm really confused. Everyone seems to say that this upgrade is $65. When I purchased my LS2000 software, it came with the HDR. To upgrade, I need to spend $130 to upgrade both. Are most people only using one of these products?

[quote="Anonymous"]I'm really confused. Everyone seems to say that this upgrade is $65. When I purchased my LS2000 software, it came with the HDR. To upgrade, I need to spend $130 to upgrade both. Are most people only using one of these products?[/quote]

Different folk have different requirements at scan time and therefore their workflow will be adjusted to suit.

If you are happy to simply scan the images with your LS2000 and make all the corrections at scan time then upgrading to Ai V6 is all that is required. However, if you prefer to scan images without any correction at scan time - e.g Batch scan multiple images to file and later process - then HDR is proably the better upgrade. You don't need to upgrade Ai to V6 in this latter scenario because all you need is something to capture the raw images Ai 5.5 is adequate for this purpose

I agree with Richard. I started with SF 5 for my SS4000. I bought it...this was pre-bundle. I upgraded to 5.5, but was able to get both Ai and HDR for $45. I think this is reasonable, since I paid for both versions. (I obviously made the 5.5 upgrade early before that particular "greed" memo went out to charge individually.) I am hesitant to upgrade to 6 because I very much resent the pricing strategy of Lasersoft. The software is good, but not that good. And spare me the song and dance about each version being custom programmed. The only custom code in each version is the unlock code. v**s**n will run both of my scanners at $40, and produce equally as good scans if set properly. I can use Polaroid's Scratch and Dust filter (which so far has worked better than the HDR6 demo) for free. As far as selective color etc. there is Photoshop! It is an editing program, not a $600 image viewer! Someone said here that SF saves him 20 hrs/week of Photoshop work. Of course, he's spending the 20 hours working in Silverfast!

I feel that I was misled when I first purchased SF. Had I known then what I know now, I would have bought HDR with IT8 on it only. Instead, I got stuck with IT8 on the Polaroid version, so I can't use it to calibrate my Umax PLIII without shelling out another $420! That's as much as I paid for the scanner.

I very much resent not getting any kind of upgrade pricing for additional scanners. What if my SS4000 bites the dust soon? Then I have to throw away a $309 software purchase plus upgrade and repurchase again for a Nikon, or a SS120, or a SS4000+. Pure greed.

Hi,

I'm a bit puzzled by the the reasons for charging individuals a set price per program for each of their scanners/cameras etc rather than a full price for one and an upgrade for the rest. I woiuld have thought that once the image is input into the program the routines are the same, no matter waht the source. Otherwise there would truly be a different SilverFast program for every device (though there are different features available already I guess). Anyway, this means that the "specific programming" required for each application applies mainly to the device interface and obviously merits additional charges, which might be equivalent to the cost of an upgrade, not the full program price.

NMoss

I woiuld have thought that once the image is input into the program the routines are the same, no matter waht the source. Otherwise there would truly be a different SilverFast program for every device (though there are different features available already I guess). Anyway, this means that the "specific programming" required for each application applies mainly to the device interface and obviously merits additional charges, which might be equivalent to the cost of an upgrade, not the full program price.

I agree completely. The measley 15% multiple version discount offered on software that is 100-200% overpriced is almost an insult. If you look at the pricing structure, it is clearly based on the cost of the scanner regardless of extra functionality. Functionally, my Powerlook III does nothing more than cheaper flatbeds (some with more resolution) yet SF for it is double.

I can cite proof that most Silverfast code is common to all versions. v**s**n supports virtually all flatbeds and filmscanners, has grain reduction, color restoration, and infared dust/scratch cleaning for scanners with that functionality. It can also batch scan raw and post-process hi-bit scans and camera files a la HDR. If each scanner that v**s**n supports truly requires custom code, then how does v**s**n do all of this and fit into a measley 1.3 MB download? Hmmm?

You can fool some of the people all the time, etc.

Dear users

I discovered this old thread and can't help not to throw my two cents into it.
You want to know why certain people pay more for certain things than you deem appropriate?
Easy to answer: Productivity

If you are a professional and can achieve your goals quicker with the best (if more costly) equipment, you will be more productive and get bigger and better contracts.

Want to know what imaging professionals think of SilverFast?

Best regards
Sonny Noack
- tech support, LSI AG -

That was 3 years ago, and your prices have come down since then. Not enough...but down.

You do have great software, as confirmed by my collection:

Silverfast AI Studio Polaroid 4000/4000+ (bought AI before the bundle deal, then upgraded)
Silverfast AI Studio Minolta 5400II
Silverfast AI Studio Epson 4870
Silverfast HDR Studio

All of the above have been upgraded to latest version, some from v5. I will always have SF for my scanners, unless I get an Imacon. Why don't you guys support them?

Regards,
Lloyd

Dear Lloyd

one issue is not enough requests from SilverFast users. But I'll gladly take yours to our Marketing people
Have a brilliant weekend!

Best regards
Sonny Noack
- Manager Technical Support, LaserSoft Imaging AG -