SilverFast versus NikonScan for Negative Film Scanning

[MiguelAleman]

Hello Everyone

I recently purchased a Nikon CoolScan 5000 ED film scanner to archive 20+ years worth of color and black-and-white negatives.

As I explore ways to get the best possible scans from this unit, I will like to understand what SF can do better (quality wise) that can't be obtained in a two-step workflow that involves:

- scanning via NikonScan at 16 bits/channel

- color balancing and tonal shaping via Photoshop CS2 at 16 bits/channel

Input on the above from forum members and moderators would be greatly appreciated.

Best Regards

Miguel Aleman

[RAG]

Hello MiguelAleman,

SilverFast allows you to adjust image tonality (color balance etc.) at the time of the scan. The benefit is that it is working with the original image dynamics resulting in less data loss. You can and in some cases may need to make fine tuning adjustments in PS CS2, but you will have more data to work with in post processing.

[MiguelAleman]

Hello Rag

Thanks for your response.

It's still not clear on my mind what it really means to "adjust image tonality at the time of the scan". Is it really at the time of the scan or is it just post-processing of the raw data obtained from the previously scanned image?

Perhaps I am missing something, but it seems to me that the only user-adjustable parameters that can be used to influence data gathering during the actual scan are:

- the selected area of cropping
- the selected point of focus
- the intensity of the light source (for each one of the RGB channels)
- the exposure time

and that color-balancing, white and black point setting, tonal shaping, etc... are all post-processing steps done on the already scanned image data.

Is my thinking correct? ... or ... Am I missing something?

Best Regards

Miguel Aleman

[RAG]

Miguel,

It is my understanding that SilverFast will make these adjustments at the time of the scan Vs post processing. I believe it is, for example, analogous to doing white balance on a digital camera and then taking a picture. In this example you are telling the device what real white is before hand, so it will capture the data accordingly. It is not capturing the data and then adjusting it afterwards.

[Miguel Aleman]

Hi RAG

I am still at a lost here and perhaps just displaying my ignorance on the subject. But for the sake of trying one more time, let me rephrase my question from a different angle:

If the adjustment of image tonality at the time of the scan is so beneficial to the process, why is it that in the supposedly superior HDR workflow the scanning and processing steps are done in sequence?

Perhaps a Silverfast representative can "chime in" and "put me out of my misery".

Best Regards

Miguel Aleman

[RAG]

Miguel,

I must have missed the fact that you wanted to do HDR (High Dynamic Range) scans. If you are doing HDR scans then you will do all of your tonality adjustments in post processing. This is analogous to taking RAW pictures with a Digital Camera.

To take full advantage of doing HDR scans I recommend getting and using SilverFast HDR in addition to SilverFast.


If you don't already have it I highly recommend "SilverFast: The Official Guide"

[seawolf]

The only thing I can think of is the color calibration via IT8 target in Silver fast. Of couse if you use fuji film, the provia target costs an additional $100 I believe, not sure why it is so much more than the Kodak... or why it is only sold seperately. Also, I know I was suprised that the entire download file size for SilverFast AI6 Studio was around 11MB.

I should have more time to think on this since I can't get my SilverFast AI 6 to work with my Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 at the moment. I think I will spend my time working to use the silverfast IT8 Target with the NikonScan 4 software using the work flow you mentioned. If anyone has some suggestions or has done this please point me in the right direction.

[seawolf]

As I stated above decided to go with the Nikon Scan work flow mentioned above because I cannot get SilverFast AI6 to work. Anyways HOLY *********... I have gotten amazing results. I used Nikon Scan 4.02, 16bit color, 8x sampling, and Digital Ice turned on. I turned everything else off. I then open the resulting scan in Adobe CS2 and applied the profile I was able to create from my Silverfast Provia 35mm target (I was able to creat this profile before SilverFast Studio started giving me problems). WOW ... what a difference applying the profile made... That difference alone was worth the price I paid for AI6 Studio AND the ICC target slide (fuji provia). I will use the Nikon Scan from now on and apply the profile in Adobe after. I only wish to get AI studio working again so I can regularly update my scanner profile.

[RAG]

Wow,

Sorry to hear that you are giving up on SilverFast and that you have not been able to get it working again! At least you have a work around in the mean time, and I'm sure the problem, what ever it is, will be solved at some point in the future.