Silverfast vs NikonScan

[philllie1]

Hi
I downloaded the Silverfast-Demo and am evaluating the software, consider buying it, but do have the following questions.
(I use Nikon Coolscsan 5000ed)

Compared to NikonScan I do get very vivid colors, which I like very much. But the scanned images are also a little "grainier" than with NikonScan (I turned off all sharpening in filters). are these your findings as well?

Also, Silverfast seems to be able to scan at a much higher resolution than NikonScan. Since Nikon-Software is Scanning at the resolution of the ccd of the scanner, I guess Silverfast is interpolating here? at what max. resolution?

unfortunately did not find a hint in the user manual/help, which I regard as unsatisfactory overall (keeping the price of the software in mind). Is there some more info somewhere? (for example the different settings+options in filters for sharpening, etc)

thanks for help
Phil

[RAG]

Phil,

I do not have the answers to all of your questions, but with regard to the higher scan resolution I can tell you both the "Scale", and the "Q-Factor" can impact the actual resolution your scanner uses. In example if you are setting the output to (maximum optical resolution) 4000dpi/ppi and you have the scale set to more than 100% the scanner will need to interpolate in order to provide the requested image.

In my case I like to scan at 300dpi/ppi and I want my image to be the largest it can be with an "Optical" (no interpolation) scan. I have found the maximum "Scale" setting I can use is 160% (Scale x resolution = 4800dpi/ppi in my case).

Hope this makes some sense and helps!

[philllie1]

Hi Rag
yes, it helps, thanks for your info...although I am still a bit irritated, that you can reach an optical resolution of 4800dpi/ppi, if the scanner's ccd offers only 4000 ?!

did you also get nikonscan with your scanner ? and how was your comparison to silverfast?
I am still unsecure, if I should buy silverfast - I very much like the colors I get, but I get still more grain than with nikonscan + the manual seems really a bit useless - and there seems not much help of Lasersoft in here.


have a nice day
Phil

[RAG]

Phil,

Take a look at the tips and tutorials here http://www.silverfast.com/show/sf-onlin ... ws/en.html I think they may help you further.

[degrub]

RAG is getting 4800 ppi output, but it is upsampled from 4000 (or some submultiple) . How good the output image is will vary. It sounds like he has found what works for him.

The main difference i have found between Silverfast and NS is that i have more control of the scan image and none of NS quirks with the user preferences.

You can use either (in fact if you want to use GEM and ROC you have to use NS) and both will give you good scans. i have used Silverfast since version 4 (IIRC) and once you get used to the controls and workflow, i would not switch unless i had to use a feature of NS. IF you have doubts, continue to work with the demo and use all the features. The only thing you are missing is the IT8 calibration option.

[RAG]

Phil,
In my case I like to scan at 300dpi/ppi and I want my image to be the largest it can be with an "Optical" (no interpolation) scan. I have found the maximum "Scale" setting I can use is 160% (Scale x resolution = 4800dpi/ppi in my case).

I did not mean to imply that I was scanning 4800dpi/ppi with a Nikon Film scanner, I use an Epson 4990.