LaserSoft Imaging

these forums can get too abstract. can someone start from some fundamental level and answer these questions:
i am using NIkon View 4.1 with my new 5000 and am satisfied with color negs as Dig ICE does a wonderful job. everything is scanned into pshop CS2 so all processing is done there anyway. OS X panther, G5 2.5 GHZ
1- what makes silverfast a better scanner than NIKON VIEW?
2- Will SRD clean up B and W negs as well as Dig ICE4 can clean color?
3- What product do i need to purchase that will drive the NIKON 5000 scan
4- what will the price be?
5- is this process simply a plug in inside phshop (import) like NIKON VIEW
6- any thing else i might gain from Silver fast that NIKON View isnt giving me

thanks
gl

Dear ml

so you want all the info without reading or trying out

Alright, here's a SF-in-a-nutshell approach:

(0) Nikon Scan (not: View) uses the same NikonMAID library modules that SilverFast does. So ICE will work the same running both softwares.
But SilverFast has some inherent advantages over Photoshop CS image optimisation routines, whereas Photoshop has a greater array of image manipulation tools.

(1) Give the demo a try.

(2) ICE is preferable in general. But there are situations were ICE doesn't work well (black and white, Kodakchromes, longish scratches). SRD is software its correction power depends on how the user does go about it.

(3) > Support > Supported scanners > Nikon > LS-5000:
available versions: Ai 6 and Ai Studio 6
More information on the additional features of the Studio variant:
> Products > Ai Studio

(4) > Store > SilverFast pricing

(5) SilverFast is available as a Photoshop plug-in, but can also be used as a stand-alone app (via the SF_Launcher). For some operating system, also a TWAIN variant is available and can be installed alongside with the PS plug-in or alone.

(6) Try the demo. What is it you are lacking in Nikon Scan?
I then can tell you if it is in SilverFast.
Another starting point might be the online documentation:
> Download > Documentation
to get you started into SilverFast's scanning world.

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

sonny

i have yet to have someone say directly that
SRD does indeed work as it does on the demo which i have seen ( but it is in color) on Black and White negs ( tri x)
thats my primary goal now
to buy a product that will help me save hours of time cleaning up b and w negs
please answer yes or no
and please just tell me if it will work as good as your color demo works
thanks

glenn losack md
manhatten

Dear glenn

can one drive a Ferrari fast enough to become Formula 1 champion?
Yes.
Can I do? No.

So what's the answer to "Can SRD be useful?". It's plain, yes, but it depends:
I suggest you've got your own go own it, because what can effectively be done with any tool depends on the person who uses it.

I hope this makes my point of view concerning supposedly easy yes/no questions clearer.

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