LaserSoft Imaging

After experimenting for several more hours, I seem to have developed a workflow that works in OS X 10.2 Jaguar.


1. Use v**s**n to scan the film.

1a. v**s**n is set to scan the film in Image mode rather than Negative mode just in case its negative film type adjustments affect the RAW output.

1b. v**s**n is also set to 'Lightly' remove dust and scratches using the Infrared channel before saving the RAW RGB file to disk in tiff format at the full resolution of 4000dpi. According to v**s**n's documentation, 16-bit/color RAW scans are saved with a gamma of 1.

1c. v**s**n is set to crop the scan to work around SilverFast App's current inability to perform batch scans, and the Job Manager's inability to remember/save Original Dimensions.

2. For future convenience, I want to take advantage of SilverFast's HiRepp functionality. I might also decide to use SilverFast's ability to save the 48-bit HiRepp files in JPEG format.

2a. In SilverFast's Options > General, I set Gamma Gradation to 1, and HDR Gamma to 1 (this decision was made after multiple readings of Ian's tutorials on HDR scanning). I turned off the 'For HDR output' checkbox. Note that I hope to use Negafix providing that the film profiles for the Nikon scanners are reliable.

2b. 'Pos/Neg' is set to Positive (I want the images to remain in their 'negative' state), and Image Mode is set to 48 Bit HDR Color.

2c. The image is processed by SilverFast and saved as a tiff file. I also processed a copy to jpeg format for testing purposes. For reference, the tiff file was 67MB while the jpeg file at the highest quality setting was just 7.1MB. If these jpeg files are basically 'lossless', they will be very useful for archiving purposes. I noted though that SilverFast seems to require more time to open/decompress them than the tiff files.

3. I then run the HiRepp files through SilverFast to produce the final scans that would be distributed in various formats. For this part of the process, the Gamma Gradation is set to 1.8 and the relative Negafix profile is selected. At this point, I would set the various exposure/color adjustment settings and batch process my HiRepp files.

QUERY
What happens if we forget what film type the scans came from, or if future versions of SilverFast do not come with the currently available profiles. From memory, SilverFast does not support the importing of profiles. Does it make sense to keep a copy of the processed photos at full resolution in addition to the RAW files?

NOTE
Batch processing/scanning is not available in my copy of SilverFast HDR v6. There is no way to select all of the thumbnails in the Overview window. I also note that there is no equivalent of the 'Automatic for ADF' option in the Options > Auto preferences. Does this mean that Batch processing and Automatic color adjustment are not available when working with HDR unless we use the Job Manager?


BUGS
While working with HDR these past many hours, I noted a few more bugs.

Option Parameter. High Resolution Prescan is not saved with the option parameter set.

SRD is not disabled when in 48 Bit HDR Color mode.

When the Selective Color Correction window appears, it is initially drawn as if the RGBCMY color correction matrix is visible. The window is then visibly shortened before its contents are displayed. This happens every time the window is opened.

The Reset button turns off ACR if the Option key is pressed while clicking, but no default value is set for the slider itself. Without a number system or a default value, it's very difficult to maintain a similar ACR value between frames.

With SF App, running in Normal mode and Normal (File) mode produce different File/Save dialogs when the user clicks on the 'Scan RGB' button. While in Normal (File) mode, the default file name is taken from the Frame > Name field and the user is given the choice of saving in TIFF, EPS or JPG formats. While in the Normal mode, the default file name is BatchPic1 and the file can only be saved in the tiff format.When running SF App, the Normal and Batch modes should be disabled to avoid confusion for the user since scanned images cannot be opened directly in SF App anyway.

SilverFast seems to have problems with Frame Set names or Option Parameter names which are similar and contain commas. On at least three occasions, the names I input were completely ignored until I deleted similar (not the same though) names already in the list of available sets.

QUESTIONS
1. Does this workflow seem basically correct? What could and/or should be improved/corrected?

2. How much information is lost when the HiRepp 48 Bit HDR Color files are saved in JPEG format?

3. By simply running the RAW files through SilverFast HDR as I have, am I going to get the advantages of the HiRepp technology?

4. The scan Original Dimensions can already be saved in Frame Sets. Unfortunately, Frame Sets are disabled when working with the Job Manager. When might we see Original Dimensions become an option in the Job Manager's copy dialog?

5. Could you add Tool Tips to the options available in the Job Manager's copy dialog? It's difficult to remember what each of the options actually means.

6. Could you add a preference/option to turn Tool Tips off? They can become a nuisance very quickly, especially when they tend to appear under the mouse covering the control that you want to click. As we become more familiar with the program, these Tool Tips become even more of a nuisance.


regards
Gregory

Gregory,

I have been working like this already for a very long time with Vuescans RAW files, as Ed H. sais data straight from the CCD, and absolutely uncorrected.
The results are very good and the interface of Silverfast can be used perfectly on these "48bit" files.
The only problem can be the work with the Negafix profiles, on the Nikon scanners they are slightly different.

This workflow can also give very nice results on scanners which are not supported by Silverfast, but are by v**s**n. As example Minolta Multi Pro.

On the other hand on my LS8000 this is not a speedy path, because v**s**n only uses "fine mode" on this scanner. On my LS4000 it works nicely. It even works on a Epson 2450, although here some more adjustements are needed.

I think it all depend on how RAW the data realy is in v**s**n, i know it works very good on the Nikons because Ed H. figured these babies out, much better then Lasersoft!


Regards,

Xander


Xander

I have been working like this already for a very long time with Vuescans RAW files

Xander, would you mind sending me your v**s**n Options file? I'd like to compare your settings to the ones I'm currently using if that is okay with you. I'm using the Nikon Super Coolscan 4000ED.

The only problem can be the work with the Negafix profiles, on the Nikon scanners they are slightly different.

I have been wondering about that. I have seen strange green tinges after using HDR to automatically process my RAW 48 Bit files.

HOWEVER, do the Nikon profiles come into play when using HDR?
Does HDR match the embedded profile within the RAW TIFF file (assuming there is one) before selecting a Negafix profile?

regards
Gregory

[quote]
HOWEVER, do the Nikon profiles come into play when using HDR?
[/quote]

NO!

[quote]
Does HDR match the embedded profile within the RAW TIFF file (assuming there is one) before selecting a Negafix profile?

[/quote]

NO!

The v**s**n option file is in your Mailbox!

quote]
HOWEVER, do the Nikon profiles come into play when using HDR?
[/quote]

No, they are only in the Nikon module of Silverfast.
The Nikon profiles are not completely the same as the HDR ones, so if using HDR on RAW files, on the Nikons can give some extra work, on the profiles. This will work for many film types. Although REALA and Portra will scan much better straight with v**s**n.

Does HDR match the embedded profile within the RAW TIFF file (assuming there is one) before selecting a Negafix profile?

In Negafix, or Negative mode there are no profiles, for input data.
And RAW files will not hold any profile when selecting "Device RGB" in v**s**n, as far as I know.


Regards,

Xander