LaserSoft Imaging

I just upgraded to Ai Studio and now there are more buttons for functions I have not tried yet. The button for multi sampling still says, on its popup tip, that it is for multi scanning.

Is this function actually going to multi sample? That is why I upgraded.

An unrelated question: when I click on help (?) or the Q for Quicktime I get an error message. What files are these functions looking for and where should they be? I have downloaded some of your movies and maybe I have your help function too but in the wrong place on my computer.

Thanks

Well, multi sampling and multi scanning do mean the same thing: SilverFast will perform several scans of the same image and will average them together into one image.
See: http://www.silverfast.com/show/silverfast-multisampling/en.html

Regards
Ralf

So what is the difference between the multi sampling in AI vs. Ai Studio?

Thanks

A quote from the web site I gave you the link to:

There is a problem associated with this process: Every scan might not exactly be in the same position with reference to each other, so normal averaging would blur the resultant Multisampling scan. That is why LaserSoft Imaging had to develop an intelligent auto-alignment, so no blurring effect can occur.

This auto-alignment is new. The old MultiSampling will actually result in blurred images if the scanner does not position accurately enough (which is true for most of the scanners).

Regards
Ralf

dear mr. magnussen,

you write:

"This auto-alignment is new. The old MultiSampling will actually result in blurred images if the scanner does not position accurately enough (which is true for most of the scanners)."

but is this true for the Microtek 120tf? i am already ablr to multisample with my silverfast ai 6 on this film scanner. am i in need of burr correction?

thank you.

sincerely,

mark

Dear MicroSF6,

AFAIK the Microtek 120tf does perform Multisampling in hardware (you should see only one scan happen instead of n scans), so you do not need the changes we made to our MultiSampling done in software.

Best regards
Ralf

dear magnussen,

thank you for your reply. could you please clarify for me what you mean when you say that i should see only one scan, ad not n scans? i can tell you that it is true that only one image (only one file) results from a multsampling scan, regardles of whether i choose 1x or 4x or 8x or 16x multisampling. but 4x mode seems to take 4 times as long (and to make 4 times as many passes) as does 1x mode; 8x seems to take twice as long (and make twice as many passes) as does 4x mode; and so on. indeed, a status window keeps track of progress and indicates, for example something like "multisample number 7 out of 8 now in progress" if i have chosen 8x mode.

is this consistent with your meaning? do you still think that my system of hardware/software would gain no multisampling advantage from upgrading to Ai studio? could you check on this with other experts like yourself at silverfast, rather than just report to me "AFAIK"? i would like to be sure about getting the best scans i can with this scanner. i worry that my system's multisampling might be averaging the results of the multiple passes without actually performing the automatic image registration that Ai studio uses to prevent blurring. not because i see blurring, but rather because i do not know what to look for. thank you for your help.

sincerely,

mark

Dear mark,

your observations indicate, that the Multisampling is performed in software. When it would be done in hardware, only one scan would be done (in one pass), that does take longer depending on the multisampling factor.
I just confirmed, that the 120tf should support Multisampling in hardware, at least with the latest firmware (we tested 1.60). To see which firmware you have start up SilverFast with CTRL key pressed - this will generate our SF_Logfile.txt on the Desktop. In that file you should be able to find the firmware version of your scanner. If it is older, you should ask Microtek, if they do provide a firmware upgrade for your scanner.
Otherwise (with your current firmware) our new Multisampling with auto-alignment should be better than the old one.

Best regards
Ralf

dear ralf,

thank you very much for checking. i did generate an SF LogFile, and it confirmed that my 120tf is running firmware version 1.60, and i do remember updating to that version earlier this year. furthermore, i see on the microtek web site that these words appear:

"In addition, the 120tf offers multiple sampling, in which each scanned line is sampled in frequencies of 2, 4, 8, or 16 to minimize signal fluctuation and artifacts."

so it sounds as if the 120tf does, as you put it, "support Multisampling in hardware." but how do i know if it is actually PERFORMING this each-line multisampling in hardware? how can i confirm this?

does it sound to you as if there is no advantage for me in upgrading to the AI studio type of multisampling?

thank you very much.

sincerely,

mark woods

dear ralf,

i fear that the hardware multisampling that microtek boasts about on their web site might only work when i am using their native microtek scanwizardpro software, but not when i am using silverfast. is this possible? is it possible that when i use the scanwizard pro software my multisampling is line by line in the hardware, but that when i use silverfast ai, my multisampling is scan-after-complete-scan in the software?

thank you,

mark

Dear Mark,

one of my colleagues just tried it with our 120tf and firmware 1.60 and it DID perform the Multisampling in hardware with SilverFast, so we do support it.
When the Multisampling is done in hardware you should only see one pass for your scan and not e.g. 8 passes (8 single scans, where a status window keeps track of progress and indicates for example something like "multisample number 7 out of 8 now in progress" as you said it).
If you see multiple passes, I have no clue why, as it does work in one pass with our scanner.

Best regards
Ralf

dear ralf,

thank you very much for all your help and research. you have looked into this very deeply for me. i am now contacting microtek to see if they have an explanation!

sincerely,

mark