LaserSoft Imaging

hi.

why in r9 do we now have the ability to turn off HiRepp? what's the advantage?

regards,
Gregory

Dear Gregory,

well, some customers did complain, that their thirdparty software (which they use to post process the images scanned with SilverFast) has problems to deal with the additional info that gets embedded into the TIFF file when HiRePP is enabled. To make them happy we added that option
If you post process your images with SilverFast HDR, I wouldn't deactivate HiRePP.

Best regards
Ralf

I understand. I have the same problem with JPEG2000.

SF uses an advanced format of JPEG2000 and other than Photoshop (which I don't have), very few graphic apps can open SF jpeg2000 files. consequently, I have to stay away from JPEG2000.

regards,
Gregory

Dear Gregory,

what sort of problems do you have with JPEG2000?
The OS X Preview application can open our JPEG2000 images (but only 8 Bit images and not 16 Bit images; same problem with 16 Bit images written by Photoshop) and e.g. GraphicConverter, too. Which applications do you refer to?

Best regards
Ralf

hi. it's not a complaint, just a point of fact.

I was waiting for jpeg2000 because it would allow me to write a whole roll of film HDR and JPEG A4 images to one DVD disc. unfortunately, SF is the only app that can read the HDR jpeg2000 lossless format.

A. I use SF for *all* of my photo touchup needs ;-)
B. I use GraphicConverter to browse folders or make simple edits/crops.
C. I use OS X Viewer only to view screen and print versions of my photos; sometimes to view the tif versions created by Digital Photo Professional because SF HDR Studio doesn't read my Canon 350D RAW format yet ;-)

there's not much you can do. it's more a problem with other vendors who aren't supporting the advanced version of jpeg2000. there's probably not enough demand for it which worries me. if I save my HDRs in jpeg2000, it's quite possible that in 10 years, there won't be any applications left to support the format and open my HDRs. not good!!

Dear Gregory,

what do you mean with "advanced version of JPEG2000"? Do you refer to the fact, that our JPEG2000 files do get the extension ".jpf"?
That doesn't necessaryly mean a different format/version. In fact you can rename our files to ".jp2" and you can still open them (in fact you HAVE to do that to let OS X Viewer recognize and open the file).
So if it's just an extension problem: we could add an option to use jp2 instead...
By the way: I think that JPEG2000 will become more popular because of its advantages.

Best regards
Ralf

dear Ralf,

there are various "jpeg 2000 part 2 extensions" for jpeg2000. SF uses some of the advanced part 2 extensions. Preview and GraphicConverter cannot read them.

I just this minute loaded a 48-bit tif and created four files:
1. 48bit HDR jpeg2000 lossless
2. 48bit HDR jpeg2000 lossy 80% Quality
1. 24bit HDR jpeg2000 lossless
2. 24bit HDR jpeg2000 lossy 80% Quality

with the .jpf extension, neither GC nor Preview were able to view the contents of the files correctly.

with the .jp2 extension, GC crashed while trying to open the files. Preview still failed to view the contents correctly.

I researched jpeg2000 a long time ago with regard to this problem. I also asked GC's developer to look into the jp2 problem. SF's advanced options are not compatible with many of today's programs. adding a jp2 file name extension option will not solve the problem.

for more info, take a look at <http://www.jpeg.org/public/15444-2annexm.pdf> and <http://www.jpeg.org/public/15444-2annexn.pdf>.

note. it's not a problem with SF. it's a problem with other applications that don't support the advanced options of jpeg2000.

regards,
Gregory

Dear Gregory,

I think you are wrong.
I just tried it on my own and the following was true for me:

The 48 Bit images CAN be opened by GraphicConverter (at least with the latest version 5.6.2) even with .jpf extension, but not by OS X Preview (seems to be a general problem with 48 Bit images, not just ours).
The 24 Bit images can be opened by GraphicConverter AND OS X Preview (Preview only if the extension is changed to .jp2).

Maybe you should reevaluate JPEG2000.

Best regards
Ralf

Dear Ralf,

which SF software did you use?
what was your source image file? 48-bit? tif? how large?
what did you save as? colorsync profile embedded?

regards,
Gregory

Dear Ralf,

just checked the GC site. 5.6.2 included the following updates:
= PEG2000 import and export much improved
= (speed, icc support, iptc support)

the icc support is one of the JPEG2000 Part Extensions which is why GC couldn't open SF's JPEG2000 files before v5.6.2. I'll download the update tonight and run a few quick tests ;-)

I still cannot open any of my JPEG2000 images with Preview though. which version are you using? 10.3.9 or 10.4.1? I'm using 10.3.9.

have you tried opening the JPEG2000 images with iPhoto?

regards,
Gregory

Dear Gregory,

my source image file was a 48 Bit TIFF file of 40 MB, compressed with lossless JPEG2000 and with a profile embedded. I used the latest SilverFast version 641r8.

Best regards
Ralf