LaserSoft Imaging

Keywords: Job Manager, JobManager, JM Window, image overview, preview window, adding all frames, filmstrips, processing mode.

Platform: OS X Panther 10.3.4[/b]

Question: Using the SilverFast JobManager with Silverfast AI 6.2.0r8, I am experiencing functionality problems while using the JobManager function. Following the procedure in the manual to produce a JobManager job entry does not seem to work as written. The image overview is created (I'm scanning 4 images in a filmstrip) and the frames in question can be added to the JM window using "Command Click" and the "Add" button.

The problem is that when you click the edit button for each image that is displayed in the JobManager window, the image does NOT display in the preview window. None of the 4 images added from the image overview window can be displayed in the preview pane window by selecting the image in JM and clicking the edit (pencil icon) button. On page 287 of the manual, the 2nd paragraph, it states that "By changing the processing mode, the selected image is automatically loaded from the scanner to the preview window, meaning that a preview scan will be produced."

What does this actually mean? Is a preview scan initiated at this point, that is, when the edit button for a particular image is clicked? Does this mean that the preview scan is supposed to be made at that time? Or, are all of the preview scans for the image overview created when the filmstrip is first scanned? Either way, it appears that this function isn't working properly, as neither scenario that I mentioned above works.

However, when a single image is added to the JobManager from a filmstrip, the edit function works ok. You are able to use all adjustment tools; however, the prescan is made at the time of edit.

Am I correct in assuming that the image overview should produce 4 prescans when the image overview is first initiated? If not, I don't see any time saving gained by using JobManager ...

What am I missing or doing wrong? How can I get the JobManager function to recognize the image overview scans so they display in the preview pane?

Dear mkw

thank you for the detailed, professional request

You hit the right spot - the description of the process in the manual is outdated. The software was altered in the meantime and this change is not yet reflected, but of course will be in the not to far future.

Also, we already plan to save multiple previews to speed up editing jobs like this one. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to stress the need of implementing such a feature next time I talk to the development department.

I am having the same problem and am wondering if this has been fixed. Following Ian Lyon's job manager tutorial, I am able to select various images from the overview and enter them into Job Manager, but when I select the first (or any) image and activate the edit mode, I get no preview, no prescan is done. It seems as if this issue should have been corrected; Mr. Lyons' tutorial states "Once the image is selected and the 'Edit' button clicked, the image will be pre-scanned into the main SilverFast Prescan window." Doesn't happen, and I'm wondering what I might do to fix this.

I've got a Nikon SuperCoolscan8000, I'm running Windows XP, and I just updated my new SilverFast software (purchased in January 2005) so that I'm now running version 6.4.1r3 (Windows).

Thanks for your help.

Dear Tess

if you want to have prescans being displayed in the preview window while working with the JobManager, please enter the edit mode of the JobManager and press the [Prescan] button on the main dialogue window.

Please note that while working in the edit mode of the JM, switch to another image which also has already been prescanned will automatically let SilverFast display that prescan in the preview window.

Kind regards
Sonny Noack
- tech support, LSI AG -

Hello LaserSoft, I just started to use Job Manager with Ai Studio, and looked forward to making my process more efficient. Job Manager, as it is now, still helps a lot, but the missing preview directly from the Job Manager is a pity.

Allow me to outline my dream work process:
1) I start the Job Manager, go to Overview and start a prescan of 100 slides (Reflecta DigitDia 4000 with CS magazine). While this is going on I can eat dinner and say hello to my wife.
2) Later, I sit down with the images. I can pick out those I want, and set up all the corrections they will need -without waiting for prescans, since I already have those. This takes a few minutes per good slide, say up to one hour.
3) I start the full scanning process with 4-times multiple scan at 3600dpi. In the meantime I go to bed!
4) The next morning everything is ready.

But... sadly, it does not work. Step 2) takes too long because I have to wait for a prescan of each slide. This takes about 30 seconds, which is 50 minutes (+ delays), effectively doubling the time. I cannot sit for two hours at the computer, so I don't get the job done.

In my case, it is therefore not so much a question of using a little more or less time. I could have had a great product that is extremely useful to me, and gives me maximum effect from my scanner. Instead, I am almost there, but not quite; and suddenly it takes several days (I don't have every evening free) to do the scanning. Often I skip the manual correction process and either run calibrated or Auto, but then quality suffers.

So please, please keep the preview scans from Overview and reuse them in the Edit mode of the Job Manager. Perhaps they do not have the same resolution and quality as a "real" prescan, but it is still much better than nothing. I think it will make your product much more usable for high-volume, high-quality work.

Best regards,
Marek, Oslo, Norway

hallo lasersoft,

i am having the same problems as marek.is the a chance to solve it.
or to communicate in german ?
greetings
tobi

It seems that the "dream" process as outlined above is still not implemented. What a shame - it would save TONS of time. Maybe this would be a good moment to speak to the development department again? ;-)


> Also, we already plan to save multiple previews to speed up editing jobs like this one. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to stress the need of implementing such a feature next time I talk to the development department.

I wonder if LSI_Noack could please give us an update on whether this has finally been implemented?

> Also, we already plan to save multiple previews to speed up editing jobs like this one. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to stress the need of implementing such a feature next time I talk to the development department.[/quote]