it8 and ME Problem

[wiltifft]

The ME feature does not work properly as I get a "double" or
"ghosting" image when done. I previously requested help on this (3 months ago) but there has been no followup even after submitting a sample image.

Also, the new IT8 "automatic" calibration is a mess. The "grid" is
reversed and when a scan is done I get an error message and everything
crashes. I have done this several times and this is my fourth attempt to
report this problem.

I have submitted these problems many, many times and get no response other than receiving a support "ticket". Very discouraging but prehaps someone on the forum here can help.

Wil Tiffft

[dnobel]

Can't help you with the ME problem. This was supposedly fixed when SF ME cut back from 4X to 2X ME. I personally never had problems with either. Are you using the latest version of SF?

I have discovered a work-around for the IT8 problem which is indeed a mess for many people. The work-around process is a pain itself, but it eventually gets the job done for me. I use SF on a Mac G5 with OS 10.4.10 and a Nikon Cool Scan V film scanner:

1) If you want to save your current SF settings, remove the LaserSoft Imaging folder from [home]/Library/Preferences, ready to reinstall afterward (On a PC, try doing the equivalent for Windows OS).

2) Don't calibrate with the PhotoShop plug-in. Start SF in stand-alone mode, hold down Shift-Opt-SF, and when prompted, select "Delete Preferences."

3) When SF finishes loading, change the gamma to the setting you normally scan at. Default is 2; I scan at 2.10. DO NOT TOUCH ANY OTHER SETTINGS!

4) Insert the IT8 target in the scanner. Do NOT pre-scan now or rotate the preview window in any way. Leave the preview window in default (portrait) orientation.

5) Click on the "IT8 Calibration" icon, and complete the process, selecting the correct IT8 reference file when prompted.

6) If you are very lucky, the process will complete satisfactorily on the first try. More often than not, however, it will fail as you have described.

7) When calibration fails, you should get an error message telling you SF was unable to read the target values, and prompting you to correct the target mask position and try again. If you have been following these directions, the sampling mask should be correctly oriented (north-south-east-west) but simply misaligned. You will be able to reapply the mask by dragging it into position and then dragging the corners to correspond with the corners of the target.

8) After realigning, click "Start" again in the calibration window.

9) Repeat steps 7 & 8 until calibration is successful; it has taken me up to 5 or 6 tries. If necessary, go back and repeat from step 2.

10) When calibration completes successfully, make a note of the message SF gives you. When SF reports a Delta E of 1.0 to 1.1, I know that the generated profile should be correct (the correct range may be different on different systems, so these precise numbers may not apply to you.) With the new "automated" system, sometimes the profile is defective, and this usually reports a much different Delta E. Check to make sure that the profile you have generated is correct by pre-scanning a slide image you know well. I have found that calibration is either right on or grossly distorted, so identifying a bad profile has been easy.

11) Since the new "automated" process names and saves the profile automatically, you may now want to rename the profile you have just generated so that it isn't overwritten on the next calibration. Since I alternate scanning E6 and K3, I do this.

12) If you previously removed the LaserSoft Imaging folder from Preferences, quit SF. Return the old folder to Preferences, overwriting the new one SF generated. Restart SF as usual, either in PhotoShop or stand-alone, and start scanning.

WARNING: The above work-around works for me on my particular Mac OS X system with my Nikon Cool Scan V. On other systems, it may be a total waste of time. In any case, I am not affiliated in any way with LaserSoft tech support, and LaserSoft has not approved of this technique.

Hope this helps while we all wait for LaserSoft to fix this new "feature."

[dnobel]

Murphy's Law at work: After my detailed post of a work-around above, LaserSoft releases an new update the same day that appears to solve the IT8 problem. Hope 6.5.0r8 works as well for you as it has for me. Auto calibration is quick and simple now. Funny that they didn't document this in the version history, though.

[wiltifft]

dnobel, I thank you for your efforts to help. I have simply reinstalled the previous version of the software and was "merrily going on my way" until you alerted me to the fact that they had "updated" the software. It is interesting that this is not indicated on their home page.

As for Lasersoft I am suprised by their new tactics of not responding to request for help while trying to patch their software.

Again, thank you for the assistance.

[wiltifft]

Well, I am back again to let you know that the newer "version" does not work properly either.

I am on a PC and am using a Polaroid Sprintscan 120 and an Epson 1640XL scanner. I am usind Silverfast AI Studio With the Polaroid 120 when I attempt to calibrate there are weird colors displayed and it will then cause a "program error" in Photoshop and crash/freeze photoshop. With the Epson the "automatic" feature "takes over" and you can not even begin to align it with the target.

Needless to say I have reverted back to using ver. 6.5.or5 as it is the last one which will work properly and allow me the calibrate my scanners.

I must assume that there will be a long silence from Silverfast as I have been submitting "support requests" and have been getting ignored for the past four months. I do not mind when someone at least attempts to correct a problem but ignoring it will not make it go away and really upsets me considering what I have paid for two programs.

Would someone from Silverfast care to chime in here? We are listening...and waiting, and waiting.

[LSI_Muenier]

Dear wiltifft,

in our last update of SilverFast, we have added two checkboxes in the Option's "Auto" panel that allow you to choose
- if you want AutoIT8 or a manual procedure
- if you want to give your generated ICC profile a custom name (e.g. if you are profiling different film materials).

Best regards
Martin