LaserSoft Imaging

I wish that SF allowed real batch scanning with film scanners. The job manager method is FAR too time consuming for someone who wants to scan multiple frames without previewing anything.

I am scanning 48 bit for HDR correction, and need to scan without previewing for faster volume scanning. I am forced to scan with the polaroid software due to the inflexible batch scanning in SF.

Comments are welcome!

I haven't gotten into any depth with the job manager, but I too often (not always) want to scan multiple frames without previewing anything.

What I would really like is the option to specify which frames on a frame holder to scan (without previews). I often use negatives that have 4 frames and my holder has 6 frames so it would be nice not to have to scan the empty frames with I do a batch scan.

I suppose one approach (for those of us with Macs) would be to make SF applescript-able. I believe polaroid's software is.

you can use the job manager, control-clicking on the frames to add (multiple select shortcut command), and running the job without naming the files. You still have 1 prescan with this method, and you do have to go and rename your files in the directory they were scanned to.

this is the fastest method available. that said, it is still faster than using polascam, which is much much slower in the scanning.

I do wish one could rename the files in the overview, without previewing, and that one did not have to do a prescan at all!

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I may've missed this in the manual, if so please let me know.

I've been finding that I have the opposite problem. That the job manager does *not* preview all added frames first.

I find that this is my proceedure:

1) add frames to Job manager
2) select first frame to edit.
3) *wait for scannner*
4) make changes to frame.
5) select next frame
6) *wait for scanner*
...Scan

I would rather

1) add frames to Job manager.
2) Tell silver fast to preview all or selected frames.
3) *wait for scanner*
4) make changes to frame
5) select next frame
6) make changes to frame
7) select next frame
...Scan

Is this possible or is this for a feature request ?

It seems like you're not aware of the possibility of the "High resolution prescan". If you go to your options panel, the General tab, you'll find this High resolution prescan option. Fill in a higher multiplier (I got it set on 5x), and your first prescan will go slower, but no more time is wasted to zoom prescanning. That is really a lot better!

actually, he's right. the way JM is currently implemented, you can only preview one frame at a time and you have to wait while JM does it.

other people have also expressed that they would like batch previews in JM to save time. select some or all frames in the queue, click on the hypothetical Create/Update Preview button and go get a cup of coffee (or lunch) while JM pre-scans the selected frames.

I'd like that too. not possible yet. maybe next year...