LaserSoft Imaging

I have a few questions about Silverfast functionality on Minolta DiMage Scan Elite 5400 I. I tried Silverfast in past, but it didn't behave properly with my scanner, like original Minolta software. Does current version fix these issues?

1. Does multiexposure <b>scan multiple times in one-pass</b> like the original Minolta software? Or does it reposition the frame back to the beginning for each pass? I am worried about frame alignment from moving the film holder. With the original Minolta software, it did multi-exposure in one pass of moving the film holder!

2. Is <b>Digital ICE</b> supported correctly? Does Silverfast use the infrared channel of the scanner?

I tried competing software v**s**n, but it does not appear to use Digital ICE correctly. It appears to use software algorithm to clean image.

3. Has the <b>motor stepping issue</b> been resolved when <b>focusing</b>? Does it do a <b>two-pass focus</b>? First a <b>coarse</b> focus, then a <b>fine</b> focus like the original Minolta software?

4. <b>IT8 Targets</b>- Most of my slides are <b>Kodachrome</b>. Will the Ektachrome target be okay to use, or do I need a specific Kodachrome target?

Multi-exposure and multi-sample are two different methods. In the case of multi-sample, it is done in one pass in both software packages. What it does is take 1,2,4,8 or 16 samples to generate the output and can be very time consuming. The improvement in the dense portions of the negative improve sightly with each level - and - it takes a very long time!

Multi-exposure is different in that the scan comprised of two different levels of exposure to reduce the level of noise in the dense portion of the film. In the case of Kodachrome (we all underexposed because the image was to be projected) the improvement is remarkable.

Other issues such as ICE and such are are fully covered in Silverfast. The most notable improvements over the Minolta software is colour quality.

I own and use the original 5400 and bought Silverfast within weeks of receiving it and have never looked back!

thanks for your comments. I am trying the newest version out. I will probably order the Silverfast with IT8 target.