LaserSoft Imaging

Hi All:

I am new to this forum, but not new to Silverfast; I've been using Ai scanning software for a little over 4 years now. However, the subject of interest today is DCPro and I'm hoping someone can help me out with the following questions:

1. There seems to be three different DC products--DCPro, DCVLT and DCSE. I cannot find any type of comparison chart on Lasersoft's website; what are the differences?

2. According to Lasersoft's website, DCPro comes bundled with IT-8 calibration. I've calibrated my scanner for years, how does one calibrate a digital camera? And, is it this calibration funtionality that enables one to profile a camera not already profiled within the software? For example, the Canon 10D is marked in green on Lasersoft's camera support list which, according to them, means that this model has been optimized for raw workflow. However, the Olympus E-10 has not been optimized.

3. I noticed there seems to be an "upgrade" available for current owners of Ai. Is this simply a discounted price offered to current Lasersoft customers?

4. Currently, I use Phase One's Capture One software for conversions of all my Canon 10D raw files. However, after playing around for about 1/2 day with DCPro I'm finding that I can get much closer to an actual final image even before bringing into Photoshop. I'm sure that my years of experience with Ai doesn't hurt here...does anyone else have direct experience with both C1 and DCPro? I spent quite a bit already on C1, but if DCPro will yield higher image quality I'm there!

Thanks to all for anyone help provided.

Regards,
Alan

Dear Alan

thank you for your interest in LaserSoft Imaging's software products.

The DCSE variant - for now - only exists for the Leica Digilux 2 and comes bundled with the camera.

The DC-VLT is an extended version of the former DC (no longer sold). The most palpable extension perhaps is the VLT (virtual light table).
DC Pro and HDR offer this feature aimed at professional photographers.

Furthermore, DC Pro supports raw format conversion for lots of cameras.
You can check this list if your camera(s) are support:
https://www.silverfast.com/show/dc-cameras-raw/en.html

For further information on the DC-VLT, you might want to investigate the highlights of it at:
https://www.silverfast.com/show/silverfa ... lt/en.html

The highlights of DC Pro are presented at:
https://www.silverfast.com/show/silverfa ... ts/en.html


To calibrate are camera is not possible in the same way as you calibrate a scanner. The main factor is that the lighting situation constantly changes.
However, for a relatively "stable" situation you can photograph the target, then take the pictures you want to. Lateron, you can calibrate the given lighting situation with the photographed target und use this information on your images.

SilverFast is about to improve the calibration process to enhance yet again the image quality of the DC Pro, and to pay tribute to the subtle, but substantial differences between CCD image aquisition from a scanner source and from a digital camera source.

Finally, calibration and raw format conversion are a different pairs of shoes. The optimized raw profile does account for the fact that while there are only a couple of actual raw files formats, the digital cameras themselves have some fundamential qualities which can be considered in the conversion process.


Yes, such a discount is available for SilverFast 6 Ai users. Please don't hesitate to ask our sales department about it.

Kind regards
Sonny Noack
- tech support, LSI -

Hi Sonny,

Thanks for the quick reply.

One other question occurred to me: How quickly will LaserSoft add new optimized camera profiles to DCPro? For example, for the new Canon 20D and 1Ds Mark II just announced at Photokina?

Thanks, again.

Dear dryheat51

thank you for your interest in LaserSoft Imaging's software products.
As soon as possible, of course...

Best regards
Sonny