SilverFast

SilverFast is software for scanning and image processing, which has been developed since 1994 by the German company LaserSoft Imaging AG. Main focus is on the development of a scanner software for digitizing analog video material such as photos, slides, documents and the like.

There are other applications for image processing using digital cameras or printers and for the 48 -bit raw image processing.

  • HDRi 2.3.1 (64 -bit raw data format with infrared channel )

History

SilverFast is developed and distributed since 1994 by LaserSoft Imaging. The first version was presented in 1995 at the CeBIT in Hanover. Worldwide distribution found the software including by bundling products with scanners from different manufacturers. Some of the developed for SilverFast features, especially in the field of color management, in the error detection system and automatic dust and scratch removal, were patented. 2008 software for increase the density range was awarded " Best Color Management Software of the Year 2008" by the European Digital Press Association for many scanner models. The latest version 8 scanning software is available since August 2011, the HDR image editing software of the same version since 2012.

Product spectrum

SilverFast is offered individually tailored to the specific scanner model. Operating more than one scanner hence the purchase of a number of additional licenses is necessary for purchasing a new scanner also upgrade fares may be available. The license fees are from the scanner dependent and are based on the purchase price of the unit.

Overview of the available products:

Optional: 1) Multi-Exposure, 2) ICC Printer Calibration, 3) PhotoProof, 4) Color Server

Of all the products, the manufacturer offers demo versions.

SilverFast SE / Ai ( scanner software )

SilverFast is software for scanning and image editing photos, documents, slides and the like. It can be used as a stand- alone application, as a Photoshop plug- in or as universal TWAIN Module. The following product variants are available:

  • SilverFast SE: for beginners
  • SilverFast SE Plus with Multi-Exposure
  • SilverFast Ai: Advanced
  • SilverFast Ai IT8: with IT8 target for ICC profiling
  • SilverFast Ai Studio: Expert
  • SilverFast Ai IT8 Studio: with IT8 target for ICC profiling

The software allows the adjustment of many settings, with special operators of certain scanners such as dust and scratch detection and removal or batch processing are supported. The often extensive configuration settings can be saved for later reuse. Automatic controls and ScanPilot (a kind of step - by-step help that guides you through the entire scanning process ) facilitate incorporation.

SilverFast for Heidelberg (high-end drum scanner)

"SilverFast Ai Studio " for the drum scanner of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Linotype - Hell ) is a solution to these scanners usually used in the field of professional pre-press ( Chromagraph 3300/3400, Tango / XL, Topaz, Nexscan, and Primescan ) also to use under current versions of operating systems Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.

SilverFast X - Ray

SilverFast X - Ray is a variant of SilverFast Ai specifically for the digitization of X-ray films, suitable for scientific and medical radiographs.

SilverFast DC (digital camera software)

"SilverFast DC " is a software for editing and managing images of digital cameras. It includes features such as reading the image data from the camera, editing, optimizing and archiving the images on the computer as well as the print edition of the finished images.

  • SilverFast DC SE: for beginners
  • SilverFast DC Pro: Advanced
  • SilverFast DC Pro Studio: Expert
  • SilverFast DC VLT: the virtual light table

The virtual light table contained in all DC versions allows you to organize digital photos, manage and further processing. It can create photo archives, images with comments, create albums, created contact sheets of the complete surface or single images are printed in high resolution and variable size here.

SilverFast DC Pro has the functionality of scan software SilverFast Ai for digital photos. In addition to standard formats, untreated raw images are supported. This product supports the Adobe DNG format, and raw data formats of several camera manufacturers. For many camera models, the software includes ready-made, specially adapted profiles. Using a supplied IT8 targets can be an individual ICC profile for each camera are self made ​​.

SilverFast DC Pro Studio includes additional features such as automatic contrast enhancement AACO, JPEG 2000 format support, unsharp masking USMPlus, the Stamp tool Clone tool and the order text and layout features advanced PrinTao module.

SilverFast HDR (48 -bit image editing software )

SilverFast HDR (High Dynamic Range ) is a software for image processing of 48 -bit raw images. Rather than edit down to 24 bits when scanning images, it is many newer scanners possible to directly output the image with all available information, ie it can be stored as 48 -bit raw image and then digitally processed.

  • SilverFast HDR
  • SilverFast HDR IT8: with IT8 target for ICC profiling
  • SilverFast HDR Studio: with additional functions

SilverFast HDR has the functionalities of the scan software SilverFast Ai for 48 -bit raw data, such as the determination of the output size, automatic image, Histogram, Curves, Selective Color Correction, Unsharp masking, color separation, CMYK - Preview among other things. SilverFast HDR can be used as native plugin for Adobe Photoshop be used as universal TWAIN module or as SilverFast stand-alone application.

The HDR Studio version provides more features, such as, inter alia, Automatic contrast optimization AACO, JPEG 2000, camera raw conversion, unsharp masking USMPlus, PrinTao, and a stamp tool.

HDRi (64 -bit raw data format with infrared channel )

As of version 6.6.1, each SilverFast HDR version supports raw file format HDRi. These 64 -bit HDRi color files, and 32 -bit HDRi greyscale files contain not only the 48 -bit raw color data, or 16 - bit grayscale raw data, an additional 16 -bit infrared raw data can be detected by special scanners as a fourth channel. The HDRi format so contains all readable image information as raw data, and allows the re-use at a later date. A main purpose of this information is the subsequent correction of dust and scratches on the template.

SilverFast Archive Suite (archiving software)

Under the name of "SilverFast Archive Suite " the two programs SilverFast Ai IT8 Studio and are SilverFast HDR Studio offered bundled with a built-in color management system. The product package is suitable mainly for archiving of slides, negatives and reflective originals, with the possibility of manipulating the picture after scanning.

  • SilverFast Archive Suite SE: consisting of SilverFast SE Plus and SilverFast HDR
  • SilverFast Archive Suite: consisting of SilverFast Ai IT8 and SilverFast HDR Studio and IT8 calibration targets

SilverFast PrintTao (printer software)

PrinTao is software for printing images and documents. By using templates ( "templates" ) the work is facilitated by the number of similar, repetitive processing steps is reduced. It contains a number of predefined templates, which can be supplemented by the user with specially designed.

Some other skills:

  • Positioning of pictures automatically or manually in grids and auxiliary lines
  • Scaling, mirroring, rotation, cropping of images
  • Adding text to an image or
  • Inserting copyright information
  • Adding IPTC or EXIF meta data

The PrinTao module is already included in the SilverFast Ai / DC / HDR Studio versions.

Optional Features

Some product variants are equipped with additional functions. Variants with Multi-Exposure allow a repeated scan the same document, to increase the density range of the scan result. With the ICC Printer Calibration Printer by means of a scanner and a IT8 targets can be calibrated. PhotoProof used to color and legally binding processing of images from digital cameras, which also color-accurate contract proofs on a calibrated printer, or a soft proof can be output on the screen. Color Server enables automatic color conversion, scaling, sharpening, color separation and optimization of image data in 48 -bit color space. The data can be saved as high- dynamic-range data in the JPEG 2000.

Color Management

SilverFast is equipped with a color management system that enables a largely automated calibration of scanners by means of delivered by the manufacturer IT8 targets. In addition, some program versions support the calibration of printers by a color chart is printed on these and in turn be read on a pre- calibrated scanner and analyzed.

Standalone software Image scanner#Drum Digital Negative Monitor proofing
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