SilverFast

Last updated
SilverFast
Developer(s) LaserSoft Imaging
Initial release1995;28 years ago (1995)
Stable release
9.0.3 / May 26, 2021;19 months ago (2021-05-26) [1]
Operating system Windows 7 and later
MacOS_High_Sierra and later
Available inMulti-lingual[ which? ]
Type Image scanning, image processing
License Commercial proprietary software
Website www.silverfast.com   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

SilverFast is the name of a family of software for image scanning and processing, including photos, documents and slides, developed by LaserSoft Imaging.

Contents

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

History

SilverFast was introduced in 1995, it is still under development today. Some scanner manufacturers bundle their hardware with SilverFast software. Some of the features developed for SilverFast, especially in the area of color management, error detection and automatic dust and scratch removal, have been patented. The European Digital Press Association named SilverFast the "Best colour management software of the year 2008" for improving the dynamic range of most scanners and for creating ICC profiles automatically. [2] In 2011 version 8 was introduced, and HDR imaging software followed in 2012. SilverFast 9 has been released in 2020.

Patents


SilverFast HDR SilverFast HDR Box.jpg
SilverFast HDR

Products

SilverFast is offered individually adjusted to the respective scanner model. If several scanners are operated, it is therefore necessary to purchase a corresponding number of additional licenses. Upgrade rates are also offered when purchasing a new scanner.

Overview of the available products:

Scanner SoftwareHDR SoftwareArchiving SoftwarePrinter SoftwarePhotoshop Plug-ins
SilverFast SESilverFast HDRSilverFast Archive Suite 1), 2)PrinTao 8SRDx Plug-in
SilverFast SE Plus 1), 2)SilverFast HDR Studio
SilverFast Ai Studio 1), 2)
SilverFast X-Ray

1) including: Multi-Exposure 2) optional: ICC Printer Calibration

Optional features

As marked in the table above, some products are available with additional features:

Multi-Exposure – Multi-Exposure is an exposure blending technique for scanning transparent originals like slides, negatives, and film strips with increased dynamic range. [3] This is accomplished by scanning the original multiple times with different exposure times, increasing the dynamic range and preserving detail in the light and shadow areas of the image. [4] Multi-Exposure does not work with reflective originals and differs from "Multi-Sampling," which also scans multiple times but with unaltered exposure.

ICC Printer Calibration – The SilverFast ICC Printer Calibration calibrates the printer using a previously calibrated flatbed scanner as the measuring device for profiling the printer.

SilverFast Scanner Software

It can be used as a stand-alone application, as a Photoshop plug-in, or as a universal TWAIN module. Versions include:

SilverFast HDR Software

SilverFast HDR is a computer program for processing 48-bit raw images. Many newer scanners are able to output the image directly with all existing data instead of breaking it down to 24-bit. This 48-bit raw image can be saved immediately and digital processing performed later.

SilverFast HDR contains the functionality of SilverFast Ai Studio for 48-bit raw data, such as defining output size and resolution, auto-adjusting of highlights and shadows, three-part histogram, gradation curves, selective color correction, unsharp masking, color cast removal slider, color separation, and CMYK-preview. SilverFast HDR can be used as a native plug-in for Adobe Photoshop, as a universal TWAIN module, or as a stand-alone application.

The HDR Studio has AACO (Auto-Adaptive Contrast Optimization), JPEG 2000, USMPlus (Unsharp Mask Plus), CloneTool and PrinTao.

HDRi (64Bit RAW data with infrared channel)

With version 6.6.1 any SilverFast HDR version supports the proprietary RAW data format HDRi. These 64-bit HDRi color files and 32-bit HDRi greyscale files contain additional 16-bit infrared RAW data besides the 48-bit color RAW data and 16-bit greyscale RAW data respectively. [7] [8] Therefore, a scanner with an infrared channel available to the software is necessary. This RAW format can keep any readable image information for later post-processing. The acronym "HDR" as used by SilverFast is not related to High-dynamic-range imaging, a widely used technique to increase the dynamic range of (digital) images.

The data format is:

FormatEncodingCompressionColor spaceColor depth
(Bit per pixel)
Dynamic range
(Dimensions of 10)
Relative
gradation
HDRi
(.tif, .tiff)
RGB (linear)none RGB 64 = 48 + 16 (infrared channel)4,80,0014%
RGB (linear)none RGB 32 = 16 + 16 (Infrared channel)4,80,0014%

SilverFast Archiving Software

The SilverFast Archive Suite includes SilverFast Ai Studio and SilverFast HDR Studio with an integrated color management system. This package is suitable for archiving slides, negatives, and photos, whereas the post processing can take place anytime after scanning. [9]

PrintTao 8

PrintTao 8 is for Canon and Epson large format printers. It can be used as a stand-alone application or as a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom.

PrinTao 8 takes over color management and all printer driver settings. It contains various printing templates like pack templates for portrait photographers or gallery wrap templates for printing on canvas.

SRDx Photoshop Plug-in

SRDx (Smart Removal of Defects) is a plug-in for Adobe Photoshop to remove defects like dust particles, specks, small scratches and finger prints from digital images.

Most dust and scratch removal tools use blur effects which degrade overall image quality. SRDx works without any unsharping effects. SRDx uses an adjustable automatic detection of dust and scratches that can be fine-tuned manually using a defect marker and a rubber tool.

SilverFast DC

SilverFast DC has been discontinued. SilverFast DC was a stand-alone software for digital camera image processing. It contained features for reading the image data from the camera, for processing, optimizing, and archiving the images on the computer, as well as for printing the edited images.

IT8 calibration & color management

IT8.7/1 target by LaserSoft Imaging IT8target.jpg
IT8.7/1 target by LaserSoft Imaging

Scanner calibration: SilverFast is equipped with a color management system that enables largely automated IT8 color calibration of the scanner using IT8 targets supplied by the manufacturer LaserSoft Imaging.

Printer calibration: SilverFast also enables printer calibration by printing a color table and then scanning it using an already calibrated scanner to create an ICC profile.

Supported devices

SilverFast supports 325 scanners. [11] Most Microsoft Windows-only 35mm USB scanners sold under various names are not supported[ citation needed ]. Each scanner model requires a separate license.

Heidelberg drum scanner

SilverFast Ai Studio supports prepress drum scanners made by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Linotype - Hell) on Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7, as well as Mac OS X 10.3-10.5 operating systems. Supported models include the Chromagraph 3300/3400, Tango/XL, Topaz, Nexscan, and Primescan.

See also

Software supporting many scanner models:

Related Research Articles

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In computer graphics and digital photography, a raster graphic represents a two-dimensional picture as a rectangular matrix or grid of square pixels, viewable via a computer display, paper, or other display medium. A raster is technically characterized by the width and height of the image in pixels and by the number of bits per pixel. Raster images are stored in image files with varying dissemination, production, generation, and acquisition formats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multi-exposure HDR capture</span> Technique to capture HDR images and videos

In photography and videography, multi-exposure HDR capture is a technique that creates extended or high dynamic range (HDR) images by taking and combining multiple exposures of the same subject matter at different exposure levels. Combining multiple images in this way results in an image with a greater dynamic range than what would be possible by taking one single image. The technique can also be used to capture video by taking and combining multiple exposures for each frame of the video. The term "HDR" is used frequently to refer to the process of creating HDR images from multiple exposures. Many smartphones have an automated HDR feature that relies on computational imaging techniques to capture and combine multiple exposures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Image scanner</span> Device that optically scans images, printed text

An image scanner—often abbreviated to just scanner—is a device that optically scans images, printed text, handwriting or an object and converts it to a digital image. Commonly used in offices are variations of the desktop flatbed scanner where the document is placed on a glass window for scanning. Hand-held scanners, where the device is moved by hand, have evolved from text scanning "wands" to 3D scanners used for industrial design, reverse engineering, test and measurement, orthotics, gaming and other applications. Mechanically driven scanners that move the document are typically used for large-format documents, where a flatbed design would be impractical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preview (macOS)</span> Image and PDF viewer software by Apple

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multiple exposure</span> Superimposition of two or more exposures to create a single image

In photography and cinematography, a multiple exposure is the superimposition of two or more exposures to create a single image, and double exposure has a corresponding meaning in respect of two images. The exposure values may or may not be identical to each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Film scanner</span> Device for scanning photographic film

A film scanner is a device made for scanning photographic film directly into a computer without the use of any intermediate printmaking. It provides several benefits over using a flatbed scanner to scan in a print of any size: the photographer has direct control over cropping and aspect ratio from the original, unmolested image on film; and many film scanners have special software or hardware that removes scratches and film grain and improves color reproduction from film.

Digital "darkroom" is the hardware, software and techniques used in digital photography that replace the darkroom equivalents, such as enlarging, cropping, dodging and burning, as well as processes that don't have a film equivalent.

A camera raw image file contains unprocessed or minimally processed data from the image sensor of either a digital camera, a motion picture film scanner, or other image scanner. Raw files are named so because they are not yet processed and therefore are not ready to be printed, viewed or edited with a bitmap graphics editor. Normally, the image is processed by a raw converter in a wide-gamut internal color space where precise adjustments can be made before conversion to a viewable file format such as JPEG or PNG for storage, printing, or further manipulation. There are dozens of raw formats in use by different manufacturers of digital image capture equipment.

The aim of color calibration is to measure and/or adjust the color response of a device to a known state. In International Color Consortium (ICC) terms, this is the basis for an additional color characterization of the device and later profiling. In non-ICC workflows, calibration refers sometimes to establishing a known relationship to a standard color space in one go. The device that is to be calibrated is sometimes known as a calibration source; the color space that serves as a standard is sometimes known as a calibration target. Color calibration is a requirement for all devices taking an active part of a color-managed workflow, and is used by many industries, such as television production, gaming, photography, engineering, chemistry, medicine and more.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linux color management</span> Controlled color representations on Linux operating system

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helicon Filter</span> Editing software for Microsoft Windows

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Windows Color System (WCS) is a platform for color management, first included with Windows Vista, that aims to achieve color consistency across various software and hardware, including cameras, monitors, printers and scanners. Different devices interpret the same colors differently, according to their software and hardware configurations. As a result, they must be properly calibrated to reproduce colors consistently across different devices. WCS aims to make this process of color calibration automatic and transparent, as an evolution of ICC profiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaserSoft Imaging</span>

LaserSoft Imaging AG is a software developer designing software such as SilverFast for scanners and large format printers. The company's headquarters are located in Kiel, Germany, 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Hamburg, and another office in Sarasota, Florida, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HDR PhotoStudio</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exposure fusion</span>

In image processing, computer graphics, and photography, exposure fusion is a technique for blending multiple exposures of the same scene (bracketing) into a single image. As in high dynamic range imaging, the goal is to capture a scene with a higher dynamic range than the camera is capable of capturing with a single exposure.

Aurora HDR is photographic software developed by Skylum Software for Mac OS X and Windows. It attempted to create a powerful, simple yet fast HDR photo editing software.

References

  1. Version History
  2. Awards: History by brands: LASERSOFT Archived 2011-07-10 at the Wayback Machine , European Digital Press Association, retrieved December 26, 2010.
  3. Test Report: SilverFast Multiexposure and Scanner Dynamic Range by Dietmar Wueller, Image Engineering, February 5, 2007, retrieved December 26, 2010 (pdf)
  4. Patrick Wagner, Which kind of quality increase does MultiExposure provide?, FAQ, Scan Software Silverfast, filmscanner.info/ScanDig, retrieved December 26, 2010.
  5. Sally Wiener Grotta and Daniel Grotta, "With SilverFast SE, your scans look more like the originals," Macworld August 25, 2009, reprinted from PC World .
  6. Patrick Wagner, Software test report SilverFast HDR by filmscanner.info/ScanDig, retrieved December 26, 2010.
  7. it-enquierer.com: Article on HRDi and iSRD
  8. silverfast.com: HDRi - 64bit RAW data including infrared channel
  9. Archive Suite Test Report by photographer John Barclay, May 6, 2010, retrieved December 26, 2010.
  10. New ISO Standard for Scanner Calibration press release on pr.com
  11. Products supported by SilverFast, LaserSoft Imaging

Further reading