Introduction

Whilst the tutorials that follow are based upon the version of SilverFast Ai and HDR supplied with the Polaroid SprintScan 4000 and 120 series film scanners they should be compatible with virtually all supported scanners.

Please note that the tutorials are aimed at SilverFast users intending to output images in the RGB format. I have not provided any information on the SilverFast configuration required for the output of CMYK images.

Frozen in Time!

I hope you find the tutorials helpful, and don't forget that LaserSoft Imaging does provide lots of information on their web site along with software Updates. Click the Logo below to visit LaserSoft Imaging and download the LATEST update!

IT-8 calibration

Tutorial 1

• This first tutorial will describe how to configure the optional SilverFast IT-8 calibration and colour management module that is now available for all versions of SilverFast. This update describes the simplified workflow and colour management configuration improvements introduced by LaserSoft following user feedback.

Optimising high-bit scans

Tutorial 2

• Many of today's scanners are designed to allow high-bit scans, however, very few have the necessary tools to ensure that these scans are as optimised as we would like. This tutorial begins describing the technique of obtaining high-bit scans from SilverFast Ai and finishes with a number of tips on image colour and tonal correction within SilverFast HDR. The colour and tone correction methods described are applicable to all versions of SilverFast, so do give them a read.

Scanning negatives

Tutorial 3

• Scanning negatives is something that many scanner software packages seem particularly poor at, or is it just that the user has difficulty comprehending the maze of options, dialogs, etc? Hopefully, after reading through one or other of these two tutorials you will find that scanning negatives with SilverFast isn't the challenge it once was. Tutorial 3 introduces the new NegaFix feature that will make the scanning of negatives nearly as easy as scanning a positive.

Tutorial 3 also includes a few tips for those wanting to use one of SilverFast's more powerful colour correction tools, 'Global Colour Correction'.

Batch scanning

Tutorial 4

• Making batch scans of negatives or slides should be a really simple task after all this is supposedly one of the main strengths of SilverFast Ai 5. Well it isn't as easy as the manuals claim, nor is it as easy as simply selecting Batch Scan mode.

This tutorial will take the reader through all the steps necessary for successful Batch Mode scanning when using SilverFast.

Using Job Manager

Tutorial 5

• Thistutorial explains the various steps involved in using the new Job-Manager feature built into SilverFast Ai for film scanners and HDR. Unlike batch scan mode Job-Manager allows the user to batch scan many images each with its own unique set of edits.

Colour Management Explained - CMS Settings

Tutorial 6

• A simple tutorial that was written to assist confused users with the concept of colour management in SilverFast especially the multitude of options available within the CMS dialog.

Grain Reduction

Tutorial 7

• A new SilverFast tutorial entitled Grain Reduction was written to help users of SilverFast better understand the potential of the 'Descreen and USM' filters in reducing the effects of grain aliasing when scanning negative type films

Basic image editing in SilverFast Ai and HDR

Tutorial 8

• Basic Image Editing in SilverFast Ai and HDR describes the means by which the darkest an lightest pixels within an image can be located and subsequently how this image can edited using only the SilverFast Levels Histogram tool

Optimising the Scanner Tone Response Curve (Gamma)

Tutorial 9

• A short tutorial written to helper SilverFast users better understand the purpose of gamma-gradation. The tutorial describes a method by which the optimum gamma-gradation value can be determined thus allowing the user to maximise the dynamic range of the scanner.