Re: BACK ON TOPIC, I THINK

I think it is rather important to consider whether you want the
Silverfast software before paying extra for the Ai version..

I've used several versions of Silverfast with several scanners (some it
came with, others I had review copies of the latest and most expensive
versions), and always ended up going back to Vuescan for my own work.
Not that Silverfast isn't good software, but that for my purposes
Vuescan gave me better results more simply, particularly scanning colour
negatives. I know many people find Silverfast extremely useful, and
suspect that if I wanted to scan material in bulk for repro without
further manipulation I might turn to it.

However for the kind of workflow I have, working on relatively small
numbers of images that are to be further manipulated in Photoshop, I
think it would be better to get the standard version of the scanner and
a copy of Vuescan Pro which at $90 with unlimited free upgrades - even
when you change your scanner (it will drive almost any scanner on the
market, from bottom to some high end models) - is a bargain. Mine cost
me rather less some years back, and is now driving its fifth scanner,
the earlier ones having been replaced by more capable models. The
single licence allows you to use it on up to 4 computers.

Regards,

Peter Marshall
petermarshall@cix.co.uk +44 (0)1784 456474
_________________________________________________________________
My London Diary http://mylondondiary.co.uk/
London's Industrial Heritage: http://petermarshallphotos.co.uk/
The Buildings of London etc: http://londonphotographs.co.uk/
and elsewhere......

Jean.Daubas wrote:

> Bob,
>
> I 've been the happy owner of a epson 4990 scanner (standard version) for
> some weeks now and I can tell you that it is a wonderful tool; until
> now, I
> mostly used it for scanning B&W negatives in all kinds of formats.
>
> The difference between the Pro version and the standard one is that in
> the
> pro, you get the complete Silverfast Ai software instead of the "SE"
> version.
>
> As Mark suggested in his previous post, just compare the "upgrade prices"
> with the cost difference between Epson 4990 Photo and Epson 4990 Pro.
> I've just copied for you the "special" Upgrade costs from the Lasersoft
> Imaging web site :
>
> ******************************************************
> Upgrade: SilverFast Bundled SE Version 6 (Epson Perfection 4990 Photo) ->
> Epson Perfection 4990 Photo
> SilverFast SE Plus (online)59
> SilverFast Ai99
> SilverFast Ai IT8198
> SilverFast Ai Studio158
> SilverFast Ai IT8 Studio257
> ***********************************************************
>
> IMPORTANT : BATCH scanning
> Unfortunately the Silverfast SE version does not allow for "batch
> scanning";
> to get this, you have to get the complete Silverfast AI which includes a
> very powerful tool called "Job Manager" — at least, it seems to be a
> good
> tool when you look at the Quick-time demonstration movie on Lasersoft web
> site....
>
> And this has been my only disappointment, because I still do a lot of
> 35 mm
> film concert and theater photography and I need an efficient and fast
> way of
> making good scans...
> Unwilling to upgrade now to the complete version, i have to use the
> [good]
> Epson Scan software included with Epson 4990 to use its very practical
> batch
> option, so that I cannot get all benefits of the more complete Silverfast
> software.
>
> As hardware, epson 4990 is really a good choice and i think that their
> film-holders in the various formats are well designed (maybe a little
> weakness for the 8x10 "thing").
>
> Hope it helps,
> Cheers from France,
>
> Jean
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: Ender100@aol.com
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 7:35 AM
> Subject: Re: BACK ON TOPIC, I THINK
>
>
> Bob,
>
> Check to see if the Pro Version is giving you the FULL version of
> Silverfast, instead of the light version that comes with the 4990 Non-Pro
> version...if so, compare the cost to upgrade the software and you have
> the
> answer to your question.
>
> Good luck!
> Mark Nelson
> Precision Digital Negatives
>
> In a message dated 9/1/05 11:46:05 AM, bobkiss@caribsurf.com writes:
>
>
>
>
> DEAR LIST,
> Well, I am (FINALLY) about to order a scanner for my 8X10 and
> 5X7 negs and the collection of glass plate negs for which I am
> curator/conservator.
> Does anyone have experience with the Epson 4990 and 4990
> “Pro”?
> Is the “Pro” worth the extra $150? The main difference seems to be the
> additional software.
> When I have an 8X10 neg scanned in order to have a file large
> enough to give me a high quality 16X20 digital neg with which to make
> PT/PD
> prints it costs me around $50 here in Barbados. At that price, 10 scans
> will pay for the scanner.
> Any suggestions regarding this would be appreciated.
> CHEERS!
>
> BOB
>
>
>
Received on Sat Sep 3 03:21:21 2005