Silverfast 8 on Epson V750 Pro

[wjmva]

I have hit a brick wall.

I am able to use Epson scanning software and Silverfast 6 to scan 4x5 BW negatives so I don't suspect my computer or V750 Pro.

Here is the problem: Silverfast 8 does a prescan without problems but will not do a scan. Silverfast8 reports a scanner error and Windows reports that a generic host process for Win 32 has encountered a problem and needs to close.

I have been trying to figure out which of the many things I am probably doing wrong is causing this problem.

I am running XP Pro SP3 32bit and the Silverfast8 for 32bit. The Silverfast8 was originally downloaded in August and a new version on September 18th both will prescam but not scan.

I realize Silvfast8 has just been released and may have some growing pains but is anyone else having this same problem?

[Francisco Disilvestro]

I have had similar problems trying the Demo version. I have a similar configuration (XP Pro SP3 32 bits and SF8 32 bits).

After several tests, I found that I my issues were related to the image size.

For medium format color, 6x6, I could not go over 1800 dpi if using iSRD or above 3600 dpi without iSRD. If I cropped to a small frame then no problem, so it was not an issue of dpi but total size.

At what resolution are you scanning? If you are using LF, like 4 x 5", then try a low resolution like 600 dpi

Other options (to test if you could get a scan):

-Turn iSRD off
-Scan in the 48 bit HDR mode, this way it only scans and save without any processing.

I wrote Silverfast support about this, but I haven´t received an answer yet.

[wjmva]

Thanks for the input. I have not received a reply from software support either.

[toyotadesigner]

Try VueScan! Don't waste your time with Silverfast...

[Jehu]

Try VueScan! Don't waste your time with Silverfast...

After seeing your post, I downloaded the trial version. It seems much easier to use than the Silverfast that I've been using. I like the user interface much better.

I just have a question. Apparently, this software comes with drivers. The installation process gives the option but I declined. Now it's using V700 (previously installed driver). I have a V750. Am I losing anything here? Should I uninstall existing drivers and reinstall?

(please excuse the thread-jack)

[toyotadesigner]

Jeho, AFAIK the V700 and V750 are identical in the scanner data. The only difference is the software package (Monaco and Silverfast).

However, Ed Hamrick has some information about the installation for Epson V700 and V750 scanners here (identical procedure):

http://www.hamrick.com/vuescan/epson_perfection_v750.html

[Scanner01]

Hi wjmva,
Hi Francisco,

Which resolution are you using? are you using a scale factor?
I believe I have seen such messages but it appear after the end file size goes over 4 GB (which in my opinion is a huge file).

Try going a little below 3,8 GB on the resulting file

Regards

Alex

[wjmva]

My files were below 200 megs.
This software could be a real joy but in my opinion it needs to mature.
As a result of this discussion I am using Vuescan and my problems have gone away.

[toyotadesigner]

Hi wjmva, good to hear! Glad I could help, and now enjoy a totally new experience in scanning and your detailed images!

[Brian Ellis]

Just so no one thinks that toyota's opinion is unanimous - I used Vuescan and Silverfast for years (first Vuescan, then Silverfast). I preferred Silverfast.

[Jehu]

I got Silverfast 6.6.2r4a with my V750. I looked into upgrading but the current version is kind of expensive. Is there enough improvement in V8.0 to be worth spending the money?

[toyotadesigner]

Is there enough improvement in V8.0 to be worth spending the money?

No. See http://www.silverfast.com/product/Epson/563/en.html

- Multi-Sampling is not supported
- ICE not supported
- Printer Calibration is not supported

For a fraction of the upgrade price you'll get the pro version of VueScan, which you can use with any scanner you have or will have.

http://www.hamrick.com

It's lousy that Silverfast doesn't even support these features on the dedicated film scanner Nikon Coolscan LS 9000.

If you want to know more about the quirks of Silverfast and a free upgrade to VueScan Pro for Silverfast users, read this:
http://www.hamrick.com/sil.html

[Francisco Disilvestro]

Hi wjmva,
Hi Francisco,

Which resolution are you using? are you using a scale factor?
I believe I have seen such messages but it appear after the end file size goes over 4 GB (which in my opinion is a huge file).

Try going a little below 3,8 GB on the resulting file

Regards

Alex

I was well below that figure, something around 150 MB. I have been using version 6.6 for a long time without any trouble.

I have also tried vuescan and prefer silverfast. In my opinion, the user interface up to version 6.6 is not user friendly (something that looks really much better in SF 8), but if you take the time to study the software and the documentation, it is really a powerful application.

About the lack of functionality:

No multi-sampling: At least with the Epson scanners, the new multi-exposure is much better than multi sampling and it takes only two passes.

No ICE: In my tests (your results could be different) the new iSRD produces better results than ICE. Additionally in version 8 you could preview the effect and adjust sensibility. Two advantages of iSRD: a)if you scan using multi-exposure, it will only perform one IR pass. If you use ICE, it will perform two IR passes, and the second is very slow. b) The performance is much much better, ICE takes forever to process after the scan, iSRD is fast.

Printer calibration is not supported: Agree, if you use it (I don´t)


I would have bought the upgrade if it weren´t for the file size issue. So far Silverfast has not answered my questions and my trial expired.

[toyotadesigner]

So far Silverfast has not answered my questions and my trial expired.

How weird. They charge a fortune for their products but the support is lousy and ignorant.

Just go for the VueScan offer. Ed Hamrick definitely will answer your questions.

[Allen in Montreal]

I got Silverfast 6.6.2r4a with my V750. I looked into upgrading but the current version is kind of expensive. Is there enough improvement in V8.0 to be worth spending the money?

No plus 2!!
Not impressed at all.
Wish I had tried Vuescan before buying v8.

[Scott Knowles]

I upgraded to SF 8 this week for both scanners (necessary when I upgrade to Lion soon). I find it better than v6.6 I had. The multi-sample was replaced with a different multi-exposure method. It's actually more Apple/Adobe like user interface than before (you can hide it, only quit before). One reason for SF is that each app is specifically for each scanner, both operation and scanning. As for their customer support, it's simple, buy it and you'll get good support.

[Francisco Disilvestro]

As for their customer support, it's simple, buy it and you'll get good support.

I though that being already a customer of version 6.6 interested in buying version 8 counted, but it doesn't seem so.

[Brian Ellis]

How weird. They charge a fortune for their products but the support is lousy and ignorant.

Just go for the VueScan offer. Ed Hamrick definitely will answer your questions.

That wasn't my experience. Hamrick's responses to my email questions were hit and miss. Sometimes he responded, sometimes he didn't. I received excellent customer support from Silverfast except once when I was kept on hold for an inordinate amount of time.

For how many years did you use Silverfast? I see all your criticisms but you haven't told us exactly what experience you actually have with using Silverfast and with their customer service.

I don't care what scanner software anyone buys. If you or anyone else prefers Vuescan to Silverfast that's certainly fine with me. But I do think that when someone persistently dumps on a product as you have here they should at least provide their experience with the product being dumped on. Otherwise it's impossible to judge the validity of their criticisms.

[toyotadesigner]

Brian, I've used SF for a year with a Canon flatbed with transparency lid. It was a nightmare, because SF had a proprietary solution to clean the slides: a very tedious, half manual half automatic task which in most cases failed. Each new slide had to be framed/cropped again starting from scratch. Colors had been off. Couldn't use my Nikon LS 5000 with it - it would have required another expensive licence!). No chance to generate 'templates'. Sent 2 times a mail to the customer support but never received a reply. In Germany they announced V 8 but when I checked I had to download version 6 with an upgrade option later... In addition there is no Linux version. The registration and serial key procedure used to be a nightmare. On my old Windoze system I tried to recover the key after a re-install, but gave up shortly before we had a burglary and our computers had be stolen. Their web site didn't function as it should at that time. I don't know about the problems of the guy who finally purchased my Canon to transfer the license... maybe he is still using the Canon software.

Tilt.

New start.

VueScan: a fraction of the price of SF. Runs with all of my scanners: the Canon for LF transparencies (already sold), Nikon LS 9000, Nikon LS 5000, Canon Lide (document scanner), my one year old HP multi function B 109-n wireless. One license for all scanners.. I downloaded the demo, had questions and got replies in less than 24 hours. That's what I call support - even without having purchased the product.

No problem with the calibration, no problem with slide or negative film, correct colors, ICE working flawlessly, I can output any color profile without hassle, I can re-load the TIFF any time and work on it (no need for PS at this point), countless output formats (among others DNG) or even two different file formats at the same time, OCR built in (with several language options and working like a charm!), ability to save 'templates' or 'ini' files for each calibrated emulsion and film format (24x36, 24x58, 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x8, 6x9, positive, negative, b/w, different scan and output resolutions, single pass, multi pass, etc.), descewing (rotating an image without sacrificing the image size, etc., etc.

Very fast and professional support. I've supplied Ed Hamrick with the files from my Nikon and he re-coded VS to iron the bugs out - usually in less than 48 hours.

What a contrast to a company that is not answering customer requests.

[gnuyork]

I've been using Epson scan all these years. I've been wanting to install Silverfast when I got my new computer, but I could not find the disk. Last weekend I was cleaning out some boxes in my basement (to make space for a DR) and I saw the scanner box and sure enough my silverfast disk was inside.


I installed it and upgraded to 6.6 and it took a while to get it, but once I did I find it very powerful. Especially the selective color tool, however I have a problem with it that I posted on the Silverfast forum. Being a new member there I am still waiting for approval of my first post.

I was thinking of trying VueScan but after this weekend of scanning with Silverfast I don't think I need to.

[patrickjames]

Hamrick also responded quickly to my problems after upgrading to a new computer and Lion and provided a solution. The software is great but you need to study it and get some experience to make it work. I rarely have to adjust the tonalities of a scan anymore after using it for years. I can't say enough good things about Vuescan. It is definitely mature software at this point.