LaserSoft Imaging
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| - | [[Image: | + | [[Image:LSI Logo.jpg|thumb|LaserSoft Imaging logo]] |
| - | LaserSoft Imaging is the developer of scanning and image processing software SilverFast. The product range includes software for scanners | + | LaserSoft Imaging is the developer of scanning and image processing software SilverFast. The product range includes software for scanners, printers and HDR image processing. The EDP (European Digital Press Association) awarded SilverFast as the 'Best colour mangement software of the year 2008'. In 2011 SilverFast version 8 was introduced, and HDR imaging software followed in 2012. SilverFast 9 has been released in 2020.<br> |
==The Company== | ==The Company== | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
[http://www.silverfast.com/show/lasersoftimaging/en.html (read more)] | [http://www.silverfast.com/show/lasersoftimaging/en.html (read more)] | ||
| - | == | + | === Patents === |
| - | + | * 2005: Patent granted on barcode technology used for the Auto IT8 Calibration. (Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, EP: 1594301) | |
| - | ( | + | * 2008: Patent granted on technology used for SilverFast Multi-Exposure@. (Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, EP: 1744278, US 8,693,808) |
| + | * 2021: Patent pending for a scanning method that reduces scanning time for flatbed scanners. (Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, German, European and US patents pending) | ||
| - | === | + | == 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: | |
| - | + | ||
| - | + | ||
| - | == | + | {| class="wikitable" |
| - | SilverFast | + | |- class="hintergrundfarbe5" |
| - | [ | + | ! Scanner Software || HDR Software || Archiving Software || Printer Software || Photoshop Plug-ins |
| + | |- | ||
| + | |SilverFast SE || SilverFast HDR || SilverFast Archive Suite <sup>1), 2)</sup> || PrinTao 8 || SRDx Plug-in | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |SilverFast SE Plus <sup>1), 2)</sup> || SilverFast HDR Studio || || || | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |SilverFast Ai Studio <sup>1), 2)</sup> || || || || | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |SilverFast X-Ray || || || || | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | <sup>1)</sup> including: Multi-Exposure | ||
| + | <sup>2)</sup> 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. 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. 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 SE (basic edition) | ||
| + | * SilverFast SE Plus (plus edition / with [[Multi-Exposure]]) | ||
| + | * SilverFast Ai Studio (premium edition) | ||
| + | * SilverFast X-Ray (a special version of SilverFast designed to digitize radiographic films for scientific and medical radiography) | ||
| + | |||
| + | === 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 (basic edition) | ||
| + | * SilverFast HDR Studio (premium edition) | ||
| + | |||
| + | 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. 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: | ||
| + | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| + | |- class="backgroundcolor5" | ||
| + | ! Format || Encoding || Compression || Color space || Color depth<br/><span style="font-weight:normal; font-size:small;">(Bit per pixel)</span> || Dynamic range<br/><span style="font-weight:normal; font-size:small;">(Dimensions of 10)</span> || Relative<br/>gradation | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | rowspan="2" | '''HDRi'''<br/>(.tif, .tiff) || RGB <span style="font-size:small;">(linear)</span> || none || RGB || 64 = 48 + 16 (infrared channel) || 4,8 || 0,0014% | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | RGB <span style="font-size:small;">(linear)</span> || none || RGB || 32 = 16 + 16 (Infrared channel) || 4,8 || 0,0014% | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | === 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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * SilverFast Archive Suite - consisting of SilverFast Ai Studio and SilverFast HDR Studio (premium edition) | ||
| + | |||
| + | === PrintTao 8 === | ||
| + | PrintTao 8 is a printing solution 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 solution 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 == | ||
| + | [[File:IT8target.jpg|thumb|250px|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]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | * according to ISO standard 12641-1 (from 1993): conventional standard | ||
| + | * according to ISO standard 12641-2 (from 2020): new standard for a more precise IT8 calibration with about 3 times the number of measuring fields. LaserSoft Imaging cooperated for creating this standard. [https://www.pr.com/press-release/804455 New ISO Standard for Scanner Calibration] (press release on pr.com) | ||
==Address & Contact== | ==Address & Contact== | ||
| Line 35: | Line 103: | ||
: LaserSoft Imaging, Inc. | : LaserSoft Imaging, Inc. | ||
| - | : | + | : 7441 N. Tamiami Trail |
| - | + | : Sarasota, FL 34243 | |
| - | : Sarasota, FL | + | |
: USA | : USA | ||
| - | : Phone: (+1) 941- | + | : Phone: (+1) 941-351-9400 |
| - | ''Please note that this number is for Sales and Information only | + | : Fax: (+1) 941-351-9402 |
| + | ''Please note that this number is for Sales and Information only. For technical support, please visit our [https://helpcenter.silverfast.com/ SilverFast Help Center].'' | ||
'''Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Oceania''' | '''Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Oceania''' | ||
| Line 52: | Line 120: | ||
: Phone: (+49)-431-56009-0 | : Phone: (+49)-431-56009-0 | ||
: Fax: (+49)-431-56009-96 | : Fax: (+49)-431-56009-96 | ||
| - | + | ''Please note that this number is for Sales and Information only. For technical support, please visit our [https://helpcenter.silverfast.com/ SilverFast Help Center].'' | |
| - | '' | + | |
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* Homepage - [http://www.silverfast.com LaserSoft Imaging - English] | * Homepage - [http://www.silverfast.com LaserSoft Imaging - English] | ||
* Homepage - [http://www.silverfast.com/de LaserSoft Imaging - German] | * Homepage - [http://www.silverfast.com/de LaserSoft Imaging - German] | ||
| + | * Homepage - [https://www.picture-plugins.com SRDx Photoshop Plug-in] | ||
| + | * Homepage - [https://www.printao8.com PrinTao 8 Large Format Printer Software] | ||
* Wikipedia - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaserSoft_Imaging LaserSoft Imaging] | * Wikipedia - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaserSoft_Imaging LaserSoft Imaging] | ||
* Wikipedia - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SilverFast SilverFast] | * Wikipedia - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SilverFast SilverFast] | ||
| - | * YouTube - [ | + | * YouTube - [https://www.youtube.com/user/LSIGregoire The official SilverFast channel] |
[[Category: Color Management]] | [[Category: Color Management]] | ||
[[Category: Glossary]] | [[Category: Glossary]] | ||
[[Category: Tools]] | [[Category: Tools]] | ||
Latest revision as of 07:30, 4 October 2022
LaserSoft Imaging is the developer of scanning and image processing software SilverFast. The product range includes software for scanners, printers and HDR image processing. The EDP (European Digital Press Association) awarded SilverFast as the 'Best colour mangement software of the year 2008'. In 2011 SilverFast version 8 was introduced, and HDR imaging software followed in 2012. SilverFast 9 has been released in 2020.
Contents |
The Company
LaserSoft Imaging was founded in spring 1986 by the physicist Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, the president of the company today. LaserSoft Imaging became an early adaptor of color- and image processing on the Macintosh.
In fact LaserSoft Imaging was the first to distribute innovative products e.g. video digitizers, such as Pixelogic's »ProViz« and Truvel's »TrueScan«, the first professional colour scanner for the PC, which was first shown at Hannover fair CEBIT in 1988, which LaserSoft Imaging was invited to by Apple Computer.
LaserSoft Imaging's Headquarters is located in Kiel, Germany, by the Baltic Sea, 60 miles north of Hamburg. Kiel is the capital of the most northern province of Germany, Schleswig-Holstein and known as the international sailing city. (read more)
Patents
- 2005: Patent granted on barcode technology used for the Auto IT8 Calibration. (Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, EP: 1594301)
- 2008: Patent granted on technology used for SilverFast Multi-Exposure@. (Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, EP: 1744278, US 8,693,808)
- 2021: Patent pending for a scanning method that reduces scanning time for flatbed scanners. (Karl-Heinz Zahorsky, German, European and US patents pending)
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 Software | HDR Software | Archiving Software | Printer Software | Photoshop Plug-ins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SilverFast SE | SilverFast HDR | SilverFast Archive Suite 1), 2) | PrinTao 8 | SRDx 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. 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. 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 SE (basic edition)
- SilverFast SE Plus (plus edition / with Multi-Exposure)
- SilverFast Ai Studio (premium edition)
- SilverFast X-Ray (a special version of SilverFast designed to digitize radiographic films for scientific and medical radiography)
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 (basic edition)
- SilverFast HDR Studio (premium edition)
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. 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:
| Format | Encoding | Compression | Color space | Color depth (Bit per pixel) | Dynamic range (Dimensions of 10) | Relative gradation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDRi (.tif, .tiff) | RGB (linear) | none | RGB | 64 = 48 + 16 (infrared channel) | 4,8 | 0,0014% |
| RGB (linear) | none | RGB | 32 = 16 + 16 (Infrared channel) | 4,8 | 0,0014% |
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.
- SilverFast Archive Suite - consisting of SilverFast Ai Studio and SilverFast HDR Studio (premium edition)
PrintTao 8
PrintTao 8 is a printing solution 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 solution 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
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.
- according to ISO standard 12641-1 (from 1993): conventional standard
- according to ISO standard 12641-2 (from 2020): new standard for a more precise IT8 calibration with about 3 times the number of measuring fields. LaserSoft Imaging cooperated for creating this standard. New ISO Standard for Scanner Calibration (press release on pr.com)
Address & Contact
North and South America
- LaserSoft Imaging, Inc.
- 7441 N. Tamiami Trail
- Sarasota, FL 34243
- USA
- Phone: (+1) 941-351-9400
- Fax: (+1) 941-351-9402
Please note that this number is for Sales and Information only. For technical support, please visit our SilverFast Help Center.
Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Oceania
- LaserSoft Imaging AG, Headquarters
- Luisenweg 6-8
- 24105 Kiel
- Germany
- Phone: (+49)-431-56009-0
- Fax: (+49)-431-56009-96
Please note that this number is for Sales and Information only. For technical support, please visit our SilverFast Help Center.
External Links
- Homepage - LaserSoft Imaging - English
- Homepage - LaserSoft Imaging - German
- Homepage - SRDx Photoshop Plug-in
- Homepage - PrinTao 8 Large Format Printer Software
- Wikipedia - LaserSoft Imaging
- Wikipedia - SilverFast
- YouTube - The official SilverFast channel
