LaserSoft Imaging

From ColorWiki

Jump to: navigation, search
LaserSoft Imaging logo

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

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 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. 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.

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

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.

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

Retrieved from "http://colorwiki.com/wiki/LaserSoft_Imaging"
Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox