SilverFast 6.5 allows the user to easily convert documents into PDF files. This makes it easy to save or send documents or images. If a document is saved as a PDF file it uses less space compared to a "normal" file format. PDF files keep the appearance of the originals and preserve all of the information. Textures, drawings, 3D- and colored graphics and especially pictures can be converted into PDF files irrespective of the original format without any changes in appearance. PDF is a widespread standard for a secure and dependable interchange of electronic data, which is acknowledged worldwide and which is compatible with PDF/A, PDF/X and PDF/E.

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The Virtual Light Table VLT is an essential work base for photographers who like to organize, manage and resume images in an easy way. Like in a real darkroom, you can archive your photos, provide the images with comments, lay out albums and contact sheets of the complete view port and produce or print single pictures in a high resolution in variable sizes.

SilverFast allows a quick conversion of RAW-Data files in the background. This is done by choosing the images to be converted in the overview of the Virtual Light Table VLT, and dragging them into an Album. The user can decide on his own if and when the conversion of the selected Album should take place.

SilverFast has a highly adjustable image auto-adjust. Depending on the actual scene the image auto-adjust has to make sure the image is correctly optimized regarding highlight, shadow and mid-tone. Another consideration is whether a color cast has to be removed or not. In a picture with a sunset the reddish color cast from the long-wave sunlight is to be preserved while highlights, shadows and mid-tone are optimized. This is accomplished in SilverFast by Image Type presets. Just select the appropriate Image Type (e.g. "Evening") and SilverFast takes care of the proper optimization. You can always fine tune those settings by using the gradation controls and the histogram. You can even create your own Image Type under "user defined".

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The new Selective Color Correction features up to four layers, each having its own independent color correction and masking capability. Now, four objects of the same color can all be designated as separate colors, providing the ability to achieve complex color corrections very easily. Selective Color Correction is a vital function of color reproduction. The new Selective Color Correction feature in SilverFast adds significant improvement to the process without making it more complex. When a color is selected, SilverFast will automatically identify the color and make it active for further adjustments. Corrections can be made using several different options - all very easy, yet very effective. Layers and masks can be added to correct objects that have the same color but need to be handled separately. Using a special function (Mask Edge Size via Options panel) provides control over the amount of fading applied to edges of the mask.

Original Corrected Image

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SilverFast ACR is part of the Selective Color Correction dialog. A checkbox will enable this function to bring back faded out colors or normalize over-saturated colors. A slider will give additional individual control to increase or decrease color saturation. Adaptive Color Restoration nicely brings back the faded out colors or weak colors with an automatic function. The function's strength can be controlled with a slider. Also too much saturation can be normalized or decreased. ACR can also be used in conjunction with the Selective Color Correction. Any setting that has been chosen can now be influenced with the ACR function (e.g. if you have chosen your corrections but want more or less saturation), just use the ACR slider. The relation, between the color as defined by your Selective Color Corrections setting, will be kept.

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The USM dialog and its preview windows may now freely be resized and enlarged. This can be done by click dragging the lower right corner of the window. Now, a better control of the image is achieved before scanning that allows a much larger preview of the final sharpening effects.

Advanced Color Cast Removal Color casts resulting from mixed light conditions can now comfortably be eliminated. Up to 4 neutral points can be set, and by means of a special dialog neutral density values can be edited. This powerful tool can be used by just clicking onto the affected area. For fine tuning double-clicking onto the tool brings up an Expert-dialog with edit fields showing the "before and after" RGB or CMY values. These values can then be changed as desired. This way very subtle cast corrections can be achieved.

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The storage and administration of the scanned image files are very convenient due to the possibility to add individual comments, which are stored with the picture (embedded into the picture data) according to the ITPC standard.

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SilverFast Ai and HDR have the unique capability to scan / save images fully optimised, color-corrected, sharpened and ICC-matched or profile-embedded into 48 bit format.

Why is it important to optimise images in 48 bit color space?

Tonal range has always been a major concern in color reproduction. To scan into 24 bit and to do the required corrections on the 24 bit image in Photoshop has been the standard procedure for quite some time. This approach always deteriorates the image quality because it reduces the tonal range significantly. The tonal range (number of shades) is important to retain as much details in the image as possible.

Histogram 1 is showing a smooth tonal range without any gaps. That indicates all shades are well distributed over the whole tonal range. After applying corrctions to a 24 bit image the histogram will look similar to Histogram 2: Gaps indicate that shades have been lost from the tonal range and the image quality has been compromised.

Histogram for the original image with good tonal range.

Histogram of image after optimisation. Gaps are visible.

SilverFast assures uncompromised tonal range with 48 bit correction

SilverFast Ai for scanners and SilverFast HDR for raw data processing now offer to do all corrections in 48 bit color space. In this extremely large color space no siginificant shade is lost during image corrections. When all corrections are done the image can be saved into 48 bit again and further corrections can be done later without significant loss of quality.

SilverFast Scan Type (Image Type in HDR) has 2 additions now: 48 bit Color and 16 bit Grayscale. While 48 bit HDR Color scans into an uncorrected 48 bit raw data file (only gamma correction and ICC-matching can be applied), 48 bit Color or 16 bit Grayscale allow to save all corrections into the raw date file (48 or 16 bit Tiff file). It is also possible to scan directly into Photoshop using the image corrected high bit mode.

The corrected image of the car exhibits excellant image quality. The tonal range of the image is uncompromised (Histogram 4) and can be used for further corrections without any loss in image quality. This exemplifies the extraordinary quality and unique productive power of SilverFast Ai / HDR.

Original Image with good tonal range.

Color corrected image with good tonal range (48bit).

Try the SilverFast Ai or HDR demo and see for yourself!

SilverFast has successfully established its own IT8 target production. Large manufacturers are using SliverFast's high quality targets for their world-wide production and are very pleased with the quality.

Advantage of LaserSoft Imaging IT8 targets:

1. uniquely developed calibration for digital cameras
2. get ICC profiles and significant better Dynamic Range from your images
3. features focusing aid and greycard on the back for precise whitebalance (essential for calibration process)
4. integrated barcode that can be used to automatically identify related color reference data for the target
5. reference data will be on the same CD or available online (much more comfortable and easier for user)

What is JobManager? SilverFast JobManager is a built-in function for the scan software SilverFast Ai and the imgaging softwares SilverFast HDR and SilverFast DC. Every user knows about the time and cost consuming procedure to scan a whole row of images (such as an entire film strip) where he has to proceed the optimisation image by image. The time required for the hardware to make preview scans, fine scans and save files is dead and wasted time for the user. For the modern and fast processing photographer this can end up to a real disaster. Thanks to JobManager, the efficiency in the workflow is increased drastically. The user can process transparent and reflective artwork and even mix slides and negatives. They can be processed in one pass. The user just gives an instruction list (a collection of settings, parameters and manipulations) from which images, image files or image folders can be processed automatically.

JobManager Highlights

• Process unlimited number of images/files in batch
• Save, load and change Jobs
• Apply changes with one click to unlimited number of files
• Process multiple Jobs to/from different directories

PrinTao is the new professional printing function of SilverFast Ai Studio, SilverFast DCPro Studio und SilverFast HDR Studio introducing layout-functionality for images and text. For many workflow requirements using an additional layout-software will not be necessary anymore.

Take advantage of PrinTao: You are able to create your individual layouts with text and images at a high efficiency. The integration of image processing, layout functionality and printing by a single software tool is unique.