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Forums · Digital Imaging

Anyone using Silverfast AI Studio ? VueScan? What's best?

Discussion

4 replies
Posted by Richard Bennett on March 5, 2008 at 7:09 PM
I was just wondering how users like Silverfast AI Studio and or VueScan scanning software... what do you think of these products.
Using a Nikon Super CoolScan 9000
Posted by Guy Tal on March 5, 2008 at 8:15 PM
For Nikon scanners, I always found Nikon's own software to be the most user friendly and producing superb results. SilverFast Ai would be my second choice due to its range of features.
VueScan is a lot of software for the price but has its limitations (e.g. only supports the sRGB color space last time I checked).

Guy
Posted by Mark Stahlke on March 6, 2008 at 12:39 AM
Guy, it's been a while since you checked. :biggrin:
I recently installed VueScan 8.4.60 on my Mac to try it out with an Epson 4990 scanner. The dropdown menu for choosing output color space lists:
Device RGB
Adobe RGB
Apple RGB
Bruce RGB
CIE RGB
ColorMatch RGB
NTSC (1953)
PAL/SECAM
SMPTE-C
sRGB
Ekta Space
ProPhoto RGB
ECI RGB
and Gray

It looks very powerful but it's not an easy program to use and I really haven't done much with it yet. The reason I wanted to try it was for output in ProPhoto RGB color space. The first image I ever worked up in that color space made a gorgeous print.

If you read between the lines of that last paragraph, it means you have to know what you're doing to get the most out of VueScan. Frankly, I'm coming up a little short there but I keep after it.
Posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 6, 2008 at 2:04 AM
I've used all 3 with a Nikon Coolscan V ED. VueScan, once you learn it, is head and shoulders above the others. The trick for me has been learning what to leave for Photoshop to finish. Used in conjunction with Photoshop, I have gotten great results, especially with old Kodachrome slides.

I put a random sample of some of my best scans with VueScan on FlickR, here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phodgepage/sets/72157604053358012/

All of these were either Ektachrome or Kodachrome slides, taken in the late '70s and early '80s by my father.
Posted by Bill Stice on March 28, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Richard, I've used a Nikon Coolscan 8000, and a 9000 as well as an Epson 4990 and Epson V700. I currently use the Nikon Coolscan 9000 for everything but 4 X 5. I use the Epson with Silverfast software for 4 X 5. Even though the Epson's will supposedly go higher in resoulution the Nikon still beats them on either 35mm or medium format scans. I scan 35mm, 645, and 6 X 7 film on the Nikon. The greatest difference in my opinion is the dmax. The Nikon can pull detail out of shadow areas without blowing the highlights much better than the Epsons. From what I read on the Large Format page and others this is true for most flat bed scanners until you get in the several thousand dollar range. I do like the Silverfast software as opposed to the Epson software. The least capable version of Silverfast software came with the Epson scanners but I upgraded it to AI Studio right away. The only disadvantage with Silverfast is that you have to buy an individual license for each scanner. When I upgraded my Epson 4990 to the V700 I had to buy another license because the software for the 4990 wouldn't work with the V700. Hope this helps.