LaserSoft SilverFast 8 User Manual

SilverFast 8 First Steps

SilverFast - Pioneer & Expert in Digital Imaging

Professional Scanner and

Image Processing Software

by LaserSoft Imaging

ENGLISH

SilverFast - First Steps

Content

1 Connecting the scanner and setting up the software............................................................... 1

2 Activating and registering SilverFast........................................................................................3

3 Quick start................................................................................................................................... 3

4 Basic settings................................................................................................................................4

5 Preview and high-resolution preview........................................................................................ 7

6 Frame .......................................................................................................................................... 8

7 Scan size and resolution............................................................................................................11

8 Automatic optimizations.......................................................................................................... 12

9 Zoom and 1:1 or HQ preview.................................................................................................. 14

10 Scan and batch scan..................................................................................................................15

These instructions are intended to help you, the user, to take the first steps along the path from
analog to digital images. It is intended as a practical guideline for the initial uses of the application.
Particular emphasis is therefore given to explaining the steps that will simplify your introduction to
the software.

The example pictures are taken from the Ai Studio version. Lower versions offer a smaller scope of
settings so that description may differ from what you see on your screen in some points.

1 Connecting the scanner and setting up the software

Connect your scanner to your computer. We recommend a direct connection to your computer ­using a short cable, without an extension or USB/FireWire splitter.

Now install SilverFast. If you have received SilverFast on DVD or a USB stick, you can install it
from there. If you have bought SilverFast online, you will receive a download link via e-mail. The
same applies to both: Using your registered e-mail address, you can at any time download from our
web site the latest (full) version of SilverFast for your product generation.

Particularly if you have received SilverFast on DVD or a USB stick, we recommend that you use
the download link provided later on in these instructions to install the current version before you
start. As soon as you have installed the update, you also have the possibility of manually searching
for updates with the aid of the service dialog via the Welcome screen. In current versions however,
the program will automatically search for updates at regular intervals.

Connecting the scanner and setting up the software 3

Registration

You can register your e-mail address using the following link:

www.silverfast.com/reg/en.html

After you have registered on our web site, you will receive an e-mail with a confirmation link. Click
on this link to confirm and to complete the registration process.

Download / update

You can find the SilverFast download at:

www.silverfast.com/show/downloads-start/en.html

The updates are full versions and do not require previous version to be installed, but you need to
install SilverFast from separate installers for each scanner if you have two or more software
licences for scanners from different manufacturers. These installations will behave as modules to
the main program and they will add your scanner as additional image source to the Welcome
Screen.

If you decide to buy the software, after already having installed a demo version, you can activate
the software as full version without having to re-install, as described in the next chapter.

If you have received SilverFast on DVD but your computer lacks a DVD-drive, be sure to register
your e-mail address in the Support section of our web site via the provided link and download the
software as described above. As a second step you can request a new serial number which can be
activated without the DVD:

After registering, a new serial number can be requested via the following link:
www.silverfast.com/bundle

Always switch on your scanner before starting SilverFast. Only in this way can SilverFast recognize
your scanner when you start up the software. Start SilverFast 8 via the shortcut on your desktop
(Windows) or in your dock (OSX). The SilverFast Welcome screen is opened. It provides access to
the Service dialog with functions for administering the software, along with a menu for selecting the
image source.

Connecting the scanner and setting up the software 4

If you have several supported scanners and licenses, you can select the desired device under "Image
source". Click on "Start" to start the software.

2 Activating and registering SilverFast

The serialization dialog appears when a SilverFast version that has not yet been enabled is started
up for the first time. There you enter your first name, last name, your company name (if applicable)
and your serial number. The "Enable" button is activated as soon as you have entered your data.
If you have purchased SilverFast online, make sure that you enter your first and last names in
exactly the same way as confirmed via e-mail, for example without umlauts.

If you have received SilverFast on DVD, place the DVD into your drive while you unlock the
program.
The "Demo license" button allows you to request a demo serial number to test the software for 30
days without obligation. Only use this option if you don't have a serial number for SilverFast and
want to try out the software.

The registration window is loaded after activation. If your SilverFast version is not yet registered,
you now have the opportunity to do so. The serial number is automatically registered when
purchased online. The registration not only enables you to download updates from our download
section but also ensures that your serial number is saved to our database. If you lose your serial
number at any time, we can send it to your registered e-mail address via the following link:

www.silverfast.com/lostserial

Note:
If you return or exchange your device, or if you give it away or sell it privately, please remember to
have your SilverFast registration cancelled via the following link: www.silverfast.com/support-form

Activating and registering SilverFast 5

3 Quick start

Tired of reading and want to get straight to the action? The following quick-start instructions
provide a general overview of the key points and the course of action.

1. Start and activate SilverFast

2. Select Transparent / Reflective

3. Select Positive /Kodachrome / Negative

4. Change the color depth if necessary

5. Set the resolution

6. Start preview scan

7. Activate tools (iSRD, Multi-Exposure)

8. Select Frame > Frame search > Film holder type

9. Start Automatic image

10. Accept settings for all frames if necessary

11. Start scan (long click for batch scan)

4 Basic settings

SilverFast has a series of settings that you should define before launching the preview scan. These
instructions refer to Manual mode in SilverFast, which you can recognize by the red icon of the
WorkflowPilot. If you see the blue WorkflowPilot symbol after start-up, click on it to change to
Manual mode (red icon).

A flat-bed scanner with a transparency unit gives you a choice between transparency and reflective
scans. In this case, ”Reflective" refers to the scanning of photos on paper. Select "Transparency" for
scanning slide positives, Kodachrome images and negatives, either framed or on film strips. For
transparency scans on a flat-bed scanner, it is important to remove the cover of the transparency

Basic settings 6