Minolta 5400 with Silverfast

  • Thread starter Thread starter 5400user
  • Start date Start date
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5400user

I've been using Minolta Scan Utility with my Minolta 5400 on WinXP, and
would like to try Silverfast. I seem to recall reading about a problem
of not being able to use Minolta Scan Utility after installing
Silverfast. It this in fact true, and if so, is there a work around? It
would be nice to be able to compare the two.

Also, it is rather confusing about the Silverfast's Photoshop plugin and
standalone versions. I would like to be able to run Silverfast without
starting Photoshop, which can slow down the PC.
 
SF has a stand alone program to drive the plugin without starting PS.
Freely downloadable. Not a standalone version of the plugin.

About the other, either check the SF forums or email LSI_Noack about the
issue.

regards,
 
degrub said:
SF has a stand alone program to drive the plugin without starting PS.
Freely downloadable. Not a standalone version of the plugin.
Click to expand...

The downloads and user manual are rather confusing about this. There is
one download for PS plugin/standalone, and another for TWAIN Module.
According to the manual, if PS is detected by the installer to be on the
computer, the plugin is installed automatically. Otherwise the
standalone version is installed. Is there a way to install the
standalone version even if PS is on the computer? Or is that what the
TWAIN module is for?
 
I've been using Minolta Scan Utility with my
Minolta 5400 on WinXP, and would like to
try Silverfast.
Click to expand...

I, too, was contemplating to buy SilverFast for my DiMAGE
Scan Elite 5400 (original version), mostly because I had a real
hard time to get the colours of colour-negative scans right with
Minolta's Scan Utility software. The trial version of SilverFast
gave me nice colours immediately ... but the high price kept me
from purchasing the retail version.

Eventually I discovered the Photoshop plug-ins from C F Systems
(see www.c-f-systems.com), and now I don't want SilverFast
anymore. Scan with Scan Utility set to 16-bit linear, auto exposure,
and no other settings tinkered with; then process the result in Photo-
shop using the NegPos or ColorNeg filters. Scanning now is quick
and easy. Processing is easy, too. Very recommended, and much
cheaper than SilverFast. Those plug-ins don't replace sophisticated
scan software; instead, they render sophisticated scan software
obsolete. Basic scan software (like Scan Utility) will do, as long as
it supports linear 16-bit scans (Scan Utility does). However, Photo-
shop is required (does not need to be the latest version AFAIK), to
host the plug-ins.

-- Olaf
 
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