Is it necessary to buy software?

[jtk]

The only thing it says is that I have a scanner with no software and I'm trying to find a starting point. The fact that my hardware is inferior has been well pointed out and well documented.

But thanks for the additional snub.

Sorry...I didn't know you didnt already have Epsonscan.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Try the Epson software. If you are happy with it, there is no reason to change.

If you feel limited, you can try other software.

Great advice. Why complicate things if one doesn't have to?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

The one thing that I did notice between the trial of Silverfast, and the Epson software was that there seems to be a lot more controls with the Silverfast. Not just picture controls (i.e. shadows, highlights etc) but actual physicals like framing etc. Not sure how those controls translate into a workflow though.

I also liked the fact that Silverfast allowed you to enter the output dimensions in inches, and then showed you where that fell on the PPI scale. I did a test just to see. The one on the left is scanned at 10" on the long side, and the one the right is scanned as a 14" on the long side. It was definitely a learning experience. This is a 1:1 comparison.

Screen Shot 2020-04-26 at 8.52.34 AM by Christopher Coy, on Flickr

 

[Ariston]

if you decided to work with two or more different scanners. For example the V330 for prints and medium format, and another dedicated 35mm film scanner just for 35mm negatives and slides. In that circumstance it might be worth considering switching to software that could be used with both scanners.

What I'm about to say may be old or bad info, but I read somewhere that the Silverfast license is locked to a single scanner model... Be sure to check to make sure you don't have to buy it twice.

 

[MattKing]

What I'm about to say may be old or bad info, but I read somewhere that the Silverfast license is locked to a single scanner model... Be sure to check to make sure you don't have to buy it twice.

A quick check confirms this, although there seems to be some potential work-arounds.
Best to assume you would have to buy it twice.

 

[Adrian Bacon]

I've received my V330 that I purchased as an intro to scanning 35mm film. I've looked at online information and everything suggests that silverfast is the best. However, I do not want to purchase something that I wont fully use.

What are the reasons one would choose Silverfast over the Epson software? I doubt I'll shoot much color film, so the majority of what I scan will be black and white for use in cyanotypes etc.

Are there any advantages to using Silverfast over the normal Epson software?

I use Vuescan exclusively, though, that’s primarily because I have several scanners and it works with all of them.

 

[KenS]

When I decided to scan my 'film' negatives .. for enlarging and printing onto Pictorico (for 'alt' printing) I got a 'good deal' on my Epson and I'm more than happy about how well it has met my 'needs'. There have been a couple of 'updates'.. due to Mac OS updates....and these Viewscan updates have been 'free of any additional cost'

Ken

 

[Wallendo]

What I'm about to say may be old or bad info, but I read somewhere that the Silverfast license is locked to a single scanner model... Be sure to check to make sure you don't have to buy it twice.

Silverfast uses a unique program for each scanner model. I received the software when I bought a PlusTek film scanner and Epson recently made SilverFast available for some if its scanners. I had to install each program on my computer and enter a license for each. There is only one SilverFast icon on my computer and when I open it, it list all scanners I have licensed in a drop-down window and then launches that module. A major limitation to SilverFast is that the entry level versions will let you scan at 16-bit (48-bit) depth, but will output your file at 8/24 bit.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

The V330 is your weakest link. Cutting edge software such as Silverfast will not make up for its deficiencies.
EpsonScan>Professional>Configuration>Color-no color correction for max detail in the scan, adjust in post for best image.
V500,V550,V600,V700,V750,V800,V850 (Photo)
4990 if you can find one.
Plustek 8xxx.

I quickly got tired of not being able to scan my 120 negatives, so I picked up a 4990 for $150.

 

[138S]

I've received my V330 that I purchased as an intro to scanning 35mm film. I've looked at online information and everything suggests that silverfast is the best. However, I do not want to purchase something that I wont fully use.

If your Epson product included a bundled Silverfast software then you may download it by using the scanner serial number. (for example: https://www.silverfast.com/show/bundle-epson/en.html)

What are the reasons one would choose Silverfast over the Epson software? I doubt I'll shoot much color film, so the majority of what I scan will be black and white for use in cyanotypes etc.

Are there any advantages to using Silverfast over the normal Epson software?

Your scanner does not support Multi-Exposure anyway (https://www.silverfast.com/highlights/multi-exposure-list/en.html) which is very useful to recover very unexposed detail in Velvia/Provia slides. Single reason I see to use SF "Plus" version over Epson Scan is having multi-exposure.

Me, I prefer to get a very raw scan and optimizing it in Ps, so I only use SF when wanting Multi-Exposure, for the rest I prefer Epson Scan simplicity, just download last version.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I quickly got tired of not being able to scan my 120 negatives, so I picked up a 4990 for $150.

I used one for years and it did a great job. Yes there are better but it is more than good enough.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I used one for years and it did a great job. Yes there are better but it is more than good enough.

I just like the fact that I'll be able to scan a whole roll of film without having to change out the negatives after every 4 frames. And I'll be able to scan the handful of 4x5 negatives that I currently have.

 

[PhilBurton]

What I'm about to say may be old or bad info, but I read somewhere that the Silverfast license is locked to a single scanner model... Be sure to check to make sure you don't have to buy it twice.

A quick check confirms this, although there seems to be some potential work-arounds.
Best to assume you would have to buy it twice.

@MattKing Can you provide any detail or pointers to these workarounds.

 

[MattKing]

@MattKing Can you provide any detail or pointers to these workarounds.

I'm not going to be much help on this.
When I looked into this, there were a few resources that described various quite complex methods of getting a purchased stand-alone copy of Silverfast dedicated to one scanner to work side by side with a copy that came bundled with a another scanner.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

The V330 is your weakest link. Cutting edge software such as Silverfast will not make up for its deficiencies.
EpsonScan>Professional>Configuration>Color-no color correction for max detail in the scan, adjust in post for best image.
V500,V550,V600,V700,V750,V800,V850 (Photo)
4990 if you can find one.
Plustek 8xxx.

I just received the 4990. Aside from a yellowish colored USB cable, it looks almost brand new. Not a scuff or scratch on it. And the film holders were all in original packaging.

I'm curious though. If this 4990 has the same 4800x9600 dpi, aside from the abilities to scan larger film, why is it better than the V330? Isn't the 4990 only going to scan around 2500~ dpi effectivley? Or is the lens better?

 

[grat]

Having bought an Epson v800 recently, I've been trying to decide if AI Studio is worth it-- SilverFast SE came with the scanner (And annoyingly, requires the physical media as well as the really long serial number when registering), but there's an offer to upgrade to AI Studio 8 for $99 (as opposed to $299).

So far, the only real benefit I've found with Silverfast is being able to set up multiple frames for scanning, with different settings per frame, then scan them all in sequence unattended. Epson Scan might support this, but it's not obvious.

NegFix might be wonderful and epic, but if it doesn't support the film I'm using, it's right up there with a screen door on a submarine.

One review I read did a resolution test (which I'm not completely sold on) using a 1950's USAF resolution chart-- Interestingly, they got a slightly higher resolution scan out of Silverfast than they did out of Epson scan.

 

[StepheKoontz]

You don't have to buy software, but I'm very happy I purchased silverfast for my Epson V600. It was well worth the cost of the "basic" version in both speed and results. As others said, being able to set a whole group of negatives individually and then batch scan them makes it worth it.