Vuescan vs silverfast 201711/7/2023 As with all these software options, some users who prioritize certain workflow elements over others find Vuescan impedes them more than Nikonscan or Silverfast, and vice versa. Vuescan is very very good, but has a bit of Jekyll & Hyde to it (in one sense its very easy to use, in another its interface can be ridiculously obtuse when it comes to features that are far more obvious or intuitive in NikonScan). There are certain aspects of the Nikon hardware performance (including ICE if that is a big priority for you) that are best exploited by Nikon's own software, funky as it can be at times.Īfter Nikon ceased updating NikonScan for newer operating systems some years ago, VueScan became the default choice for many non-professional owners (partly because the price is reasonable, and partly because VueScan is constantly updated for compatibility with new computers). The closest I've seen to a consensus on the CoolScans is that every (non-pro) owner tries to "improve" on Nikon's own software by trying other premium options like SilverFast, but in the end most of them cycle back around to NikonScan. Re choosing the "best" scanner software: its often very subjective. If those scans are still soft, the problem isn't Nikonscan but a hardware fault (clean the mirror- see tutorial at Cleaning the mirror in Nikon Super Coolscan LS-8000 ED and LS-9000 ED). If those test scans are crisp, and you don't have the glass MF tray, get one and it should help. I'd recommend verifying your scanner for proper basic operation by downloading a free trial version of Vuescan, and then use it to scan a less taxing source like a 35mm Ektachrome or Velvia transparency in the CoolScan slide tray. This is very common when trying to scan medium format with the glassless tray: if you don't have one of the optional Nikon glass trays for medium format, it can be much harder to obtain crisp scans. Nikonscan at the very least should produce a crisp scan unless your 120/220 film is very warped and you can't quite get the manual focus depth of field to cover the field curvature. These are oldish units now: between internal outgassing and their vulnerability to dust intake, some can seem to give poor results because they need to be cleaned. Nikon CoolScan 9000 + Mac G5 running 10.4 should be a good hardware combo, although I've known more than a few photographers and graphic artists who had ongoing issues with the rather peculiar G5.īefore proceeding further: the Coolscan units are notorious for developing a film of haze on their scanning mirrors. It takes quite awhile to balance your result preferences vs your typical film source images vs your specific scanner's quirks vs a particular scanner software suite vs a workflow/time usage plan thats realistic for you to maintain. Using a film scanner to its full performance is a black art that (unfortunately) cannot be learned overnight or even within a couple months. I know this is a powerhouse of a scanner, so I'm wondering if this is user error. Note: I have played with the stock Nikon Scan 4, but the scans aren't yielding a lot of crisp information, and using unsharp mask just seems like putting a band aid over a potentially bigger issue (not great scans). Could someone please help this newbie out? I have used VueScan for scanning works on paper and it works great, but I don't mind spending the extra money on Silverfast 6 if the software will save appreciable time and/or produce superior scans/image correction. The priority is capturing as much crisp information from these older transparencies as possible and saving time with a good built-in color correction/dust and scratch removal, as I will be scanning a large collection and won't have the time to do major edits in PS. I have found many resources comparing VueScan to Silverfast, but between wading through opinions and trying to figure out which features need prioritizing, my brain is about to liquify out of my ears. (Note: I would need to use Silverfast 6, as this is the last version that supports PowerMac/10.4). I have a Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED on a PowerMac G5 running 10.4. late 1970s transparency slides for a book project. I am brand new to archiving film and will be scanning a collection of approx.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |