1. SilverFast HDR is a software for processing raw graphic data. It can process both: camera raw data and special raw-scan data provided by SilverFast Ai.
2. Scanning Workflows With SilverFast 8 – SilverFast HDR To date, the only comprehensive resource of its kind, available for purchase on the PhotoPXL website: This book is for anyone seeking to learn efficient workflows for scanning film media and maximizing image quality from scanned media, whether positive transparencies or color/B&W negatives.
3. Oct 23, 2011 Whacked SilverFast HDR CMS Tab.png Whacked RGB Test.jpg I should again point out that the above image will look quite normal if viewed in a web browser (or any program) that does not support colour management (this points to the fact the RGB values are somewhat similar to the sRGB colour space).

SilverFast is the worldwide leading software for film scanners and flatbed scanners. Almost every scanner, even those which have disappeared from the market a long time ago, can be operated with SilverFast.

Many of today's scanners have the ability to write the full dynamic range (HDR - High Dynamic Range) of its hardware into TIFF-data. This makes the reduction to 24 bit RGB files obsolete. The ability to save these 'RAW' files opens up a whole new workflow. The images can be scanned and archived into digital format, and then opened at a later date without any loss in quality. In order to save RAW data with extended dynamic range, the 48 bit (or 64 bit HDRi) TIFF format was developed. Regardless of the effective dynamic range supplied, the file will always become a 48 bit (or 64 bit HDRi) file. Normal scanning software saves images into a 24 bit file, discarding the extra information created by the scanner. 48 bit files retain all of the information supplied.
SilverFast HDR enables the user to read and process 48 bit (or 64 bit HDRi) RAW files without being connected to a scanner. In HDR, all SilverFast tools are available: Defining Output Size & Resolution, Auto-Adjust of Highlight/Shadow, Three Part Histogram, Gradation Curves, Selective Color Correction, Unsharp Masking, Color Cast Removal Slider, Color Separation, CMYK-Preview and more.

HDR Studio

System requirements

• Windows 7 (64-Bit), 8 (64-Bit), 10 (64-Bit)
• Mac OS 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, 11
• Internet-connection

Scope of delivery

• SilverFast activation key for registration and download of the software

Overview of NegaFix

NegaFix is a real-time negative film optimisation facility that has been designed to handle many different types of negative film stock, e.g. Black and White and of course Colour. LaserSoft Imaging have initially included 120 film profiles so that the process of editing negatives is now easier than ever before. The film options include: vendor, type, group and speed. Best of all NegaFix is compatible with the full range of scanners currently supported by LaserSoft Imaging, including Nikon. I've been fortunate enough to use the new version of SilverFast on the Polaroid SprintScan 4000 and 120 models along with SilverFast HDR. The following is a summary of the various controls and brief overview of how NegaFix works.

Step 1 - Getting SilverFast ready for negative scanning

After opening SilverFast Ai or HDR we must configure SilverFast for negatives, this is done from within the 'General' tab of the main control panel. Once the user chooses to scan a negative the NegaFix control panel should appear on the desktop.

Selecting the Film Type - Positive/Negative

Insert the 'Uncut' filmstrip holder into the scanner gate. If you've previously scanned negatives a preview of the last image will appear along with the NegaFix control panel shown below.

NegaFix Control Panel - Basic Configuration

Step 2 - SilverFast Colour Management

In order that the final scan matches the preview screen it's important that the 'CMS' dialog found in the 'Option' panel is configured as shown below. Actually SilverFast reconfigures itself when NegaFix is selected. Specifically, users will find that SilverFast automatically disables the calibration profile and defaults to 'None' and the Input profile is ignored.

In the Profiles for ColorSync/ICM 'Internal' choose the colour space that corresponds with what you have chosen in Photoshop. When NegaFix is chosen this is the profile that will be embedded in our images. SilverFast ignores the scanner or calibration profile, although the preview display will still be correct.

Configuration of Colour Management Dialog

Step 3 - Creating the overview scan

By pressing the button the 'Overview' window will appear. Simply choosing the 'Refresh Overview' button will cause the scanner to quickly create a group of thumbnails for each image on the filmstrip. Make your choice and press 'OK'.

Overview scan of images available on film strip

Step 4 - Making the pre-scan

From the 'Frame' tab select your scan resolution, etc. Of course make sure the 'Q-factor' is set to '1' and the 'Filter' is set for 'None'. Also ensure the tool palette looks like the one shown below, otherwise hold down the 'Alt' key and press the 'Option' button to reset all previous corrections. This step MUST be undertaken so that we may be sure that the characteristics of the previous scan are not carried over.

You can now press the 'Prescan' button and watch the image appear on screen. Typically the pre-scanned image will look bad, this is almost always down to the cropping boundary not being correctly set. To ensure correct operation of NegaFix it is essential that the cropping boundary for the pre-scan image is set so that NOTHING other than the actual image is included.

Step 5 - Choosing the film type and exposure (Basic mode)

Using NegaFix in Basic mode amounts to carrying out six very simple tasks. They are:

1. Crop the image so that frame margins are excluded.

2. Select a film manufacturer.

3. Select a film type.

4. Select a film speed.

5. Adjust the manual exposure slider.

6. Apply Auto Adjust tool.

The NegaFix control panel offers three pop-up menu options and an exposure slider. The three pop-up menus are where we choose the film-maker, type and speed.

Selecting the Film maker for the NegaFix Control Panel

The exposure slider (circled red in the screenshot below) enables adjustments of approximately plus or minus 3 f-stops. The preview display is continually updated as the exposure slider is moved.

Adjusting Exposure using the NegaFix Control Panel

Fungioutlander lists  & timelines. The above steps (1 to 5) are designed to ensure that the optimum dynamic range of the negative has been captured and converted into a positive. Now it's simply a matter of applying (6) the Auto Adjust tool from the Adjustments Toolbar and SilverFast will complete the optimisation process. At this point we can simply press the scan button or make further adjustments to saturation, etc.

Fine Tuning the Image and Film Profile Curves

Step 6 - Expert mode

NegaFix with SilverFast Aiand HDR will enable the user to scan virtually any negative film so that they obtain the maximum dynamic range along with accurate colour rendering. In my view the new NegaFix feature is a substantial improvement over its predecessor and is comparatively easy to use.

The screenshot below shows the control panel in its Expert configuration. To gain access to the Expert panel we simply mouse click the Tutor Icon, which is just to the right of the exposure slider.

NegaFix Control Panel - Expert Configuration

From the Expert panel we can adjust the characteristics of the 'orange mask' removal filter by dragging the Auto Tolerance slider (green circle in screen capture) back and forth. Likewise the Highlight and Shadow (end) points on the histogram can be adjusted by dragging the slider 'bars' located on the greyscale gradients. The check mark adjacent to the Auto button will be deactivated once we make any adjustment to the 'end-point' sliders. If we don't like what we've done a simply click of the Reset button followed by the Auto button and everything is reset to back to the characteristics of the original film profile.

Step 7 - Creating New Film Profiles

If we want to refine the film curve characteristics or if the film we are scanning is not included within the list of 120 film profiles it's a simple matter of adjusting one of the existing profiles in 'real-time' so that we get the desired results. As mentioned above, manually adjusting the end-points of the histogram is used to eliminate the effects of the 'orange mask'.

To further refine the film profile, simply choose the Curves tab followed by the two icons circled in red and then start dragging the curve anchor points around until the desired result is obtained. It is even possible to adjust each of the RGB colour channels individually.

NegaFix Control Panel - Custom Film Profile

If an area of the image shows a colour or cast that we know to be incorrect we can neutralise this cast by simply clicking that point in the Image preview screen and then dragging to the baseline; the small dot on the Curves Gradient (HSL dialog below the curves) that represents the actual colour of the image point - see the red circle and arrow on screenshot below. Little snitch discount code 2014bidstree.

NegaFix Control Panel - Colourcast Removal

To reduce the saturation of a particular colour it's simply a matter of clicking the over saturated colour within the image with the mouse and again dragging the little dot in the HSL dialog down a little. To increase saturation we drag it up towards the top of the HSL dialog. Ideally when undertaking such an adjustment it is best to zoom into the HSL dialog using the little '+' sign to the right of the gradient. Be warned that this approach will effect all subsequent images that use this film profile and so I recommend using the Hue/Saturation control to be found within the main toolbar.

Adjusting the Saturation

When we are satisfied with the new profile we simply save it with the appropriate film name thus keeping it for future use.

Save Edited Film Profile

Give the Edited Film Profile a Name

Once the dynamic range of the film has been optimised we can again proceed to use SilverFast's other colour correction tools in the normal way. Usually clicking the SilverFast Auto Adjustment button (circled red below) is all that is required.

SilverFast - Adjustment Toolbar

The SilverFast user manual contain lots of information and useful tips to using NegaFixI recommend that you read this section of the manual before attempting to manipulate the existing film curves.

The remaining pages of this tutorial discuss some of SilverFast's more advanced colour and tone adjustment tools in more detail.

Silverfast Hdr Studio

Step 8 - Removing the last vestiges of the global colourcast

Overview of SilverFast Ai and HDR Adjustment Tool Palette

Many of the basic colour and tone correction tools were discussed in the SilverFast HDR tutorial, however, I avoided going into any detail regarding the global colourand 'selective colour' correction tools. In this tutorial I will concentrate upon the 'global colour' correction, you can spend some time yourself learning about 'selective colour' correction.

To access the 'Global Colour' correction dialog simply press the button, the dialog shown below appears. This tool is designed to allow the user to alter the overall colour balance of an image.

For now I will ignore the top row of LED's and digits. All we need look at are the sliders, the colour wheel and the small vertical slider (green X) shown middle right. Pull the small slider to the bottom, this means colour correction is on finest control, big movements still mean small changes to colour.

SilverFast 'Global Colour Correction' dialog

Most users will automatically go for the 3 sliders and make the corrections by pulling one or other left/right as appropriate. However, a quicker and much more effective way is to use the colour wheel. Grabbing the 'centre dot' and dragging it around the wheel cause the overall image to change, but look at the sliders, all three automatically moved. I dragged the centre dot towards yellow to reduce the overall blue cast, but see that some red and green were added by the system.

Silverfast Hdr 8

Colour correction using the colour wheel

There is really no single way to use this tool. It is extremely powerful and you should make use of all its functions. I have only just scratched the surface; maybe even enough to make you to try it yourself. Further guidance on basic image editing in SilverFast can be found HERE! Hopefully, you find the finished product pleasing.

Silverfast Hdr Review

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