Customer Reviews

SilverFast SE: scanning software

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Silverfast has to be the worst scanning application available. If you have the choice between this and another, then I suggest you go with the other (whatever it might be). In my case, I had to buy this scanning software because I have a UMAX scanner with a Mac and had to update my scanning software which means I was forced to purchase this garbage. Let me say that it does scan, but it's slow, slow, slow even at 200-300 dpi. Even the preview scan is slow. And now I have a permanent hot line that shows up on the left side of every scan that did not happen until I "updated" to Silverfast SE.

The quality of the scans (aside from the approximate 5-pixel line running through every scan) isn't terrible, but it's not great either. Luckily, in my case, most of everything I scan gets heavily painted and altered in Photoshop with the scan acting as the sketch, but it's just so darn slow. I would say that it's probably 5 times slower than your average Epson scan - using the same resolution settings, of course. I just hate it. I haven't upgraded to their newer scanning software because I absolutely don't trust it and don't want the hassle. Customer service is non-existent (in my experience) as the other reviewer stated.

So now I have to buy an Epson scanner and scrap my old one, only because I'm tired of this god-awful application. I personally would like to give it negative stars if possible.

I tried SiverFast SE Plus with the HDR module, was really disappointed with the software.

You can't use iSRD (IR dust removal) in SE Plus with Epson and Microtek scanners due to "licensing issues" according to SilverFast support. For iSRD you need the separate HDR module which costs an additional $100. Then have to scan as 64bit RGBi and then do the dust removal separately in the HDR application! Huge multi-step pain in the butt.

The iSRD issues with Epson and Microtek are NOT well explained on the SilverFast product site. And the fact that you need to export from SE to process iSRD doesn't seem explained AT ALL.

Even worse was in comparing the full-size scans I felt SilverFast looked more processed and noisy than the scans out of the original Epson software! (This is something you really can't tell in the demo as it only permits saving files with a max of 150 DPI.) This was too much and I requested a refund and bought VueScan instead.

To add insult to injury SilverFast sales first resisted talk of a refund and is now not replying to emails at all basically forcing me to file a dispute with the credit card company and file a complaint with the BBB.

Bad product. Bad support. Don't waste your money.

For me, despite some flakiness, VueScan is hands down the better software. IR dust removal is MUCH easier to use than in SE Plus + HDR mess and the resulting scans, in my opinion, look more natural.

An extremely disappointing product; in fact, the most disappointing I've EVER purchased on Amazon. The ap installs on my PC's, but will not open. The SilverFast web site says there is a free update available, but even though the product is registered in my name, the "Free update" is NOT accessible, will NOT download and is virtually useless. The SilverFast web site is one of the worst and least helpful I've ever run across in my 15 years of working with PC's.

...it came with the Plustek 7200 scanner I bought used. I installed it in Windows 7 ( after installing the Plustek Windows 7
drivers ) and it works fine for the B&W negatives I'm scanning ( nice B&W balance and great detail at 7200 dpi ). I had read a review of the 7200 that said that Silverfast produced pixelated artifacts in it's scan and that VueScan was a better program, so I
downloaded the VueScan trial program and compared them. At 7200 dpi I saw definite pixalation at white and dark interfaces in
VueScan, but none in SilverFast ( see scan and cropped enlargements )which renders the grain of the silver extremely well.
At least for B&W negatives this program couldn't be easier to use, all I have to adjust manually is the scan box size after it
pre-scans, the black and white contrast are always very good to excellent, as opposed to VueScan which needed adjusting to get
detail in the shadow areas. For home use this program is fine, just keep it away from Macs ( which, of course, should be using
some hideously expensive Apple software and hardware ( where's the IScan? ))

Just to echo what the others here have said. Software has terrible copy protection. On-line support is terrible. Never ending series of questions with few paths that actually allow you to say what is wrong. Even after all that, the software itself is terrible. I'm using the Mac version and it is obviously not a native Mac application. It runs inside of some 'universal' environment. Doesn't play nice with any other Mac applications, and is basically trash in about every way possible. AVOID!

Copying the photo by tracing with crayons would be preferable to using this software.