Digital BW, The Print

Francis --

I'm not disputing that SilverFast is a powerful tool.

I am suggesting that it is a B***H to use. I've been designing software for nearly 30 years and I think I know a product with a good user interface (UI) when I see one -- and SilverFast ain't one of 'em.

As a specific example, I find it impossible to tell how those little tiny buttons (that set Digital ICE on and off, for instance) are set. Is D-ICE on or off? I cannot tell. 

If I cannot be sure of something as elemental as this, it doesn't encourage me to dig too much deeper into the product.

And those droll QuickTime video training "movies". That droning, monotone German voice is better than Sleep-Eze to bring one nearer to the Sandman. 

And don't get me wrong I love German stuff (e.g., cameras and cars) but at least this piece of Germanic software engineering needs a heavy dose of good ole American know-how in the UI department.

One of the posters in response to my original reply to "35mm film scanner" (where I endorsed the Minolta 5400 and the DiMAGE software that came with it) echoed these sentiments about SilverFast but did give VueScan high marks. 

But my original point was there is no reason IMHO to buy any third party scanner software for the 5400.

-- 
David Keenan, ausdlk@swbell.net on 2/1/2005

>I think the most important thing to think about is the
>SilverFast software.You can really fine tune a scan.In
>terms of saving contrasty b&w negs,its incredible.I
>have the Epson 4870 Pro and I would not be without
>it.You mentioned the 4990,I think that would drop the
>price of the 4870 to below 500 bucks.Francis Ford

>> Oh yes, Digital ICE is essential if you ever plan
>> scanning color. Don't get a scanner without it.
>> 
>> It does nothing for black & white negs however.
>> That's a bummer...
> 
>> I must admit that I'm interested in the forthcoming
>> Epson 4990 flatbed scanner. Being able to scan an
>> entire roll of 36 (maybe it's 30) at once has a
>> definite appeal... And it has Digital ICE and
>> support for other film sizes.

There are few examples of user-friendly user interfaces in
sophisticated photo applications. Software designers should be kept
FAR away from final interface design, letting the non-expert customers
into the process. 

QTRgui is a rare example of something done right, as was SilverFast's  
abbreviated SE version and Epson's own application in the Epson
bundle. IMHO, of course :-)

It's standard for semi-literate technical writers to help geek design
teams impliment applications the way the same geeks previously
designed camels and Peugeots. The user isn't taken into consideration.
This is why few of us read documentation.  



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, David Keenan
<ausdlk@s...> wrote:
> Francis --
> 
> I'm not disputing that SilverFast is a powerful tool.
> 
> I am suggesting that it is a B***H to use. I've been designing
software for nearly 30 years and I think I know a product with a good
user interface (UI) when I see one -- and SilverFast ain't one of 'em.
> 
> As a specific example, I find it impossible to tell how those little
tiny buttons (that set Digital ICE on and off, for instance) are set.
Is D-ICE on or off? I cannot tell. 
> 
> If I cannot be sure of something as elemental as this, it doesn't
encourage me to dig too much deeper into the product.
> 
> And those droll QuickTime video training "movies". That droning,
monotone German voice is better than Sleep-Eze to bring one nearer to
the Sandman. 
> 
> And don't get me wrong I love German stuff (e.g., cameras and cars)
but at least this piece of Germanic software engineering needs a heavy
dose of good ole American know-how in the UI department.
> 
> One of the posters in response to my original reply to "35mm film
scanner" (where I endorsed the Minolta 5400 and the DiMAGE software
that came with it) echoed these sentiments about SilverFast but did
give VueScan high marks. 
> 
> But my original point was there is no reason IMHO to buy any third
party scanner software for the 5400.

> 
> -- 
> David Keenan, ausdlk@s... on 2/1/2005
> 
> >I think the most important thing to think about is the
> >SilverFast software.You can really fine tune a scan.In
> >terms of saving contrasty b&w negs,its incredible.I
> >have the Epson 4870 Pro and I would not be without
> >it.You mentioned the 4990,I think that would drop the
> >price of the 4870 to below 500 bucks.Francis Ford
> 
> >> Oh yes, Digital ICE is essential if you ever plan
> >> scanning color. Don't get a scanner without it.
> >> 
> >> It does nothing for black & white negs however.
> >> That's a bummer...
> > 
> >> I must admit that I'm interested in the forthcoming
> >> Epson 4990 flatbed scanner. Being able to scan an
> >> entire roll of 36 (maybe it's 30) at once has a
> >> definite appeal... And it has Digital ICE and
> >> support for other film sizes.
>