Preparing images for the web can be a time consuming and frustrating experience. Capturing the quality seen on slide media can be almost impossible. This leaves many of us with images that we would rather leave in the slide page rather than post online or make a digital submission. If you have ever found yourself in this position you should take a look at a wonderful software product made by Laser Soft Imaging called SilverFast AI.

SilverFast AI is designed for the specific scanner you will be using which allows for better scans the first time around with less manipulation. I evaluated SilverFast AI and compared it to the Nikon Scan software that came with my Nikon Super CoolScan 4000 ED. I soon found that I was able to scan slides that the Nikon Scan software left looking flat, with less color saturation and were much less impressive than the slide.

There were no problems during the installation of SilverFast on my Dell system which is running under the XP operating system. Reading the manual took only minutes and I was ready to begin scanning. Please note that the software was only evaluated on the XP operating system.

Scan Pilot is a helpful tool that launches the first time you start the program. By pressing the start button on the Scan Pilot you will be led through the scanning preparation in the best possible order. There is the ability to Auto-Adjust the exposure by pressing the icon on the tool list menu. A Multiple Neutralising Pipette allows for Color cast removal. Correcting brightness is an easy task by using the curves function in the program. A great feature I love is that by typing command-Z on a Mac or crtl-z on a PC any brightness adjustments can be redone and you can toggle between the original and the adjusted version.

SilverFast has the capability to do global color correction as well as selective color correction. The user can also select the image size for output and printing screen. The unsharp masking feature worked fine, but I personally preferred to make that adjustment in Adobe. The software also has Grain and Noise removal as well as dust and scratch removal. I found the dust and scratch removal to work just as well as the Nikon Scan Digital Ice.

The quality of the scans were consistently higher with the Silverfast AI software. To my eye there was an increase in color saturation and exposure which was closer to the slide requiring less manipulation. While in some cases the difference was minor other times the Silverfast AI software made the difference in having a useable scan that I was proud to share online or use as a submission.

The man reason Silverfast scored so high on my rating is the fact that the software needed very little manipulation to achieve a great scan. In most cases the look of the original slide was obtained by only making minor adjustments to saturation and contrast. The scans were sharper and had much more detail requiring less use of unsharp mask. The images that appear with this review had contrast, saturation, and unsharp mask adjustments made in the same amount on the Nikon and Silverfast scans. These changes were made post scan in Adobe.

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Debbie Ferrell-Smith's interest in nature began many years ago while living in Missouri. There, where she spent much of her childhood at her grandparents' home, she learned a deep appreciation and respect for nature that has only grown through the years and continues to this day. Texas became her home in 1986. Shortly after moving she realized that this state offers an abundance of wildlife and her yearn to capture nature's beauty on film returned once again.

This past year Debbie had the opportunity to participate as Pre/Post Chair for the NANPA 9th Summit. Naturephotographers.net and Birdzilla.com are two sites where both her images and articles have been published. "I am proud to have been accepted at Profotos.com and to have my gallery displayed on their wonderful site." Her work is represented by one stock agency with images being sold for publication in both Canada and the United States. Photographers who have had the greatest influence on her work are Tom Vezo, Jim Zuckerman, Erwin and Peggy Bauer, Arthur Morris, and John Shaw to name just a few. Each of these pros offers a unique and well-defined style that has inspired and enriched her photographic experiences.

Debbie's charitable contributions include memberships with Audubon, Ducks Unlimited, and the ASPCA. Please take a few minutes and browse her website located at Debbie Ferrell-Smith Nature Photography - I think you will be pleasantly surprised!