Software

I have dealt with the EpsonScan software in detail earlier in this review. My general conclusion on this software is that it does a respectable job on most scans, from prints to a variety of film types. It is easy to use and should satisfy most user levels. For those who want a bit more control, then Silver-Fast SE may just be sufficient. SE is a cut down version of SliverFast 6 Ai, but nevertheless it is still a very able application. The installation installs a plugin for Photoshop and the option to install a Twain plugin for use with other applications. The installation took approx 20 seconds in total. Once you launch SilverFast via Import on Photoshop you get an Optimization screen with an annoying Hawaiian jingle playing in the background. Its worth clicking on the check for Update button, even at this early stage for the V700 there was an update available.

SilverFast SE has a sufficient amount of image adjustment control, but not as much as the full version. In terms of colour quality, the EpsonScan proved to be just as capable. I do not have the full SilverFast Ai version for testing on the V700, but I have used it extensively in the past and can recommend it for critical scanning work. A 3200dpi scan using SilverFast SE took 1min 27sec., on EpsonScan the same image took 1min 23sec. The screen shot below shows some of the palettes available to fine tune your image - please note that this shot has been compiled to show the palettes, for a normal scan you would not be able to display them all at the same time.

The Epson V700 SilverFast SE interface

SilverFast by default will capture in 48bit and send the scan to your application in 24bit (48>24 Bit Colour). However, you can also scan in 48 HDR mode, but all the image adjustment buttons become greyed out and your scan is sent to Photoshop in a RAW state - not the ideal option for the uninitiated. Once the image has been corrected in Photoshop the colours and detail jump out, its all there in the file - but this way takes time and knowledge to get the best results.

SilverFast set to auto	SilverFast using 48 HDR	48 HDR corrected in Photoshop

The other notable bundled application is Adobe Photoshop Elements 3. This is a super piece of software and serves well as an introduction to Photoshop. However, the person who spends £400 on a scanner is probably already using Photoshop CS(2). No doubt the bundled copy of Photoshop Elements 3 will make a great gift for someone and provide them with hours of fun.

Another bundled application is EPSON Creativity Suite. This is a very basic file management application which also gives you the option to download digital images, scan and print as well as Copy to Fax etc. This software is better suited to an entry level or all in one unit, as with Elements 3 it is not going to be very useful to the high end user. You can define the Quick Start button via the Epson File manager application. I have set this button up to launch Copy utility, this scans a document and sends it to a printer of your choice (assuming you have a few to choose from). The Copy interface is easier to follow than on previous versions, although perhaps not so nicely designed.

Epson Creativity suite - its free with the scanner, so don't expect too much
V700 Copy Utility	Previous version on 4870

 

Next is Abbyy Fine Reader 6 software. This is an OCR application (Optical Character Recognition). I personally have no use for this software, but I can see the value in it for other journalists who need to scan in a printed press release (rare item). I chose the Home setting mode on EpsonScan and scanned in a page from the LaserSoft SilverFast manual. Abbyy Fine Reader made an excellent job of sorting out the pictures and text. The converted page can be sent to Word, Excel or as a Adobe PDF. I sent it to Word and all the text was fully editable, without spelling mistakes - hmmm........I think I might use this software more often

Abbyy Fine Reader 6 - pictures in red boxes, text in green boxes.

Scanned page opened in Microsoft Word, all text is fully editable and page format held.

 

Final there is an on-line manual. This is a HTML document, but it is a real pain trying to find the information you are seeking. I typed in Film Height Adjusters and got the result "Click in the right Column to go to that section" - there isn't a right column. OK, so now click on the Index button and a column appears (on the left), running the search again gives you the same message, but no reference to the Film Height Adjusters. Perhaps a printed manual might be a better choice. Having said that, the illustrations are clear and the information is sufficient to get you started.

Not the best manual I have seen