Mark. You are soo generous with your time and knowledge. I have read your book at least 2 times cover to cover, and reread sections many times. I follow your advise as best I can. Everything I know about SilverFast has come from you and Taz Tally. Have read your web site articles many times also.
File size bloat. This is why I'm keen on a small general utility out put. Back to thinking 5x7 again. They will probably put this on an average PC lap top. They know nothing about digital imaging. Could teach them how to print from LR.
Automation. Will batch scan 64bit HDRi. Long ago I used SF with ACC in batch mode. It sets a very good white point and usually no black point. So will open them one at a time in HDR. Will save to a new folder.
SF8-HDR work flow. The ACC sets a white point that I can rarely improve on. Have set Auto Prefs to give about a 242 level and check wether it is neutral. LR has intelligent exposure and I set this there. I manually set a neutral black point anywhere from mid 20's to low 30's. Increasing black in LR to taste. If I see color cast will try to mitigate with Neutral PIP, or Selective Color. Will take full advantage of iSDR if possible, or SRDx with due carefulness. Save to a new folder.
PS. Open the images via Bridge. Check for additional clean up, Neat Image with masking if warranted. Export to new folders that will be imported in LR as the master files.
LR. Do all tone/color work, capture sharpening, DAM, etc. Export the project files, 16bit tif, ARGB, sharpen for scree or print
to their new high quality HD and bake-in all editing.
They will put LR6 perpetual on probably a new dedicated PC lap top, and import the project files with a logical file structure which I can do from the excellent notes he gave me. Was lucky to get LR6 DVD from B&H photo for them.
5x7 at 300 ppi should be about 20 MB. Letter size about 60 MB. I think 60 MB files should be snappy on a new PC.
Seems to me a reasonable approach. And would rescan selects for printing using appropriate settings.