New to digital negatives

[davidb]

Hello all,


I've been experimenting with digital negs for pt/pd printing for a few weeks now - and feel like I've got to the stage where I need some advice on how to proceed. Hence, hi to hybridphoto!

So far I've played around with some of the freely available curves and methods out there, and I've made some attempts at tweaking those ... resulting in a few ok-ish prints, but nothing very predictable.

What are the options for taking a more systematic approach to this? Is PDN the only game in town? What other methods are people here using? I'd be very grateful for any pointers.

David

[menglert]

PDN is the only system I have used that lets you test and develop your own curve for each process. Also, I think its well worth the money. LINK

Brad Hinkel recently released a book that also lets you develop your own curves, and uses QTR, but I have not picked up the book yet. LINK

Somewhere on the boards there was a software system that automates profiling, but I had limited luck getting an earlier version to work. Although, it seems some others have tried it and it worked well for them.

Dan Burkholder's book is a little older, but still has useful info. But the book uses premade curves, as opposed to making your own.

Regards,
Martin

[Mark Fisher]

I've been using PDN and recently picked up Ron Reeder's book. They seem to use somewhat different approaches (more similar than different, though) to get to a similar place....of course, I have not tried the Ron Reeder method yet. I can say that Ron's book is written in a far more approachable manner.

[SanFranciscoNudes]

The free system is ChartThrob - see this thread http://www.hybridphoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36

I got some very nice results out of it after a few false starts.

[Jordan]

I just re-read the ChartThrob thread. It seems to automate the process I'm now using, which is to print out a digital neg of a 21-step 0->100 step wedge, contact-print it, scan the contact print, and then read the scanned values to make a "reverse curve" (I do it by hand).

If PS CS2 is really a free 30-day trial, I'm definitely going to try it out.

[SanFranciscoNudes]

I just re-read the ChartThrob thread. It seems to automate the process I'm now using, which is to print out a digital neg of a 21-step 0->100 step wedge, contact-print it, scan the contact print, and then read the scanned values to make a "reverse curve" (I do it by hand).

If PS CS2 is really a free 30-day trial, I'm definitely going to try it out.

Yep, same idea, nothing really "new", just saves time and it's free.

[davidb]

I'd just like to say thanks for the responses and the PMs - I feel like I'm getting to grips with the various ways of skinning this particular cat.

[Ray Heath]

g'day all

there is lots of advice for owners of a couple of Epson printers but how does one make the most of other printers such as the A4 HP Photosmart 8230

thnx
Ray

[mkochsch]

g'day all

there is lots of advice for owners of a couple of Epson printers but how does one make the most of other printers such as the A4 HP Photosmart 8230

thnx
Ray

Any printer has the potential to print digital negatives. You calibrate the printer by printing a density wedge at your standard print time. The wedge could be a black and white stepwedge similar to a stouffer t2115 or t3110 or it could be a colour step wedge (a chart of numerically ordered Reds, blues and greens and combinations there of.) If the printer/ink/driver settings/OHP media combination gives you enough density for your process (test printed to your process ie. cyanotype) then you have a winner. I know people who use Canon printers.

[Donald Miller]

I am considering using a 7 MP camera for street images. My question is how large a digital neg can I expect to obtain for pt-pd printing?

Beyond that has anyone had any experience with the Epson 1800? The gloss enhancer seems to be something that is not required for digital negs. Can the enhancer be disabled? It seems that it uses the Ultrachrome inks. Are these capable of effectively providing enough density with UV light?

Still further, are any of the HP printers suitable for digital negs, and if so what models?

Thanks for your help. I assure you that I have the barest modicum of knowledge about this.