Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/04/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have been doing an intensive scanning printing thing over the past days putting together a new "book" in a nifty 8.5x11 portfolio thing I got the other day from PRAT/PARIS. I'VE been dragging out some of my old war horses negs. Negs which I have printed time and time again on every conceivable sized paper from 5x7 to 20x24 RC or fiber for portfolios or shows. Yes I've had both shows and portfolios in the whole size range\ from 5x7 to 20x24. Now my ink jets are staying 8.5x11" and my darkroom prints are standardized at 11x14. Separate books. It is a bitch scanning black and white negs on my Nikon LS-2000 which I think is the standard of the industry for the next five minutes. I more so look forward to scanning medium format negs on the Umax PowerLook III. I print on this Mitsubishi Dual sided matte Diamond Jet matte paper. And the MIS archival monochrome inks which are a bit warm but I like that. Preparing the negs for printing and printing them is somehow similar to making 20x24's. I become intimately reacquainted with each facet and area in the image and what that area needs: lighening darkening shapening spotting cloneing contrast inhansement. But this time it is on this same monitor of my computer that I communicate to my LUG and RUG friends on and I'm working the image back into a layout in most cases so what I am doing has a graphics edge to it. I am replacing images in halftoned layouts which would Moiré at different printing sizes with scans from the original negs or the best print I can find which can fit in my scanner. But I can again use these same high res scans for a more pure representation of the image with not layout and type involved (I'm scanning my tear sheets) I'm finding this intensive scanning and printing thing to be quite rewarding. Real competition for the darkroom. And believe me from my perspective that is saying something. I have been a darkroom bug since I was 13 in 1965. So the answer is do both! Get a scanner and printer and have fun while the sun shines but also build a darkroom in you basement for those overcast days and long nights when you need hypo and silver and selenium! Mark Rabiner