Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/06/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Greetings Richard, Just an observation based upon my travels along the learning curve of B&W printing. Early on I relied upon my Leica Focometer's measurement of film density range and my paper grade tests to match the neg with the "right" paper grade. This usually provided a useful work print. I understand you intend to use the Heiland for a similar purpose. The observation is that my printing began to improve significantly only once I abandoned this approach. Not because I didn't get a good start, but because it was hard to visualize any alternative approaches to the print once the technical measuring process spoke its version of the truth. Now I start by looking at the negative on a light box and in the enlarger and make a judgement as to the paper grade and exposure that will yield the emotional feel that I think I will ultimately want. I find I get to the end of the creative process with much more satisfying results and more quickly then when relying on a measuring system, such mine with the Focomat or the Heiland, telling me where to go with the print. You may have the discipline to avoid this trap, but I found it quite seductive and it inhibited my growth in fine art printing for a few years. All the best, Bob.