Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/04/08

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Subject: Re: [Leica] analog AND digital - kinda long again
From: Henry Ambrose <digphoto@nashville.net>
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 17:39:23 +0100

>Henry,
>
>Talking of file sizes... Durst recently used some of my transparencies to
>make display illos to promote their Lambda at exhibitions in the UK (and at
>PMA I believe). When I enquired how big the file size was and could they
>send me copies on disk they asked what I intended doing with them because
>each individual image JUST fitted onto a CD... around 670Mb each.
>
>Ed Buziak / Publisher
>Camera & Darkroom magazine

Wow! those are big files. 

Were they 4X5 (pardon me - 5X4)?

Also 

Jim Brick wrote that he knew of only one person doing B&W scanning and 
inkjet printing. 

Add a bunch to the list - I can name several local photographers who scan 
and print B&W and color on inkjet and other methods, Pictros, Lambdas, 
imagesetter negatives contact printed, etc. 

No - not several - how about at least a dozen. Some own all the stuff and 
some outsource. A few of us have been doing it for several years! This 
process is snowballing. The last two winters I've taught a "Digital 
Darkroom" class here. I've had 20-25 people show up for the 3 night 
class. 

I had the first Epson in town and at first it was just good enough for 
proofs, didn't last, etc. The newest stuff is great. I just did a 12X18 
(image size) B&W for a client from 35mm XP2 using the Polaroid 4000 and 
the Epson 1270. It'll be matted & framed @20X27. It is amazing that this 
stuff works so well now.

A friend and I just did 45 13X19 prints for a fundraising auction. All 
scanned and printed on Epsons. They looked great! My friend has been a 
darkroom perfectionist for decades - we were both very pleased with our 
results. I'm sure we could not have done anything like the same without 
spending a huge amount of time in the darkroom.

I would NEVER say that all or any digital prints are better than 
conventional. Sometimes either one might be better. And the wet darkroom 
is a wonderful craft form. Nothing will ever replace a wonderful fiber 
B&W print (for me).
Digital is just another way of working - and a very good one.

Henry Ambrose