Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/05/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Don Dory wrote: > > Dante, > I will mention the pluses of a digital workflow for me. > 1) complete repeatability once a print is satisfactory > 2)local contrast/density/sharpness easily controlled down to the pixel level > 3)easy global contrast control at whatever point in the curve you want to > change contrast without unsharp masks, pencils, split developers etc. > 4)spotting time drastically reduced > 5)working in the light interacting with the family > 6)no chemical fumes/strange chemical failures > 7)potentially longer life of prints > 8)by making a digital negative I can still make a silver print if called for > 9)if color materials used initially can imitate filters after exposure > > Don > dorysrus@mindspirng.com > > -- I'm looking at this as mainly a darkroom guy and not seeing it. > I will mention the pluses of a digital workflow for me. > 1) complete repeatability once a print is satisfactory I have heard of no repeatability problem in darkroom printing in less you are using a cold light. Which i use. And its not a problem. There isn't any. > 2)local contrast/density/sharpness easily controlled down to the pixel level The pixies in my darkroom are the ones who move my scissors around in the dark as I'm loading my film!!! Especially with split printing i get local control of contrast. No pixels thank god!!!! Yea I'll admit its fun to do that stuff with Photoshop. But when I go down to the darkroom i don't miss it one small bit. I don't look at a print and go "gee which the ground over there was contrast number 4 and wish that cloud over there was contrast #1!" > 3)easy global contrast control at whatever point in the curve you want to > change contrast without unsharp masks, pencils, split developers etc. Contrast control is just not a problem in the darkroom. There is more than one way to do it depending on how much you are into it. It can be done in the enlarger head (lots to choose from) or in the developer or split developers. Its not an advantage in the digital workplace to not have to deal with chemistry and enlarger heads. It's just a different territory you do what the Romans do. I don't yearn of a tray of Dektol here in my computer room anymore than i year for Photoshop curves in my darkroom. > 4)spotting time drastically reduced No just hours and hours and hours cloning. That's spotting only you're grabbing the image from right next to it instead of a dish of spot-tone. > 5)working in the light interacting with the family exactly why its nice to go down to the darkroom. > 6)no chemical fumes/strange chemical failures My chemicals are practically odorless as i don't put hardener in my fix and I've never had a strange chemical "failure" in 30 years of darkroom work I assume you mean Xtol and if that's the case it's not the Xtol which fails its the technique of the people using it. I had a direct positive kit fail when developing a bunch of Panatomic x as positives. that was 1979. > 7)potentially longer life of prints potentially maybe but right now a huge advantage to darkroom printing is the life of the prints and their value on the market therefore. No one trust the inkjets on this issue. Sure eventually they will not fade as you look at them. > 8)by making a digital negative I can still make a silver print if called for And go down to the darkroom? You might get chemical poisoning or the pixies 'll get you. I'd love to get into platinum printing with larger negs output from digital sources. > 9)if color materials used initially can imitate filters after exposure Make a print from a color neg onto Panalure paper and the same things apply. Only in reverse of course as you are working from a negative. A blue filter would do what an orange filter does in the field > > Don The best perspective i can recommend when one is flush with Photoshop fever is to just go down to the darkroom again. You'll be amazed on how non boring it is! And you get to listen to your favorite music real loud! And be under the influence of strange safelights! think of all the great movies with great darkroom scenes! Mark Rabiner Portland, Oregon USA http://www.rabinergroup.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html