Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Alistair: The Durst AC system was the last step before the minilab; they have integrated closed-loop color analyzers/densitometer systems. You basically plug in your negative, set the computer for the focal length and set aperture, and the thing sets the base exposure and autocompensates as you raise or lower the head. For b/w work, it's a little switch in units from seconds to density units, but you get used to it. Exposure times are very short with a 250 watt halogen lamp. It has a plug-in for a roll easel, but I figured that I could stop with the paper. It's a dream for TMY, VP, PX and other straightline films, since the density setting is only really setting where the midpoint of on-paper reproduction is. I don't print much 35mm anymore, just 6x4.5 and up. 35mm is great for color and something that is great to take to a frontier lab. 35mm just lacks the tonality and detail in b/w and spotting is a bigger, more annoying issue (as it is in scanning 35mm). I do print neopan 1600 in B/W, since it looks better enlarged than scanned. Split-grade? Burning and dodging? Dante On Sunday, July 6, 2003, at 11:00 PM, firkin wrote: > Dante Stella writes: >> Today I was out looking at inkjet printers for b/w work scanned on a >> Sprintscan 120. Guess after reading a score of posts on this, I'll >> wait until inkjet printing is more straightforward. "Piezography" >> sounds more complicated than actually printing pictures in a bathroom >> - at least there, I just plug in Ilford MG IV, set the lens at f/5.6 >> and the density at +45 (well, this is a Durst DA900, so it's kind of >> like cheating), > > In what way do you mean cheating? >> and expose. Four minutes later, I have prints that last for 50 >> years, no surface flatness, no fading, no color cast. If I don't >> like the contrast, it takes all of ten seconds to change the contrast >> filter. It's my surmise that when you can get the Ilford paper for >> $30/100 in 8x10 glossy delivered, that it's actually cheaper too. >> The enlarger cost a bit less than a 2200. > > This is certainly true for me as well (at the moment) especially with > 35mm. The combination of the Leica v35 and Splitgrade analysis, with > the jobo ATL 3 makes printmaking fast, accurate and efficient. I can > move "seamlessly" (love that word -- sounds almost sensuous) between > paper types, and alter contrast by small grades till the print looks > just to my liking: Control of local contrast is good, if not as easy > as in the computer, and dodging and burning still take some "skill" > which I am learning. Not so good with the larger enlarger just yet. > Cheers > Alastair Firkin @ work ;-) > http://www.afirkin.com > http://www.familyofman2.com > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > ____________ Dante Stella http://www.dantestella.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html