Anybody read, 'Way Beyond Monochrome'? I just got the book and it deals mostly with traditional B&W film, but it does address digital and hybrid processes. I am looking for a...

randymoe

I just got the book and it deals mostly with traditional B&W film, but it does address digital and hybrid processes.

I am looking for a discussion on digital negatives. I know other forums do address this, but most of the discussion is 7 years old.

I also ordered Harmon Ilford Direct Positive FB paper in 5x7 to experiment with after reading Roger Hicks 'Shutterbug' review.

Anybody else?

rebride

Now I understand your other post. D800 and enlargers.

randymoe

I can be rather confusing.

I always do at least 3 things at once. Now I am off to work on my motorcycle.

Thanks for reading.

rebride wrote:

Now I understand your other post. D800 and enlargers.

rebride

Seeing as your from Tin Can College does your motorcycle have
valves the size of trash can covers.

Jay Leno speaking about his Harley.

randymoe

TIN CAN COLLEGE is the school of hard knocks.

I gave up on my Harley's as my osteoarthritis is too painful to ride big bikes now. I am becoming a small Honda man. Today I sold my 1967 BSA A65L. I won't miss it.

rebride wrote:

Seeing as your from Tin Can College does your motorcycle have
valves the size of trash can covers.

Jay Leno speaking about his Harley.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

I have read bits and parts of the book, mostly related to the relationship of print reflection density to gray zones, in an attempt to calibrate my commercial printer's gray values to the PhotoShop gray/RBG values. The parts I've read and copied appear very well written.

Forgot to mention; I did try making digital negatives a few years ago and found it to be much more difficult than it was worth to me. I love the look of Ilford fiber paper, but found I like Crystal Archive just as well once matted.

randymoe

Yes, I find the book to be a great resource. It has many excellent sections. The detail on how to matte and hang alone was worth the price.

It is one book that is far better in print than Kindle. The many illustrations and photos are important.

Would you please describe your digital negative experience a little?

Thanks!

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

rebride wrote:

Seeing as your from Tin Can College does your motorcycle have
valves the size of trash can covers.

Jay Leno speaking about his Harley.

This is a copy of the cover from a MGM Las Vegas magazine. The "bike" has a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter engine in it which caught on fire when Jay cranked it up.
He joked that "it does that sometimes." :lol: :thumbup:

Jay Leno's bike

randymoe

I have seem that bike. Jay has a great collection.

pounder35 wrote:

rebride wrote:

Seeing as your from Tin Can College does your motorcycle have
valves the size of trash can covers.

Jay Leno speaking about his Harley.

This is a copy of the cover from a MGM Las Vegas magazine. The "bike" has a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter engine in it which caught on fire when Jay cranked it up.
He joked that "it does that sometimes." :lol: :thumbup:

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

randymoe wrote:

Yes, I find the book to be a great resource. It has many excellent sections. The detail on how to matte and hang alone was worth the price.

It is one book that is far better in print than Kindle. The many illustrations and photos are important.

Would you please describe your digital negative experience a little?

Thanks!

I think a lot of my problems were from my not having the right printer and medium, and not being willing to make the needed investment in time and materials. I had an inexpensive Epson dye ink printer and the ink always smeared a little regardless of what settings were tried. And my negatives always came out light and contrasty. I tried to print one or two but lost all shadow detail. I tried this at the point I had pretty much given up wet printing and had gone to scanning negatives then giving the PhotoShopped files to a commercial printer.

In concept, I like the idea of scanning, reworking the negative in PS, then making a new negative, allowing one to print fiber base paper without dodging/burning, but I was unwilling to spend what I think may have made it possible. If anything, I have come to like b/w prints made on Crystal Archive even better than Ilford paper, they seem to be more crisp, whether originating from film or digital.

Good luck with your attempts. I know it can work if one makes the committment. I hope you keep us informed.

randymoe

This is one of my long term projects. I have many...
I will keep you informed on my progress. I will be trying this with a Canon Pixma Pro 1 printer and translucent plastic paper. 13x19 contact prints are one goal.

Thanks for your input!

jackm1943 wrote:

quote=randymoe Yes, I find the book to be a great... (show quote)

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

jackm1943 wrote:

quote=randymoe Yes, I find the book to be a great... (show quote)

I looked into the Fuji Crystal Archive paper and the web site raved about the color. I guess it works good with B/W also? Where do you purchase it? I guess first of all I need a decent printer. :lol: I use an Epson Workforce 610 all in one now but it's terrible as far as photos. I'm considering the Epson R2880. It's about half the price of the Canon Pixma One. That's for a refurbished unit. It's gotten really good reviews. I would go for the Canon but it's out of my budget range.

randymoe

I have found Costco, which I believe uses Fuji Crystal, produces an inferior BW print as compared to Canon Pixma Pro 1 with identical monochrome files.

pounder35 wrote:

quote=jackm1943 quote=randymoe Yes, I find the b... (show quote)

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

pounder35 wrote:

quote=jackm1943 quote=randymoe Yes, I find the b... (show quote)

Actually, Crystal Archive is a photographic color print paper, not for inkjet. My commercial printer uses it in his LightJet printer which uses laser lights to expose the photo paper. Other papers could be used, but my commercial printer prefers Crystal Archive for both color and b/w images. Also, the Ilford fiber base paper I mentioned is a very popular b/w variable contrast photo paper, not an inkjet paper.

There are clear media especially designed for digital negatives but I don't remember brands or suppliers. I would guess they can be easily found by Google.

pounder35 Loc: "Southeast of Disorder"

randymoe wrote:

I have found Costco, which I believe uses Fuji Crystal, produces an inferior BW print as compared to Canon Pixma Pro 1 with identical monochrome files.

pounder35 wrote:

quote=jackm1943 quote=randymoe Yes, I find the b... (show quote)

I have found Costco, which I believe uses Fuji Cry... (show quote)

Basically I was wondering where I could find the Fuji Crystal paper to use at home on my on printer if and when I get a decent printer. What is a good paper for B/W?