Advantages: It is simpler (needs only one step). It uses panchromatic
films which seem MUCH less static (dust) prone. You can filter the
enlarged neg just like you can a black and white scene (add a red filter to
darken the sky, etc).
Disadvantages: You need a condenser or color head (cold lights are too off
color). Films (particularly very large ones) are more expensive. It
doesn't work with a contrasty transparency. Your darkroom work must be
done in complete darkness.
If you shot in mid to low contrast, and have a color head or condenser,
this may work for you. I have a condenser head, to which I add a 1/2 blue
gel (to moderately correct the color balance). I enlarge onto Photo
Warehouse "Pan Portrait" film (800-922-5484). This film appears to be
custom cut Ilford FP-4, and is available up to 20x24 inches. I develop
this in 20ml per liter HC-110 for 4 minutes at 70 degrees F (for gums), or
the same HC-110 followed by dilute paper developer for cyanotypes or
platinums. Don't measure your enlarged film's density range until it is
dry!
If you work in higher contrast situations, this system will fail. The
contrast at the highlights (zone 7 and above) AND at the shadows (zone 3
and below) of modern transparency film is AWFUL! If you can shoot between
zones 3 and zone 7, you can use this system, expanding the contrast of the
enlarged neg to whatever your process requires.
tomf2468@pipeline.com (Tom Ferguson)
Chris Gibbs <cpgibbs@ptialaska.net> wrote:
>Hello All,
>SNIP<
>Having now read three different manuscripts (Mr Burkholder/Fokos &Palmer
>"many thanks to each" BTW) I'm left wondering is there another
>easier/cheaper way to produce enlarged negatives?
>
>The digital method appealed to me initially as my thoughts of shooting
>only transparency (120mm Stock), digitizing said images then outputting
>to an imagesetter seamed ideal! However, this process although
>excellent in nature is *very* expensive <SNIP>
>
>Instead of going back to the old methods :-) and shooting a medium/large
>format monochrome image in addition to the tranny I have a question.
>"Does anyone out there produce enlarged negatives directly from a
>transparency"? My thought (as a novice Alt.Photo person) is that the
>results should be very good if working with a fine grain medium format
>tranny and enlarging onto say 8x10" FP4+.
>SNIP<