From: Joe (jtait@texas.net)
Date: 12/31/69-09:28:30 PM Z
You actually wouldn't adjust the scan, but the tonal values post-scan,
by applying a curve(s) to the file to move all or some values to greater
densities. This is one good thing about digital, in that you have the
versatility to tailor the file for the particular output process, while
retaining open shadows and well separated highlights (or not). Of
course, the traditional way demands more out of the photographer and I
bow to them if they are able to consistently control density in wet
duping. On the flip side, excellent digital output has it's own
challenges and does require technical expertise....
Frankly I can't afford to spend the money experimenting and have a lot
of reservations about the careless use of gallons of chemistry that
isn't exactly environmentally friendly. I'd advocate digital for the
latter reason.
Elaborating on a previous comment about establishing end points on your
scan (white & black points), if you are proficient in PS, doing a raw
scan and working from that is almost always better. Most scanner
software takes raw data and throws away values on the extreme ends of
the curve, which effectively compresses the tonal scale of the file and
boosts contrast. Obviously a lot of people don't necessarily want this
and making your own decisions about how to adjust the scan is better in
my eyes. Keep that in mind when scanning film.
As far as superior film, I am in the t-max film camp right now. It has
minimal grain and smooth tonalities in many developers. Development is
almost as important as film choice, if you tend to use specialized
developers, such as high acutance ones, I would suggest ones that
accentuate grain the least. Less grain is arguably the most important
factor if you are scanning at moderate resolutions (2700dpi for 35/MF,
even 2000dpi for 4x5 IMO). Basically grain appears (in the file) larger
than it is at lower resolutions due to the process of grain structure
being resolved into pixels. This can be really objectionable and I even
notice it in 2000dpi 4x5 scans. Another reason to scan at high
resolutions is to avoid grain aliasing, which is a stair-stepped
appearance to edges in the subject (a chainlink fence for instance). I
always scan at the native resolutions of the scanner and higher bit
depths (assuming the scanner is actually resolving better detail at
these setting). You can always downsample, and this acutally a good
technique to avoid aliasing and cantelope-sized grain.
-Joe
>
> I have wondered about this. If you processed your negatives for
> alt-processes like pt/pd or cyanotype, you probably did make them
> denser than negatives for silver gelatin printing. So, how do you
> adjust scanner settings to take care of that?
>
> --shannon
>
>
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