Re: How to apply curves in PS for digital negatives...

>> Christina wrote:
>>> I´ve found this site, where you can download some sample curves for
>>> PS for making digital negatives.
>>>
>>> http://www.alternativephotography.com/articles/art051.html
>>>
>>> But how to use them?
>>>
>>> I mean do I first convert the image to a negative and then apply the
>>> curve, or first apply the curve and then convert into a negative?
>>>
>>> The result is different.
>>>
>>> Thank you very much for your help,
>>>
>>> Lg
>>>
>>> Christina

>> Christina,
>>
>> First, make your adjustments to your image. Second, apply your
>> chosen curve. Third, convert to negative. You will also want to
>> flip the image horizontally either in PS or in print setup.
>
> I guess where my misunderstanding lies is that the curve for Van Dyke
> removes some of the contrast of the image. I definitetly need to
> increase the contrast to make a proper Van Dyke image. I have yet to
> get an acceptable digital negative, but continue trying.
>
I look at many of the curves in the curves area of
alternativephotography.com and just roll my eyes. Half of them look totally
wrong to begin with and other half give you no details on how there were
produced, what printer, what paper, inks, times et al. No one has mentioned
so far, although it's been said many times, that applying a generic curve
like this will probably only produce mediocre results -- if you're lucky. To
truly reap the benefits of the curve function you have to print YOUR OWN
step tablets so you can match the tones from your output (i.e. the final
VDB) to the tones produced on your digital negative output. For all you know
this curve was a VDB produced on a piece of paper towel and developed in
creek water. Nothing wrong with that except that maybe it's not your brand
of paper towel or you live on a different creek. You need to learn how to
produce your own curves. You can buy into someone's system or develop your
own as I did. For starters, get a piece of graph paper and map out where 5,
10, 20, 30...80, 90, 95 and 100 per cent black on your negatitve printed on
your final output. What you'll find is that the relationship is not linear.
Create a table from your results and make a curve based on that. This is
where understanding of the process begins.

~m
Received on Sun Nov 27 10:15:13 2005