b&w laser printer to produce digital negatives for cyanotypes?

[keithostertag]

I have never made a digital negative and am considering trying it if I can do so very inexpensively. Reading through this forum it appears I will have quite the learning curve!

I do not own an inkjet printer and do not want to buy one. I have an older Lexmark b&w laser printer (T430) - would I be able to produce reasonably usable digital negatives with it for use with the cyanotype process?

I should add that I do not use Photoshop or Microsoft products- I use GIMP and RawTherapee on Linux.

Also, if I can use my Lexmark laser printer what transparency material would you recommend? I wish to make images less than 8x10 in size, probably close to 5x7.

Thanks,
Keith

 

[radiant]

Check this thread: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/laser-printed-digital-negatives.180131/

 

[MattKing]

When I looked into this I discovered that the transparency material designed for laser printers wasn't nearly as easy to locate as material like Pictorico - the material designed for inkjet printers.
Look for overhead projector transparencies suitable for laser printers.

 

[removed account4]

Reading through this forum it appears I will have quite the learning curve!

Hi Keith
Its not really as difficulty as people make it seem.
That said .... I set my bar super-low and I am happy with the results I get
im not sure if that is good or bad .
I have friends who don't bother with the process-based-contrast-curves
and just invert their print as they like it and use that .. worked for cyanos, salt prints, zia +c types
good luck + have fun!
John

 

[Craig75]

As long as gimp has a curve correction tool, which i think it does, then your software can do it.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

It just depends what you want to get out of it. If you want your cyanotypes to look perfect like a platinum print, then no. But that doesn't mean it won't work for you. Good images are good images. Laser negs tend to give grainier prints and flatter prints, sort of a soot and chalk type look. If that is what you are looking for then go for it. Go for it anyway since cyanotypes are cheap and fun and you will be learning. You can always have someone make negs for you too.