Creating contrast mask in Photoshop for printing in darkroom?

[lhoff601]

I'm a film shooter (35mm) for the past 3 years and also have worked with Photoshop (and the Nik Software plugin suite) for the past 6 years.

I setup a darkroom for myself with a Besseler 23c enlarger and have made some prints. I'd like to get better at printing and, specifically, I've become very interested in the idea of creating contrast masks and printing from the "sandwich" of negative and mask in the enlarger. I've read very cursory descriptions of the method, which describe the process as:

• Scan your negative
• Create a contrast mask in Photoshop
• Print this mask (on transparency, on your inkjet printer)
• Trim mask to match negative
• Make a sandwich of negative and mask
• Place sandwich in enlarger
• Make consistent prints

However, the above represents the total amount of detail on this method that I've been able to find.

Has anyone here ever done this, with 35mm B&W film? Was it difficult (as I imagine it would be) to print a mask that is exactly the same size as your 35mm negative? How did you solve this problem?

I've read about "pin registration", but am unsure what that means. Articles which mention pin registration are usually talking about masking medium format or large format negatives -- which I am not working with, as my equipment is all 35mm. Is pin registration too clumsy and/or tricky for working with a small negative like 35mm, or is this commonly done?

Would I need to tape things to my negatives?

I have a carrier in my enlarger that accepts a strip of negatives and has a wheel that lets me flip through all of the frames in the strip, until I'm on the one that I want to print. I'm guessing this carrier would not be a good match for printing a masking sandwich. Am I right? Should I pickup a carrier that opens and closes upon the frame I'm planning to print?

So, that's a lot of questions. But, to anyone who answers, I will have more. So, thank you and please be patient!

 

[Doyle Thomas]

"pin registration refers to punching small holes in your neg and copy film. the two are then placed in a carier on pins that match the holes. an exposure is made and the copy developed. the two are then sandwitched on the same pins and will be in register. two things. 35mm is small and hard to punch outside the image area and the light source needs to be 3~4 feet away to keep the angle of the light from causing a halo. with 35mm common practice is to use a 2 1/4 thin piece of black paper with a hole cut for the film which is then taped to the paper. the same is done for the copy. both are placed together and holes punched using an adjusted 3 hole punch. the tricky part is alignment after development. there used to be a company called Conduit I believe that made pin reg systems for 35mm to 8x10. as to digital masking I have never tried

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'm a film shooter (35mm) for the past 3 years and also have worked with Photoshop (and the Nik Software plugin suite) for the past 6 years.

I setup a darkroom for myself with a Besseler 23c enlarger and have made some prints. I'd like to get better at printing and, specifically, I've become very interested in the idea of creating contrast masks and printing from the "sandwich" of negative and mask in the enlarger. I've read very cursory descriptions of the method, which describe the process as:

• Scan your negative
• Create a contrast mask in Photoshop
• Print this mask (on transparency, on your inkjet printer)
• Trim mask to match negative
• Make a sandwich of negative and mask
• Place sandwich in enlarger
• Make consistent prints

the method is viable, especially if the mask is prepared on a color inkjet,but indeed,it is much harder with smaller negatives.I've done it plenty of times with MF and even there it is more work than I'm willing to do
However, the above represents the total amount of detail on this method that I've been able to find.

Has anyone here ever done this, with 35mm B&W film? Was it difficult (as I imagine it would be) to print a mask that is exactly the same size as your 35mm negative? How did you solve this problem?

I've read about "pin registration", but am unsure what that means. Articles which mention pin registration are usually talking about masking medium format or large format negatives -- which I am not working with, as my equipment is all 35mm. Is pin registration too clumsy and/or tricky for working with a small negative like 35mm, or is this commonly done?

Would I need to tape things to my negatives?

I have a carrier in my enlarger that accepts a strip of negatives and has a wheel that lets me flip through all of the frames in the strip, until I'm on the one that I want to print. I'm guessing this carrier would not be a good match for printing a masking sandwich. Am I right? Should I pickup a carrier that opens and closes upon the frame I'm planning to print?

So, that's a lot of questions. But, to anyone who answers, I will have more. So, thank you and please be patient!

it is hard to do with 35mm negatives but you can contact the person who has most of the experience with pin-registered masking.His name is Lynn Radek.google for his website and contact detail.He can help you along;great photographer,very helpful and nice guy.