I have tried to do contrast mask for RA-4 digitally, scanning the negative and printing it with an inket printer in a transparency film (Pictorico Premium OHP). The test was done with a 6x7 negative and I blurred the image and reduced the contrast quite a lot in PS, the print was done with only black ink and following Pictorico adjustments. The outcome was like this:
Today I have done enlargements to 17x24 and 30x40 cm and the results are... PERFECT!! Just what I need!! Beautiful prints with no dodge or burns at all, compared to previous situation where I need a heavy and not easy to do dodge on the dark areas to have good detail (half the base exposure). Base exposure was affected by a 1/2 stop due to the contrast mask and it introduced a very light blue cast easy to correct. Aligment of the contrast mask and negative was done manually in a pretty straight foward way, easier than I expected.
A huge step foward to take my photographs where I want to....

Today I have done enlargements to 17x24 and 30x40 cm and the results are... PERFECT!! Just what I need!! Beautiful prints with no dodge or burns at all, compared to previous situation where I need a heavy and not easy to do dodge on the dark areas to have good detail (half the base exposure). Base exposure was affected by a 1/2 stop due to the contrast mask and it introduced a very light blue cast easy to correct. Aligment of the contrast mask and negative was done manually in a pretty straight foward way, easier than I expected.
A huge step foward to take my photographs where I want to....

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