Exposing and deving negs for scanning

I am used to exposing and developing negs for POP printing. This requires a REALLY contrasty neg. How are people exposing and developing BW negs for scanning? I know they need to be thinner than what I am doing. I want to shoot 4x10 images, scan, enlarge and reprint for 8x20 alt process prints. I will be doing this on an epson 3200.

Please use laymans terms and I don't own a densitometer. I still have not decided on the program I am going to use to make these either.

mark said:

I am used to exposing and developing negs for POP printing. This requires a REALLY contrasty neg. How are people exposing and developing BW negs for scanning? I know they need to be thinner than what I am doing. I want to shoot 4x10 images, scan, enlarge and reprint for 8x20 alt process prints. I will be doing this on an epson 3200.

Please use laymans terms and I don't own a densitometer. I still have not decided on the program I am going to use to make these either.

Click to expand...

Mark,

I think the recommended density range for POP printing is about 1.8 or so which should scan pretty easily. Negatives of a density range greater than 2.2 or 2.4 may be more difficult to scan depending on the dynamic range your scanner is capable of. The best think is to try it and see.

Don Bryant

Mark,

mark said:

I want to shoot 4x10 images, scan, enlarge and reprint for 8x20 alt process prints. I will be doing this on an epson 3200.

Click to expand...

BTW, the 3200 can't scan 4x10 negs, 5x7 is the max.

Don

Using a custom holder (matboard) I should be able to do it. It is worth a try none the less. The light thing for transparencies is 4.5x11ish.

mark said:

Using a custom holder (matboard) I should be able to do it. It is worth a try none the less. The light thing for transparencies is 4.5x11ish.

Click to expand...

The holder isn't the problem Mark. The largest scan area is 5x7 when scanning in transparency mode. You would have to scan the negative in sections and then stitch the scans together.

Don Bryant

Oh. Well damn.

mark said:

How are people exposing and developing BW negs for scanning?

Click to expand...

The only thing I'd worry about is exposing the negative properly. Don't expose it for scanning, just expose it correctly for what it is - a negative.

Different scanning equipment behave differently and as technology improves, a negative that your current scanner may difficulty with will be replaced with one that scans it easily and cost half the price.

My advice on the scanner is buy the best scanner you can afford, calibrate it with an investment in an IT8 transparency target (this is another thread) and a custom ICC profile, learn how to use PS, and you're all set. Oh and buy a large external hard drive - you're going to need it.

Now if you want contrast, you can always add or subtract contrast in PS. There are some plug-ins that also do this better than the inherent PS software itself. I don't use them, but I've been told.

Regards, Art.