Film negatives from digital files

[Pieter12]

Beyond LTV services, which seem to be harder and hard to find, is there a home-brewed way to make B&W film negatives from digital files? Not printer negatives, real film, any format.

 

[koraks]

No, I don't think so. I've been asking myself the same question for a couple of years now, but no practical answer.

There's the theoretical option of acquiring an imagesetter and using that to expose silver halide film. Or, in a similar vein, something like an old Durst Lambda or Océ LightJet. However, I don't think any of those options are particularly realistic at this point for a variety of reasons - ultimately, cost.

I'd be happy to be proven wrong, so I hope someone comes along in this thread and does so...

 

[Chan Tran]

Polaroid, Agfa, Imagepro made some film recorders. Basically it displays the digital image on a high resolution CRT and uses a film camera to copy the image. You can either use slide film or negative film. I was about to get the Polaroid unit but the problem of getting the right software and computer with the right OS and interface to use it.

 

[calebarchie]

Over the years, there has been several people who have built 'home-made' film recorders and digital enlargers. Extensive setups usually using a combination of lasers and galvos - so it is achievable with the right expertise and funds.

 

[avandesande]

Doing some quick calculations it looks like taking a image of a 8k monochrome lcd would provide 2,400 dpi in 6x4.5 and 4,500 dpi in 35mm. Is there any interest in recording these formats? I don't know what people are looking for. I've made 4x5 negatives on lith film without issue on my digital enlarger, however I don't think these size negatives would compare favorably with a dedicated film recorder except for using in alt processes.

 

[ced]

Project to a smooth white surface (no texture) & photograph it, only issue is a few generations may lose some resolution/details. Give it a go & see where it takes you.

 

[DanyB]

What about apply real film scanned grain on a digital image?

 

[Janosch Simon]

im using this sweety and it works great https://silvergrainclassics.com/en/wpfd_file/agfa-alto-ls-8k-data-sheet/ i bought several years ago for 1300€ a steal i have a 35mm adapter and 4x5" luckily the only service is near me one time i needed an eprom clean. one short visit there https://mops-computer.hier-im-netz.de/home.html now it works amazing technologie
cheers janosch

 

[Carnie Bob]

Mike Robinson has made daguerreotype from photographing a high end computer screen. I have the final daguerreotype in my office and it resolves really well, I do not see why one could not replace the holder with film or pos.

on a second note I did own a lambda (scrapped it due to Covid financial losses and actually lack of interest on my part when I compared apples to apples , inkjet and lambda neg and print. Any Lambda lab in the world has the capability of making large negs for clients but the reality is will the marketplace want them, my experience told me no so I only make inkjet negs. Image setter negs are ok if you are ok with seeing random dot in your final small print.