Mike1234
Member
I don't know if it's appropriate here but... this suggestion, a hypothesis really, will produce 100 percent analog prints (never any pixels). The only thing that could be called "digital" is the control of the bank of LED's serving as the enlarger light source.
How about a panel of LED's tightly packed together as the enlarger light source and with diffusion between it and the film and adjustable height so the diffusion is variable? Individual LED intensity could be computer controlled. This would, in effect, produce automatically dodged/burned prints with 100 percent accuracy/repeatablility and one could save the tweak for use anytime later. Of course, an interactive computer interface would be needed to accept human input for the adjustments. I don't see why this couldn't work for color as well as B&W and the color one could alter localized color, not just intensity... say you want to enhance a sunset while cooling down the forground colors. However, much smaller LED's would be needed as the spacing is a problem between all those color LED's. The color unit could also be used to make split contrast prints... infinity variable, actually.
BTW, this could also be used for contact prints.
No, I don't have the technical skills to build one. And, yes, it would be pricey.
EDIT, I read a post somewhere in which someone suggested using an LED display panel as the light source for contact prints. But I don't think anyone suggested making a "digital mask" for it. At any rate, that would be a fully analog process too unless one wants to pick nits at the light source.
Oh... and photoexpedition posted EARLIER the concept of using LED's as an enlarger light source.
How about a panel of LED's tightly packed together as the enlarger light source and with diffusion between it and the film and adjustable height so the diffusion is variable? Individual LED intensity could be computer controlled. This would, in effect, produce automatically dodged/burned prints with 100 percent accuracy/repeatablility and one could save the tweak for use anytime later. Of course, an interactive computer interface would be needed to accept human input for the adjustments. I don't see why this couldn't work for color as well as B&W and the color one could alter localized color, not just intensity... say you want to enhance a sunset while cooling down the forground colors. However, much smaller LED's would be needed as the spacing is a problem between all those color LED's. The color unit could also be used to make split contrast prints... infinity variable, actually.
BTW, this could also be used for contact prints.
No, I don't have the technical skills to build one. And, yes, it would be pricey.
EDIT, I read a post somewhere in which someone suggested using an LED display panel as the light source for contact prints. But I don't think anyone suggested making a "digital mask" for it. At any rate, that would be a fully analog process too unless one wants to pick nits at the light source.

Oh... and photoexpedition posted EARLIER the concept of using LED's as an enlarger light source.
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