Is there room in the pool?

MurrayMinchin · Jun 4, 2021

Hi there,

My new favourite book just arrived today...

Digital Negatives with QuadToneRip, demystifying QTR for photographers and printmakers, by Ron Reeder and Christina Z. Anderson,

...and was wondering if there's room in the digitally enlarged negative pool for me?

I'm more of a book learner than Internet/computer learner, so am looking forward to having my hand held while getting fully immersed in the pool.

Also, it's not lost on me a sensation of Ron Reeder handing off the baton as one of his last acts on this Earth.

Will be scanning 4x5's and using recent digital work. Not 100% sure of the final version prints will take, but feel there are a couple solid contenders. Anybody else have the book? How did it work out for you?

nmp · Jun 10, 2021

Looks like the pool is quite empty - the QTR side (the deep end) of it anyway....

I dabbled in it for a short period of time. Found it didn't really solve the problem I was having at the time and considering the effort involved in getting it right, I bailed on it and went back to doing it the old fashioned way.

Would be curious to know how it works out for you.

:Niranjan.

MurrayMinchin · Jun 10, 2021

Hi Niranjan,

Things do seem to kind of quiet in this part of the pool. The book hasn't been out for very long.

Took a peek at your website...you do have things well under control...very nice work.

I'll be finishing the darkroom and getting supplies ordered & delivered in about a month or so, then no more toe dipping for me...time to dive right in!

Craig75 · Jun 10, 2021

i have that book but i was put off process.

1. needs one dudes software to make it work
2 only works with epson printers
3 doesnt work properly with the very latest epson printers by looks of it from website

so entirely dependent on one guy, one brand of printers, and doesnt work properly with newest printers. What could possibly go wrong in future there...

that was my impression anwyay rightly or wrongly

nmp · Jun 10, 2021

MurrayMinchin said:
Hi Niranjan,

Things do seem to kind of quiet in this part of the pool. The book hasn't been out for very long.

Took a peek at your website...you do have things well under control...very nice work.

I'll be finishing the darkroom and getting supplies ordered & delivered in about a month or so, then no more toe dipping for me...time to dive right in!

Thanks. Need some new stuff rather than resting on my laurels from the past...

To me best time for an alternative process project is the initial excitement of discovery, learning, and gathering the tools and materials and and making that first test print. Then the nitty-gritty takes over. The rest is all about the follow-up. I do well for the first part, not so for the latter. That's why I seem to start way too many new projects lately, but hardly have anything to show for at the end of the day. At least it keeps me occupied... Oh well, one of these days one or two of them will come to fruition.

Good luck for your new endeavor!

:Niranjan.

Craig75 · Jun 10, 2021

michael_r said:
That is my concern with quite a few things including Piezography.

In the video series I referenced above by, Bill Schwab comments briefly on his understanding (as of a few months ago) that the newest Epson printers won't work with non-OEM inksets, for example. And then there is the fact things like QTR, Print Tool and other parts of the workflow like some of the profiles tend to come from small shops, which means you're relying on one-man operations to update and support everything as the hardware changes. That's not going to continue forever. There are other specialized RIPs along the lines of QTR, but I think the story is somewhat similar.

I'm not an expert in this yet, but it seems like as long as there are parts of the workflow not coming off-the-shelf, so to speak, from the big manufacturers, who knows. Of course you never really know when the big manufacturers are going to screw you anyway, but you understand my general point. I haven't bought a printer yet, but like everything else, they probably don't last very long, so what happens in a few years?

yeah im in same boat - very much procrastinating on what to do - I dont know if just regular way of making digital negatives is sufficient for me.

Andrew O'Neill · Jun 10, 2021

I've been stumbling along with QTR, a cheap P400 (have a 3800, too), fillable cartridges, cheap ink, for making digi negs for about ten years. I've basically taught myself by gleaning what I could from the internet. A book back when I was starting out, would have been helpful... but it's been a fun adventure on me own! I also use QTR for my photography program here... ancient 1400 printer, and cheap ink cartridges from China. My students have been able to explore alt processes, like cyanos and gum.

MurrayMinchin · Jun 10, 2021

We've got the P600 already and figure there are enough people onboard with Harrington's system that if he decided to quit photography and go press wildflowers, QTR would survive.

I also tend not to jump onto whatever shiny technological bandwagons that go by, so figure the gear I have will do for quite a few years.

Thanks for the Schwab tip...will have a look.

MurrayMinchin · Jun 10, 2021

Andrew O'Neill said:
I've been stumbling along with QTR, a cheap P400 (have a 3800, too), fillable cartridges, cheap ink, for making digi negs for about ten years. I've basically taught myself by gleaning what I could from the internet. A book back when I was starting out, would have been helpful... but it's been a fun adventure on me own! I also use QTR for my photography program here... ancient 1400 printer, and cheap ink cartridges from China. My students have been able to explore alt processes, like cyanos and gum.

I used to dive into whatever darkroom tangents I wanted to, but reorganizing the guts of whiz-bang computer controlled printers is waaaay past my comfort zone!

Where do you teach, if you don't mind me asking? (I went to Emily Carr before the Granville Island days and took fine arts at Langara).

Andrew O'Neill · Jun 10, 2021

MurrayMinchin said:
I used to dive into whatever darkroom tangents I wanted to, but reorganizing the guts of whiz-bang computer controlled printers is waaaay past my comfort zone!

Where do you teach, if you don't mind me asking? (I went to Emily Carr before the Granville Island days and took fine arts at Langara).

High school art and photography in Poco. We have a vibrant film photography program here. That's where most of my energy goes even though my background is drawing and printmaking. Seriously considered EC but went to UVic instead. Really wanted to live over there! After I graduated, moved to Japan where I taught myself photography.

MurrayMinchin · Jun 10, 2021

Andrew O'Neill said:
High school art and photography in Poco. We have a vibrant film photography program here. That's where most of my energy goes even though my background is drawing and printmaking. Seriously considered EC but went to UVic instead. Really wanted to live over there! After I graduated, moved to Japan where I taught myself photography.

Ahh, thanks...a mystery solved.

MurrayMinchin · Jun 10, 2021

michael_r said:
If you're interested, Bill Schwab (a contributor to the book) posted an excellent series of introductory videos on his YouTube channel. He walks through the basics including QTR, the linearization process etc.

Looks like he's using the same computer I am and has the Epson P800 while we have the P600. Thanks again for the tip!!!!

Here's a link to video #1 of the series:

Is there room in the pool?

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