Pulling detail in gum print

[soysos]

While I’m the process of getting my darkroom usable again, I’m working on some contact print projects that got shelved. I’m having an issue with one, and I’m hoping for some advice from people more experienced in the process. I’m working on turning this photo into a 3 color gum print, but I’m having an issue with the shadow detail. Keep in mind, I haven’t added the yellow layer yet, but the subject looks faceless. What kind of edit needs to be made to pull more detail? Or do I just need to ride it out, and the yellow layer will fix it?

 

[koraks]

Are you using digital color separations? Proper calibration of that part, along with consistent methods in the printmaking process, should fix the issue.
I can recommend Calvin Grier's Gum Printing manual if you're curious about this process. It's theoretically in-depth without being overly complicated, and furthermore provides a plethora of hands-on/practical advice. He also has a digital calibrations guide, although I'd start with the gum printing one and then take it from there if you want to dig deeper.

 

[soysos]

Are you using digital color separations? Proper calibration of that part, along with consistent methods in the printmaking process, should fix the issue.
I can recommend Calvin Grier's Gum Printing manual if you're curious about this process. It's theoretically in-depth without being overly complicated, and furthermore provides a plethora of hands-on/practical advice. He also has a digital calibrations guide, although I'd start with the gum printing one and then take it from there if you want to dig deeper.

Yes. These are digital separations. And I feel like the process is working pretty well, but the lighting in the original composition just sucks.

 

[koraks]

There is little separation in the original image, indeed. You could try and enhance the local contrast there.

I feel like the process is working pretty well

It's up to you to decide what the target is of course, but in terms of a photorealistic output, there's evidently some room for further development.

 

[soysos]

There is little separation in the original image, indeed. You could try and enhance the local contrast there.


It's up to you to decide what the target is of course, but in terms of a photorealistic output, there's evidently some room for further development.

My thinking is I can lighten the shadows, and increase the overall contrast, to gat better separation in the original negative. So the drop off is less noticeable. Am I on the right track here? Or is the issue more in my printing technique?

 

[koraks]

You could approach this from either direction - one way is increase local contrast in the digital negative so it's easier to keep differentiation in the final print. Or the alternative is learn to print more subtle gradations so you don't need as much differentiation in the negative. The latter gets you further in terms of photorealism and makes you more 'agile' in terms of printing different negatives. The former is a quicker way to get the job done.

The real question is what kind of result you're going for. Then it's a matter of taking the steps to get there. I think to be honest that this is currently the main thing you might consider, because depending on the decisions you make about what the outcome needs to be, the steps in the process might be radically different.

 

[soysos]

You could approach this from either direction - one way is increase local contrast in the digital negative so it's easier to keep differentiation in the final print. Or the alternative is learn to print more subtle gradations so you don't need as much differentiation in the negative. The latter gets you further in terms of photorealism and makes you more 'agile' in terms of printing different negatives. The former is a quicker way to get the job done.

The real question is what kind of result you're going for. Then it's a matter of taking the steps to get there. I think to be honest that this is currently the main thing you might consider, because depending on the decisions you make about what the outcome needs to be, the steps in the process might be radically different.

I’m going for a desaturated, dreamlike look. Whole reason I decided to do gum in the first place. So far it’s coming out how I’d envisioned. Except for the face detail.

 

[revdoc]

I'd find it hard to get good detail on the subject's face with any process; they're in direct sun and their face is in shadow. Have you tried an unsharp mask? That would open up the shadows and make them more printable. It might also help to sharpen the image a little.

 

[soysos]

I dodged his face by about a stop and increased the contrast. Round two.