Suitable process for low contrast, diffuse negatives?

[windchill]

Hi All,
I'm interested in doing some alternative process prints from digital negatives.
The potential problem is that my work involves images which are very blurred, unsharp, diffuse, and often low contrast.
Take the following image for example. Would there be a process suitable for printing this, or would the result just lose what little definition there is? Would there be any point in using alternative processes to print such an image?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ic-racer]

Are these supposed to be viewed as a low contrast negative? If not, why is there an issue matching your digital creation to the known analog processes?

 

[windchill]

From what i understand alternative processes generally require a pretty clear, well defined, high contrast negative to start with. Am I mistaken?

 

[gzinsel]

well, windchill, sort of. . . . All alt process with silver nitrate. . yes. But those using dichromate, i.e. carbon, gum, etc. . . need and use the straight line of the curve. the textural zones. I think the image by the O.P. would look great as a carbon print. just my two cents.

 

[ced]

Try a few like Cyano, Salt, Gum Print or even Carbon.
Why not. The image is just fine.

 

[Ian Leake]

From what i understand alternative processes generally require a pretty clear, well defined, high contrast negative to start with. Am I mistaken?

Most alt processes have a high exposure range. It is not uncommon, for example to see as many as 7-8 stops of exposure between paper-white and maximum black. That means you need very dense negatives to get a full scale print (i.e. one with all the tones between paper-white and maximum black). That's what people mean when they say alt processes require high contrast negatives. It doesn't matter if you use film or digital negatives, you just need to calibrate your process to achieve this. This is easy with film, more difficult with digital negatives.

The content of your print whether full range, high key or low key is a different thing. I make platinum/palladium prints, and have successfully made full range prints, very high key prints (so high key that the image disappears when you try to take a picture of the print), and very low key prints.

In short:
1. Calibrate your process so that you can achieve a full range print
2. Make pictures that are aesthetically pleasing to you by using that calibrated process
3. Enjoy the wonderful world of alt printing

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have printed soft, diffused digital negatives as kallitypes… I would not print this in carbon transfer process. Large, light even toned areas can and usually do, show defects in the negative, and your tissue, especially digital... but I'm not going to discuss that here, as this is not the place for it.

 

[windchill]

Thanks for all the responses. Looks like it's possible but will need care.

 

[Bob Carnie]

I think Pt Pd would be a lovely process for these images