Unsharp masks

olleorama · Sep 16, 2011

How many here does it? How big negatives do you guys bother doing the masks with? What film do you use and what do you use in between the neg and the mask?

Is it possible to do one with color negs and what film do you use for that?

Thankful for answers!

Robert Hall · Sep 16, 2011

I mask up to 12x20 and use an ortho litho film. I have registration equipment for 35mm on up.

I don't always mask, but typically when I do I'm quite happy with the results.

BW film only.

olleorama · Sep 17, 2011

Robert Hall said:
I mask up to 12x20 and use an ortho litho film. I have registration equipment for 35mm on up.

I don't always mask, but typically when I do I'm quite happy with the results.

BW film only.

What do you use in between the negative and the lith film to make it unsharp? Do you do it with 35mm???

2F/2F · Sep 17, 2011

I do it, but mostly with color. There is a much more limited amount of contrast control available with color materials than there is with b/w ones, and it helps quite a bit. I have done it up to 4x5. It is really the way to print color well, IMHO. It is just as great of a tool with b/w, but seldom as necessary, as there are a million other ways to manipulate b/w prints to get what you want.

The bigger the film, the easier it is IME. The hardest part is registration. That's why the less you have to blow something up (i.e. the larger the film), the easier it is to make it look good.

You can also do masks right on the paper. Aside from having it's "regular" uses, it is one of the main tricks used by Jerry Uelsmann and other composite photo printers.

olleorama · Sep 17, 2011

2F/2F said:
I do it, but mostly with color. There is a much more limited amount of contrast control available with color materials than there is with b/w ones, and it helps quite a bit. I have done it up to 4x5. It is really the way to print color well, IMHO. It is just as great of a tool with b/w, but seldom as necessary, as there are a million other ways to manipulate b/w prints to get what you want.

The bigger the film, the easier it is IME. The hardest part is registration. That's why the less you have to blow something up (i.e. the larger the film), the easier it is to make it look good.

You can also do masks right on the paper. Aside from having it's "regular" uses, it is one of the main tricks used by Jerry Uelsmann and other composite photo printers.

Can you explain in detail how you do it, and what materials you use for color? How do you do it on paper`??

EdSawyer · Sep 17, 2011

There's a very good writeup of the process in Ctein's book Post Exposure, which is a free PDF download on his website. Well recommended. Another write up is in Barry Thornton's book (I forget the name, the 2nd book...), using slightly different materials and method. Both would be suitable for color, Ctein's is written for color expressly. Agreed with 2F that it's really the best way to print color. I haven't made masks yet but plan to do so soon, probably this winter when there's less stuff to shoot and more time for darkroom work.

olleorama · Sep 17, 2011

I have a book in Swedish with some notes on how to do it in B&W, but it's pretty vague. I'll look up cteins book, I have it on my harddrive somewhere.

BradS · Sep 17, 2011

I;ve heard of contrast masks -- especially with regard to making prints from color slides -- but, never heard of "unsharp mask"....:confused:

olleorama · Sep 17, 2011

Found a good primer on LF.info: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/unsharp/

2F/2F · Sep 17, 2011

BradS said:
I;ve heard of contrast masks -- especially with regard to making prints from color slides -- but, never heard of "unsharp mask"....:confused:

Contact-printed contrast masks, and most other types of masks, are purposefully made slightly unsharp to make for smoother transitions and easier registration. Though the term being used to describe masks in general is due to people coming up with Photoshop instead of a darkroom. I always heard them called "silver masks." But then again, I think you must know that already, and what you said was maybe just your way of pointing this out to the OP.

David A. Goldfarb · Sep 17, 2011

An unsharp mask is designed to improve edge definition. The mask is made by using thin mylar or acetate sheets between the original and the masking film, and then the original and the mask are printed in register. The effect can be controlled by adjusting the distance between the original and the masking film, the exposure, and the contrast of the mask.

olleorama · Sep 17, 2011

Ctein recommends tmax100. I think I would prefer working with efke ortho lith film, because I then would be ale to work under safelights. What developer would you recommend for lith film to get it as soft as it needs to be?

ghostcount · Sep 17, 2011

I use Dektol.

2F/2F · Sep 17, 2011

I always used FP4. It has a very neutral base.

EdSawyer · Sep 17, 2011

Barry Thornton recommends ortho lith also, thats what i would try first, personally.

akaa · Sep 17, 2011

2F/2F
I always used FP4. It has a very neutral base.

You use this for your color masks? What registration system are you using for 35mm? Radeka/Homemade/other?

olleorama · Sep 18, 2011

ghostcount said:
I use Dektol.

With ortho film? I'll try that when the efke ortho lith film arrives.

L Gebhardt · Sep 18, 2011

For color contrast control masks I use FP4+ in TMax RS developer. Gives a nice neutral colored mask. I use a pin register system from Alistair Inglis. I use the same film and developer for the few unsharp masks I have made for black and white negatives too, just because I had the approximate process worked out.

I also use 4x5 film for both 4x5 and 120 masks. I have never made a mask for 35mm, so I don't know how well it works. If I were to do so I would cut the film down to save money.

olleorama · Sep 19, 2011

Thanks everybody for chipping in. I'm always amazed by the knowledge and experience here.

But I cannot for my life understand how you can handle the sheet film and making masks in complete darkness, without pin registration systems. I will try with the ortho film and some 6x7 color negs and see how it works.

olleorama · Sep 19, 2011

Thanks for the encouragement.

L Gebhardt · Sep 19, 2011

L Gebhardt said:
For color contrast control masks I use FP4+ in TMax RS developer. Gives a nice neutral colored mask. I use a pin register system from Alistair Inglis. I use the same film and developer for the few unsharp masks I have made for black and white negatives too, just because I had the approximate process worked out.

I also use 4x5 film for both 4x5 and 120 masks. I have never made a mask for 35mm, so I don't know how well it works. If I were to do so I would cut the film down to save money.

Making the mask in the dark is easy, it's getting it aligned when you want to use it that's hard without a registration system.

Robert Hall · Sep 20, 2011

I use the ortho-litho, in dektol. Make sure you pre-wet your mask as the development time is quick and you might get streaks. I make it unsharp by putting the support side to support side. That's usually enough for me.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1351744789998.2051939.1122723189&type=1

These are from my Facebook account, I have a few images of me doing an unsharp mask.

Unsharp masks

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