webcam for darkroom image analysis

[AJH]

Anybody tried or knows of using a Webcam for silver darkroom black&white contrast and exposure analysis? Could even do a splitgrade exposure analysis.

Would appreciate any experience reports...

 

[jstraw]

Is it April 1st yet?

 

[AJH]

Grabbing an unprocessed image and analysing it using software like IT (image tool) it seems very much doable to me.

With a Heiland Splitgrade you move the sensor over all important points of the projected image. And contrast is thus recorded.

With a camera you get many points in one shot. Grouping the points and contrast is then determined.

I'll do my own experiments. Most important are the dynamic ranges of image sensors.

 

[Chan Tran]

I have much better luck using a film scanner. Short of that I would use a still digital camera rather than a webcam.

 

[AJH]

I have much better luck using a film scanner. Short of that I would use a still digital camera rather than a webcam.

A filmscanner is likely built from better components and has a better dynaminc range. Should be better indeed. One thing I thought was to take the camera with a laptop into the darkroom and use it there. Ad hoc so to say.

The filmscanner is more a desktop/office thing and scans and calculations need to be done in advance.

What software are you using?

 

[Chan Tran]

I use the Minolta dual scan IV and the software that came with it. My darkroom is a spare bedroom setup as my workshop/office/darkroom so I have several desktop computers in the room. Since I only do printing from color negative and my technique only work for color, I would need to develop a technique for B&W when I get around to doing B&W which I plan to do sometimes in the future. And yes, I don't quite get the hold of split grade printing yet either.