Digital BW, The Print

Not sure how many of you are interested in this, but I bet some of you are.

(DISCLAIMER: I consult for HP, and I helped bring some of the parties 
together to make this project happen. Please don't ask me about new HP products 
or HP support issues:)

If you haven't heard, HP recently announced the "Large Format Photo 
Negatives" application for printing LF digital negatives and then using that neg 
for Alt Process (UV-based only) traditional (hand-made) prints. Basically, 
it's a free paper preset download for Z3200 (only) that defines the ink 
separation into mostly Green and some Black inks (only those two). It began as a 
"skunk work" in HP labs in Barcelona, and is now available to anyone (with a 
Z3200). 

The first photographer to use it is Elliott Erwitt (!) of Magnum Photos, in 
conjunction with printmakers Gabe Greenberg (digital neg) and Arkady Lvov 
(platinum), all in NYC. I made a little step-by-step video about them and the 
process here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8HroH1Leio

And here's more info about it:
http://bit.ly/aQSNbt

This process was physically introduced at Arles festival in France, and the 
first North American demo of it (both neg and Erwitt prints) will be at 
PPE/NYC in October. If you're at PPE, check it out. I'm not a Platinum expert, 
but I've seen enough of it, and these Erwitt prints (and images) are 
beautiful.

Harald Johnson

P.S. There is a workaround for the Z3100, and I'm asking the inventor of 
the application in Barcelona to clarify. If there is any interest or response 
here, I'll try to twist his arm to come on and explain.


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