Digital BW, The Print

Jack, I regularly shoot 4x5 color negative for b&w prints. They get C41
processing at my pro lab, then I scan them on my Agfa DuoScan T2500 with
VueScan software. I'm getting what I consider very good results.
However, I would not use chromes for this, unless I had access to a drum
scanner, since shadow detail is recorded in chromes at densities beyond
the reach of CCD scanners.

I do 4-up low-res scans as "contact sheets" so I can see positive images
to evaluate the films; I don't get proofs or contact sheets from the
lab. Then I re-scan the films I want to work with at 2500 dpi, hi-bit,
which makes big files.

To convert to grayscale n photoshop, I either select one channel
(generally red, for darkest skies) or use the channel mixer. 

This approach lets me decide about "filtration" in-studio instead of in
the field. The only filters I carry are skylight/UV and polarizers for
each of 3 lenses. It might not work so well for aggressive zone-system
negative contrast control by varying development time film-by-film. But
so far, between the lattitude of the color negative films and photoshop
curves, adjustment laysers, and channel masks, I've been happy without
that, which leaves my limited attention span free to focus on other
challenges, like folding & unfolding my field camera. <g>

Richard Wolfson
www.rwolfson.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: jackperk [mailto:jackperk@...] 
> Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 9:10 AM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] B&W from Color Transparency
> 
> 
> All,
> 
> I was told once that a useful workflow is to shoot color film to 
> produce B&W prints . . . that that procedure offers more control than 
> shooting B&W originally.
> 
> Two questions:
> 
> 1. Do you agree? What is your experience with such workflow?
> 
> 2. What do you then find the best way to translate the color to B&W? 
> Selecting on of the channels? Blending channels? Using Grayscale? 
> 
> Sure would appreciate any input. TIA.
> 
> Jack