Digital BW, The Print

On Sat, Mar 29, 2003 at 04:08:54PM -0500, Jon wrote:
> I was curious if anyone is using a scanner as a make-do densitometer. I was
> reading Bob Wheeler's article on digital zone system and got to thinking
> about this:
> 
> http://www.bobwheeler.com/photo/Documents/ZoneDigital.pdf
> 
> I'm interested in doing some zone system tweaking and trying out the Bowhaus
> software. Probably on the 2200, or whatever comes down the pike in the next
> 2-3 months.
> 

Wheeler's article is fairly good and I've replicated his work with my own
tests using my LS-4000 as a transmission densitometer.

> I see that you can get reasonably priced transmission/reflective step
> tablets here:
> 
> http://www.stouffer.net/Productlist.htm
> 

I have the stouffer targets and they are fine. You are going to need the
calibrated ones though because that will be the known quantity against
which you test your scanner for accuracy (i.e. how linear the response is).

> 
> I realize that densitometers are going (relatively) cheaply on ePay, so
> maybe it is moot, but if I can keep one less piece of gear on the desk, I
> would be happier. I would be doing this with the Epson 3200.
> 

Epson 3200 - there you may have a problem. I know flatbeds certainly can't
be used as reflective denistometers because of the glass. I've tested this
and you just don't get good results. You may also have trouble with film 
but for the cost of a stouffer wedge it is cerainly worth an experiment.

In the end for me it was more touble than it was worth, especially as I
wanted paper densities also. I ended up buying a Heiland densitometer.

-- 
Tony Terlecki
ajt@...