Digital BW, The Print

I really believe in KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid).   Tech Pan is an
phenomenal film, but slow, fussy & very contrasty quite quickly.  Next best
thing, and grainless in an 8x10 print, is TMX100 developed in D76 1:1.  On
balance I feel it the best combination of speed, grain, sharpness, accutance
and easily printable contrast.  It does have to be exposed and developed
accurately but can give excellent results.   If you need more speed, go with
TMY400, a film I normally shoot at 200 and develop in D76 1:1 at 95%.   Both
scan great in my Nikon LS40.

Yes, I have used VP, PXP, FP4+, TX, HP5 extensively and they have a
beautiful classic look.  But you can get very close to that look in terms of
contrast with the Tmax films.  There is no question Tmax films have always
had finer grain.  Specific to TMX was the lack of sharpness issue which
Kodak now seems to have solved with the new manufacturing facility.

I will say that developing standard films such as PX, FP4, etc in PYRO
developer can give extraordinary results; but, I find this exotic.

Rick



----- Original Message -----
From: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
To: <DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2003 3:50 AM
Subject: [Digital BW] Digest Number 1696


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> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> There are 4 messages in this issue.
>
> Topics in this digest:
>
>       1. Re: UltraTone Sepia hexset? -- Possible road map
>            From: "B. Alex Pettit Jr." <a_pettit_jr@...>
>       2. ISO 100 B&W films for scanning
>            From: "marcsien77" <marcsien77@...>
>       3. RE: choice of film
>            From: "Martin Wesley" <mwesley250@...>
>       4. RE: ISO 100 B&W films for scanning
>            From: "Martin Wesley" <mwesley250@...>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 1
>    Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 05:26:06 -0000
>    From: "B. Alex Pettit Jr." <a_pettit_jr@...>
> Subject: Re: UltraTone Sepia hexset? -- Possible road map
>
> Hi Paul,
>
> How about a Selenium set for 4 color printers aka Epson 3000,
> or the formula for making such, please !
>
> Best,
> Alex
>
>
>
> >
> > >Paul Roark wrote:
> >
> > >>Since I'm still most interested in matte papers, I'm thinking of
> an
> > >>Eboni-based, matte-paper-only neutral/selenium gray based ink.
> Eboni is
> > >>less warm than the UT black inks.  As such less color pigment is
> needed to
> > >>make it into a neutral-toned ink.
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 2
>    Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 05:34:43 -0000
>    From: "marcsien77" <marcsien77@...>
> Subject: ISO 100 B&W films for scanning
>
> Many thanks to all who gave their valuable advise re. TechPan
> development.  I am also planning to do some testing with the ISO 100
> B&W films (i.e. Tmax, Delta and Neopan Acros) and would much
> appreciate to hear your views on which film/development combination
> offers the best negatives for scanning.
> Marc.
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 3
>    Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 00:19:33 -0700
>    From: "Martin Wesley" <mwesley250@...>
> Subject: RE: choice of film
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: lovelipp [mailto:ArleneLoveL@...]
> > Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 8:17 AM
> > To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Digital BW] choice of film
> >
> >
> > I've used Kodak Portra and T400 CN and scan on a Canon 2710. In
> > scanning some old Fuji slides (provia 400), using channels and going
> > to grayscale, I find the results just as good IF NOT BETTER. Can
> > anyone confirm what I think I see?  My goal is the best bow I can
> > get, but I like the idea of having the color slides - just in case-
> > and also for ease of viewing my files. My work is sneaky street
> > photography.  Thanks. ArleneLoveL@...
> >
> Arlene,
>
> For optimum B&W I would suggest using B&W film. I have seen great prints
> from color transparency and the chromogenic "B&W" films but still prefer
to
> work with Ilford FP4+ and SFX and Kodak TMax 400 myself. The drawback with
> color transparency films is that they generally have less exposure
latitude
> than the CN type or B&W films. For what you are doing nothing like some
old
> standard Tri-X. The B&W negs will last indefinitely with good storage as
> well but the color materials are not so stable.
>
> From a shooting point of view I find it difficult to try and do color and
> B&W at the same time. I do better if I set out to shoot one or the other.
>
> Martin Wesley
> http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> Message: 4
>    Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 00:26:20 -0700
>    From: "Martin Wesley" <mwesley250@...>
> Subject: RE: ISO 100 B&W films for scanning
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: marcsien77 [mailto:marcsien77@...]
> > Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 10:35 PM
> > To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Digital BW] ISO 100 B&W films for scanning
> >
> >
> > Many thanks to all who gave their valuable advise re. TechPan
> > development.  I am also planning to do some testing with the ISO 100
> > B&W films (i.e. Tmax, Delta and Neopan Acros) and would much
> > appreciate to hear your views on which film/development combination
> > offers the best negatives for scanning.
>
>
> Marc,
>
> After ten years I'm still very happy with Ilford FP4+ in a pyro developer
> such as PMK for both traditional and digital processes.
>
> Your best bet in the long run is not to look for the "ideal" film and
> developer combination but to choose something reasonable and stick with
it.
> Someone who becomes expert with their chosen materials will get much
farther
> than those who endlessly experiment.
>
> Martin Wesley
> http://www.borderless-photos.de/guests.html
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
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