Some film, scanning and digital workflow questions

2tcreative

2tcreative

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About to get into something I may regret...but given the state of analog film and digital printing I am about to start something that I think I will need some good advice on.

I have several questions that may have been answered in various threads but I need further clarification if you can help:

1. I have a scanner to scan film so I plan to continue using film for sometime, at least until film is not available. I will be printing both color and b&w so is there a 'best' film that can be used for both, i.e. Fuji Reala?
2. What would be the problems with using one film (color) for both types of prints?
3. As I understand it the chromogenic films seem to scan better than pure b&w films. True?
4. If not true then what b&w films/developer combinations work best for scanning?
5. Do tonal ranges suffer in using the one film approach?
6. What digital workflow do most of you use, i.e. scanner, digital capture software, image processing software, output types (printers, etc.).

If this is too much info for one thread perhaps someone could point me in the direction of good resources on the net. There are tons of them but if someone can recommend a few that will help cut through the clutter of miss-information perhaps!

Thanks again. I find the this forum seems to be very helpful compared to some other general photo forums I have been a member of.
 
2tcreative said:
4. If not true then what b&w films/developer combinations work best for scanning?
Click to expand...
C-41 B&W films like Ilford XP2 and Kodak BW400 usually scan the best. It is also possible to use Digital ICE and equivalent products to remove dust during scanning which is much more difficult with silver based b&w films.

Here is a good guide to scanning negatives: http://oomz.net/bw_workflow/
 
As for the film the question is a bit complicated, because the best colour films for sharpness, grain and colour intensity are slides, but they have little latitude and are harder to scan, films like Reala or Portra 160 have much better latitude and are easier to scan, but are not as sharp and grain free, and can be trickier to colour reproduce correctly. If you want a simple answer: for colour slides use Fuji Astia, for colour negs use Kodak portra 160 (nc for people, vc for landscape). Getting a good B&W image from a colour film is like making a vinyl disc from a cd recording - you lose the tonality, so if you can, avoid it, therefore, for B&W simple answer: Ilford XP2 if you are lazy, Acros/Tmax100/delta100 or the 400 variants if you want real B&W film with archival properties, but better develop yourself.

For the chain, the most important bit is a good scanner (Minolta 5400, Nikon 5000 or better), then comes a software like Vuescan (or Silverfast - I use Vuescan) PC with a calibrated monitor, Light Zone for darkroom like editing, or the standard PS CS for complete image editing, a pigment inkjet printer -probably at the moment the best buy is Epson 3800, finally a good inkjet paper, seems the best so far is the new Harman baryta glossy or matte paper ( I have so far printed my best shots on Hahnemuehle Photo Rag or Fine Art Pearl)
 
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