IMO, in order to achieve the full potential of film, one has to use traditional darkroom printing methods. This takes some skill. Just as scanning/post processing does in the digital realm. If one does not have either of these abilities in adequate amounts, and one lacks the perseverance or potential to develop these skills, then pursuing an alternate process is understandable. My point is that the fault lies in you, rather than a process you are not be successful with. Sorry, that may be harsh, but it is the way it is, IMO.
I have to side with Frank here: whether "going all the way" via wet printing, or digitally scanning and printing, if your aim is quality, there are no half-measures. Digital is "easier" in the sense of not having to muck about with chemicals and the like, but the effort toward a
good (never mind
great) print is still arduous. If anything, digital black-and-white, IMO, is actually harder, because of all the confusion at the moment in terms of print quality: the accepted wisdom is that the best digital print output is on matte paper, because too many systems for output on glossy or semi-gloss/semi-matte paper are riddled with undesired artifacts such as metamerism, gloss differential and bronzing. I found my own solution, sort of (actually, not something of my own making, but HP's, when they released the Photosmart 8750, the big sister of the earlier 7960). As far as digital b&w printing is concerned, particularly on glossy or semi-gloss paper, this system has yet to be surpassed, and I'm dumbfounded as to why. (I even bought a second 8750 last year to keep as a spare.)
As far as scanning film goes, you have to go for the best quality you can afford. I've always dealt in dedicated (35mm) film scanners from the get-go, starting with a used Nikon LS-10 in 1998, and currently use a Minolta DS 5400 I bought new in 1994. I couldn't stretch to an Imacon, but I think my setup comes damned close, and the printed output seems to bear this out. But, ultimately, it's not the stuff you have–whether you can afford it or not–but knowing how to
work the stuff to its optimum, or at least close. I've sometimes wishtd I could have the fancier toys, and sooner, but if I could have, I might not have forced myself to make better use of what I had at hand at the moment.
I want to say "Don't give up", but that call's up to you. I can only say the my film scanner is almost as vital a tool as my camers and the film I load into them, and this "system" is still the best way to get my ideas across in photographic form. And, yet, as always, everyone needs to find, and take, their own path.
- Barrett
