Provia 400x Not Pushed -- Anything I Can Do?

[Brian Puccio]

In spite of placing a label on every roll of film I dropped off at the lab, one roll of Provia 400x that should have been pushed two stops (star trails that I shot at 1600) wasn't. Now that it's developed, I've got no recourse, right? The fixer step means there's nothing more that can be done?

Thanks.

 

[thegman]

If it's really important work, then I believe a drum scan can salvage detail from dark shadows. Might be worth talking to a lab which can drum scan about your options.

 

[sevo]

If it is to be for projection, there is nothing to be done about it. But if the finished product is on a computer or half-tone print, it can be fixed in the post. Pushing mostly increases contrast - the shadow sensitivity does not increase quite that much. Scanning at a high bit depth (or masked enlarging to a increased contrast paper) to map the resulting rather short (because underexposed) part of the curve to the full range can get quite as much speed out of a film as pushing.

 

[Brian Puccio]

Thank you, thegman and sevo, for replying so quickly!

If it's really important work, then I believe a drum scan can salvage detail from dark shadows. Might be worth talking to a lab which can drum scan about your options.

The shadow detail (in my case, a bit of a mountain) I'm OK with losing. It's the lack of stars in this roll compared to the other rolls (which were pushed) that I'm unhappy about. Though if you're saying a drum scan can get that back, I'll pick a good frame or two, find a better lab and give it a shot.

If it is to be for projection, there is nothing to be done about it. But if the finished product is on a computer or half-tone print, it can be fixed in the post. Pushing mostly increases contrast - the shadow sensitivity does not increase quite that much. Scanning at a high bit depth (or masked enlarging to a increased contrast paper) to map the resulting rather short (because underexposed) part of the curve to the full range can get quite as much speed out of a film as pushing.

I tried projecting, this roll is lacking compared to the others (that were pushed). I'll see what can be done digitally with two or three frames that otherwise look like they might have turned out better. First I'll try my coolscan and then a drum scan at a lab (cheaper than another set of plane tickets!).

Thanks!