Messing around with film to digital workflow

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JackForster

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Have been taking pictures with a Leica M6, 35mm Voigtlander, Ilford HP5, mostly zone focused; developingscanning with a Plustek 7600i and running the .tif files through Aperture. Loads of fun 🙂 . Single biggest nightmare is getting the film on the tank reels in a changing bag, though. Usually takes three tries at least. But there is something very seductive about working with real negatives you've processed yourself.


Scan-120623-0013 by Jack Forster, on Flickr


Scan-120623-0028 by Jack Forster, on Flickr


Scan-120619-0007 by Jack Forster, on Flickr


Scan-120623-0022 by Jack Forster, on Flickr


Scan-120619-0001 by Jack Forster, on Flickr
 
texchappy said:
Very nice. I'm working up the courage to try developing but haven't taken the plunge yet.
Click to expand...

Don't think about it and go for it!
Lots of good videos on YouTube to get you started. Practice loading with some junk film in daylight first and practice a bit more in the changing bag.

@OP: I find the AP brand reels are easier to load than the Patterson ones as they have a larger receiving area for the film
 
doolittle said:
Don't think about it and go for it!
Lots of good videos on YouTube to get you started. Practice loading with some junk film in daylight first and practice a bit more in the changing bag.

@OP: I find the AP brand reels are easier to load than the Patterson ones as they have a larger receiving area for the film
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip --I am in fact using a Patterson tank and reels and for some reason getting the last third of the roll onto the reel is always a nightmare. The film always seems to start to buckle as it goes into the feed slots and it usually takes me at least three tries to get it all the way onto the reel.
 
Some very good street photos up there! Good job.

I don't remember seeing that much grain from HP5 though.
Which film developer is this?
 
shadowfox said:
Some very good street photos up there! Good job.

I don't remember seeing that much grain from HP5 though.
Which film developer is this?
Click to expand...

Thank you!

I have to admit my post-processing is still a work in progress --I've been messing around with SilverEfex Pro and I think I'm just pushing the grain and contrast too hard. As a matter of fact the longer I look at the pictures the more I feel they'd be better off toned down in both respects.

It's weird, scanning and digital PP both introduce a lot of further variables. Sometimes it's tempting to monkey with an image more than is good for it.

Jack

(PS sorry for the late reply!)
 
JackForster said:
Thanks for the tip --I am in fact using a Patterson tank and reels and for some reason getting the last third of the roll onto the reel is always a nightmare. The film always seems to start to buckle as it goes into the feed slots and it usually takes me at least three tries to get it all the way onto the reel.
Click to expand...
Patterson reels are as good as any others. AP reels have bigger potential for scratching. Your film buckles not because those are Patterson, but because of residual moisture fro the air and in a bag that even worst. Take a pencil, B2 or max B4 and run it through the spirals so it leaves a film of graphite on the plastic and it will be much more slippery.
 
Nice photos. Glad you are enjoying the hybrid work flow. I am going through a similar familiarisation and it is a very rewarding way to work. My opinion of the Plustek scanner couldn't be higher. I am over the moon with mine.
 
The scans look pretty poor I must say. I guess there is a combination of scan settings (emphasizing grain), post processing in LR (harsh transitions) and then saving for web as you do (artifacts).

You should have some of these traditionally printed and then scanned from print. Would probaly look a lot cleaner.
 
Single biggest nightmare is getting the film on the tank reels in a changing bag, though
Click to expand...

Many disagree with me, but you might try a nice (Hewes or similar) stainless-steel reel. Took me about 6 tries with a test roll and now I much prefer them to the plastic reels. I hardly ever swear any more while loading film!

Best of luck with the rest of the process as well. So rewarding.
 
JackForster said:
Thanks for the tip --I am in fact using a Patterson tank and reels and for some reason getting the last third of the roll onto the reel is always a nightmare. The film always seems to start to buckle as it goes into the feed slots and it usually takes me at least three tries to get it all the way onto the reel.
Click to expand...

Is it possible for you to use a room or closet instead of a changing bag? The changing bag was hell for me. It always got too humid in there (and I live in CO). I moved to my basement bathroom (nice to have), and seal up the door with gaffer's tape, and it's sooooo much easier.
 
JackForster said:
Thank you!

I have to admit my post-processing is still a work in progress --I've been messing around with SilverEfex Pro and I think I'm just pushing the grain and contrast too hard. As a matter of fact the longer I look at the pictures the more I feel they'd be better off toned down in both respects.

It's weird, scanning and digital PP both introduce a lot of further variables. Sometimes it's tempting to monkey with an image more than is good for it.

Jack

(PS sorry for the late reply!)
Click to expand...


I use Silver Efex all the time, but I would recommend not fooling with grain in Silver Efex, at least with film scans.
 
jackbaty said:
Many disagree with me, but you might try a nice (Hewes or similar) stainless-steel reel. Took me about 6 tries with a test roll and now I much prefer them to the plastic reels. I hardly ever swear any more while loading film!

Best of luck with the rest of the process as well. So rewarding.
Click to expand...

I agree with this advice about the SS reels. I fell in love with them after a few practice loads.
...Terry
 
mathomas said:
Is it possible for you to use a room or closet instead of a changing bag? The changing bag was hell for me. It always got too humid in there (and I live in CO). I moved to my basement bathroom (nice to have), and seal up the door with gaffer's tape, and it's sooooo much easier.
Click to expand...

i always get real hot when using the bag, but i'm getting quicker at it. i'm using hewes stainless reels.
 
Hey Jack, looks like you're having a great time, with the camera and in the darkroom too. Those dark bags can be a pain in the ass especially in the humid months, so I usually go to the coolest, driest place in the house to use the bag, and do the work quickly. I have those plastic reels and they work well , but are temperamental when it comes to humidity.

Your scans are looking good. Keep experimenting!

Jeff
 
Why are you using B&W conversion software to edit a scan of B&W film? Are you scanning in 16-bit grayscale? A few curve tweaks should be all that is required to recover the contrast loss when scanning flat.
 
Into the closet

Into the closet

I never was able to use a changing bag with the plastic reels. The humidity built up in the bag and I was never able to thread the film onto the reel without a lot of cursing and frustration. The metal reels worked better for a time, but I never had good luck with the tank covers or the reels staying true. So, until I built a darkroom, I used to go into a closet at night, turning off all the nearby lights (wife and kids prisoners in another room until I gave the all clear) and was then able to use the plastic reels without problems.
 
jplomley said:
Why are you using B&W conversion software to edit a scan of B&W film? Are you scanning in 16-bit grayscale? A few curve tweaks should be all that is required to recover the contrast loss when scanning flat.
Click to expand...

If you're like me, you like the other features Silver Efex offers, like split toning, vignetting, different ways of approaching contrast adjustments at different levels of detail (macro and micro), etc. Not everyone wants/likes to work in the curves panel.
 
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