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Post by John Parry on Nov 26, 2005 5:04:45 GMT -5
Got a lot of scanner noise on these, so please ignore it. I have trouble with Black & White compositions. So I keep trying! All Praktica MTL5B Ilford HP5 400ASA. Sunset  Reflections on the Beach  Sunrise over Scafell  |
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Post by Randy on Nov 26, 2005 9:34:00 GMT -5
Ooooooh! Very nice! I like the reflections in the second one.
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Post by kamera on Nov 27, 2005 0:06:48 GMT -5
John, I think it is somewhat difficult in general trying to get a good digital b&w print. A lot more so than using the ol' chemical darkroom. Read in one of the mags that scanners are not made to readily process regular b&w film, but will do a questionable decent job on the C41 b&w film. I know I have a much harder time trying to print b&w vs. color scans. Anyone else have any experience along this line?  ? Ron Head Kalamazoo, MI |
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Post by philmco on Nov 27, 2005 2:02:22 GMT -5
I have pretty much given up trying to scan B&W film negatives on my scanner. All the stuff that I put up for view is a direct flat bed scan of the print. Seems to be better that way.
Phil
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Nov 27, 2005 7:16:04 GMT -5
Phil,
If you've got Photoshop or a similar image editor try scanning B&W negs as 16-bit colour and then desaturating. I find on an awkward neg I often get better blacks and a better tone scale that way. Look in the Nostalgia thread at 1951 Festival of Britain. I scanned the first picture, of the big locomotive, that way as it was a bit troublesome scanning as greyscale.
Peter
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Post by kamera on Nov 28, 2005 20:30:50 GMT -5
I still love to shoot 'real' b&w but when I do I take it to a local full lab that has been around for years and years. They still do all the processing and printing of MF, also. At times, I have used the C41 b&w film, but no matter how good you can make it come out, it just does not satisfy my quality wants as 'regular' b&w film does. What I dislike about it the most is that the tones are mostly greyscale and no true black, greys and whites! Also, it tends to print either magenta or green.
I find I can get my best b&w renditions with my scanner and printer by starting with color film and then desaturating in the editing program.
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by byuphoto on Jan 2, 2006 17:14:15 GMT -5
I have found that if you over=expose the c41 films, by 1 stop, and scan as 48 bit color then use virtual photographer, plug-in, in PS I can get the grain and shadows of true B&W. But I still shoot Fuji Neopan most of the time. My Epson 4990 scanner does a bang-up job with B&W
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Post by byuphoto on Jan 2, 2006 17:16:11 GMT -5
Shot with Fuji neopan 400 and developed with D76 SAcanned with the Epson 4990  |
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Jan 2, 2006 18:16:38 GMT -5
Oh yes. Rick. This is a wonderful picture. I like the way the slope of the main cloud formation makes it 'alive' without being too active, and the inclusion of the small bunch of tree twigs at the top left gives it real depth. Was it early morning or late evening? I would guess evening.
Peter
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Post by herron on Jan 2, 2006 20:46:44 GMT -5
Rick: Another absolutely marvelous landscape. I'm quite a fan of taking scenics myself, and this is another simple, but elegant example of very nice composition. Love those twigs in the upper left for balance and depth!  |
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Post by John Parry on Jan 3, 2006 0:20:47 GMT -5
Great Rick....
Got to get my scanning technique sorted out !
Regards John
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Post by kamera on Jan 4, 2006 12:19:13 GMT -5
Mother Nature used her soft brush on that sky!!
Epson 4990...hey...I have an older Epson 3200 that I really like, but keep looking at the ads for the 4990 or its sibling, the 4490(?).
You just have to stop buying and be satisfied for awhile at some point, or one can be replacing equipment every couple of months. New tech just comes along too quickly.
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by Microdad on Feb 22, 2006 19:41:21 GMT -5
Great shots! Rick, do you prefer D-76 with all film speeds or just high speed? Also, do you tend to get finer grain with it than with Microdol-x? What B&W film do you prefer?
Thanks,
Steve
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Post by Rachel on Feb 23, 2006 4:05:37 GMT -5
Ah I love that sky Rick. A lovely picture altogether.
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Post by kiev4a on Feb 23, 2006 11:53:25 GMT -5
The problem with scanning black and white negatives is they are silver based. The "remove dust and scratches" setting on virtually all scanning software--even the high end stuff--will not work with silver based film--even if you tell the scanner it is color film. You have to scan all black & white with the dust and scratch option turned off. Then tidy it up in photoshop or whatever. More work but the only option.
The key to good black and white scans is to keep you negatives thin. It's almost impossible to get a good scan off a heavy B&W neg. But you can get great results off of negs that seem to be almost too thin to reproduce. Anytime you have a neg with highlights that are solid, you will have trouble scanning it. Scanning it with a color setting can help BUT you still have to turn off dust and scratch removal.
The type of photos shown above would be the toughest to obtain good results from because of the contrast.
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