PDN Negatives Epson 1280 vs 2200

[donbga]

Since I am testing both the 1280 and 2200 for making digital negatives with PDN I thought I would briefly mention a couple of observations about my tests prints of the Color Density Range Pallette on grade 2 AZO .

Printing at my Standard Printing Time the two inksets produce very different results. The 1280 dye inks produce the best results with the R=255+B0-255 color. The 2200 pigment inks produce the best results with the G=255+B0-255 color.

The 1280 inkset has noticeable ink graining in the high values with the G=255+B0-255 color.

Neither the 2200 or 1280 produced a paper white patch in the colors that also produced DMAX at the 255 step.

Don Bryant

[sanking]

Neither the 2200 or 1280 produced a paper white patch in the colors that also produced DMAX at the 255 step.

Don Bryant

Very interesting. I have no expereince with the 1280 but I was able to get a paper white patch with AZO #2 using the 2200 with one of the colors of the PDN palette. And I am fairly certain that this was with the AZO #2 paper that you sent me for testing, using both Amidol and Ansco 130.

Sandy

[donbga]

Very interesting. I have no expereince with the 1280 but I was able to get a paper white patch with AZO #2 using the 2200 with one of the colors of the PDN palette. And I am fairly certain that this was with the AZO #2 paper that you sent me for testing, using both Amidol and Ansco 130.

Sandy

Hi Sandy,

Last night I printed and processed the 2200 and 1280 tonal palettes. Wow what a difference!

The 1280 version printed at the SPT barely shows a hint of gray at the 101 step, in comparison the 2200 printed version at step 101 is very gray visually matching step 16 of an unlapped 31 step tablet. The light gray values of the 2200 Tonal Palette are quite a bit darker than highest value of the Color Density Range Palette of the same color printed on the 2200. I suspect that I may not have printed the 2200 tablet correctly but I'm not certain of that.


As a result of my initial tests I'll build my first adjustment curve for the 1280 Tonal Palette and reprint the 2200. In short the 1280 TP printed as expected the 2200 TP did not when compared to the respective CDRPs.

The paper I'm using is a newer box than the samples I sent to you but test virtually the same as the older emulsion.

And one final observation, the 1280 patchs looked very smooth, the 2200 patches had a touch of grain.

Don

[Mehmet Kismet]

Hi Don,

"And one final observation, the 1280 patchs looked very smooth, the 2200 patches had a touch of grain."

What kind of material are you using for your negatives? Is it OHP from Pictorico?
I have been informed that the PGHG White film is better for smoothness and for AZO or silver gelatin printing. Do you have any experience on this subject.

I am using an Epson 4000 with pigment same as the 2200 so I would like to decide on the material(OHP or PGHG) for silver gelatin printing.

Best regards
Mehmet Kismet

[sanking]

Hi Don,

"And one final observation, the 1280 patchs looked very smooth, the 2200 patches had a touch of grain."

What kind of material are you using for your negatives? Is it OHP from Pictorico?
I have been informed that the PGHG White film is better for smoothness and for AZO or silver gelatin printing. Do you have any experience on this subject.

I am using an Epson 4000 with pigment same as the 2200 so I would like to decide on the material(OHP or PGHG) for silver gelatin printing.

Best regards
Mehmet Kismet

I tested the PGHG material with the Epson 2200 for silver gelatin printing on AZO but the resulting exposure times were about four stops more than with OHP, which made it useless for AZO since this material has much less sensitivity than silver gelatin papers used for projection printing. However, the PGHG did appear to give *slightly* better smoothness and sharpness than OHP, which makes senses because it is rated at something like 1200 dpi.

Sandy

[Mehmet Kismet]

Hi Sandy,

Your opinion is very helpful for me. Thank you.
Does it worth for you to keep two different kind of materials for this *slight* difference of smoothness. I mean OHP for Pt/ Pd and PGHG for silver gelatin only(I don't use Azo)
I know that this is a very subjective decision but your experience is important for me.As I haven't started yet to experience with PDN system, I am at the position to decide on the materials. And as live in Turkey, I have no big chance to change my mind in a short time and reorder a different kind of material.
Thank you very much for your help and contributions.
Best
Mehmet Kismet

[sanking]

Hi Sandy,

Your opinion is very helpful for me. Thank you.
Does it worth for you to keep two different kind of materials for this *slight* difference of smoothness. I mean OHP for Pt/ Pd and PGHG for silver gelatin only(I don't use Azo)
I know that this is a very subjective decision but your experience is important for me.As I haven't started yet to experience with PDN system, I am at the position to decide on the materials. And as live in Turkey, I have no big chance to change my mind in a short time and reorder a different kind of material.
Thank you very much for your help and contributions.
Best
Mehmet Kismet

If I were doing nothing but silver gelatin printing in small common sizes I would almost certainly stick with the PGHG material. There is not a lot of difference in smoothness and sharpness when compared to OHP, but there is some, and in this game every little bit helps.

But the downside is that the PGHG material is much less common than OHP and available in a limited number of sizes.

Sandy

[Mehmet Kismet]

If I were doing nothing but silver gelatin printing in small common sizes I would almost certainly stick with the PGHG material. There is not a lot of difference in smoothness and sharpness when compared to OHP, but there is some, and in this game every little bit helps.

But the downside is that the PGHG material is much less common than OHP and available in a limited number of sizes.

Sandy

Thank you very much for your time and precious opinions.

Mehmet Kismet