VDB dig. neg. curve guidance needed

[buggy]

I printed the attached image with a digital negative. I was wondering if anyone could give advice on what curve to apply to help fix this image or at least start it moving in the right direction.

Thanks for any help.

[smieglitz]

This is the sort of question that needs to be confined to the "Gray Area" subforum of the Alternative Process Forum for hybrid digital and analog techniques so as not to annoy the general APUG community.

Post your question there (or perhaps the moderators could move this query there) and I think you'll get a more positive response. I can probably give you some pointers related to the topic, but not here.

[Ole]

Moved.

[smieglitz]

Here's a curve I've used with Pictorico OHP material, an Epson 2200 printer, and Cranes' Kid Finish stationery:



A cyanotype curve for the same materials is also shown.

Your results will depend on the materials you use, but this curve may give you a starting point. It is a variation on a VDB curve generously sent to me by Sandy King a few years back. The screensnap of the Photoshop curve box shows the difference between Sandy's curve and mine. I also have a couple pages online illustrating the application of this curve (and Sandy's ) to an image, which BTW is a nude in the landscape so be forewarned as to content should you choose to visit the following pages:

http://my.net-link.net/~jsmigiel/ima...t_11-19-04.jpg

http://my.net-link.net/~jsmigiel/ima...est_prints.jpg

Your example looks weak and murky on my monitor even though it appears double-coated. Perhaps your fixer has bleached the image back somewhat. I use two successive baths of plain 2% sodium thiosulphate for 1.5 minutes each.

Hope this helps.

Joe

[buggy]

I thought about posting in the gray area subforum but wasn't sure. Thanks for moving it over here.

Joe, thanks for the info.

[Michael Koch-Schulte]

Please post the original so we have a frame of reference. Off the top of my head it looks like you don't really have a highlight or white point and very poor contrast in the middle tones. You must print a stepwedge with the picture next time (include it as part of the photo using photoshop on top of the image.)
Did the photo look this way right out of the clearing bath? Did you fix the image with 2% hypo?
You can use all or a portion of this stepwedge if you like, or make your own: http://www.inkjetnegative.com/images...epwedgeBnw.jpg
~m