Digital negative contrast

[buggy]

In the digital negative world is adding contrast to the negative best done by boosting contrast in 'brightness and contrast' or by tweaking curves. I know that for normal workflow with positive images it is better to work in curves but I didn't know if working with digital negatives had some quirk to this or not.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

[Jeremy]

I suggest getting a base curve down that gives you a close approximation of what you have on your computer monitor. Once you have done that you can do whatever you want with each image to get it the way you want it BEFORE applying the digital negative curve.

[buggy]

Currently my workflow goes something like this;

Edit image in positive to get it looking good.

Apply curve.

Colorize the negative using indexed color and color table. This gives me my negative.

Apply auto contrast.

Make Print.

Then, I evaluate the print and adjust the contrast as needed. From what you're saying I should be tweaking the curve rather than adding, or subtracting, contrast. Is that correct?

Is my workflow off base?

[Jeremy]

My workflow:

Edit image to how I want it to look on the screen.

Resize to printing size.

Sharpen.

Invert.

Apply Digital Negative Curve.

(note: I'm using a homemade curve which uses all of the inks so I don't add a hue layer or anysuch thing anymore)

[buggy]

Thanks Jeremy.