The Digital Darkroom
Working with film or digital, the darkroom is a key element, Today's darkrooms comprises not enlargers and developing dishes , but scanners, computers and printers. So many issues for the photographer to deal with, file management , work flow, archive ability and coat of inks. Colour management and profiles to name but a few.
This page attempts to pull together all the elements associated with this topic reviews, discussions, and the best deals we can find on and off the web.
Sister pages
- Film and digital photography
- Compact rangefinder cameras
- this class of rangefinders are excellent if you want hardcore street photography, or an application where compactness are key. Amazingly cheap, you will now find them in junk shops , antique shops and charity shops, We hope to give you the key information you require to make an informed choice.
- The Tamron manual focus lens page
- The quality of prime lenses has always surpassed zooms, yesterdays good primes will often beat todays zooms. Tamron lenses offered photographers Hardware indipendance on manual focus cameras, you could use these lenses on nearly all manual focus cameras independant of make. Today these lenses are go
- Contax/Yashica cameras
- All things Contax / Yashica. Topics include : Manual focus SLR's. G series rangefinders, T series of Compacts, all sporting Zeiss T* Lenses. Specifications, Reviews, Dealers, Best of ebay. Zeiss on Cannon, Nikon Zeiss and M42 Zeiss.Contax cameras were the result of the technologies of three companie
- Salisbury Fuji Lab, on-line
- Welcome to the Salisbury Fuji Lab, catering for amateurs and professionals alike. We offer a friendly service from this family run business. We are committed to improving the services to you our customers. and are excited at the new opportunities that these new technologies offer you. We provide
- Alternative cameras and processes
- As digital photography increases in popularity, alternative cameras and processes are increasingly being looked at as a photographic tool. Wonderful images are produced by today's pinhole cameras, The holga a plastic camera produces strange and bizzer results, while the sub minox cameras are still
Digital capture : scanners
This section primarially relates to film photographers and the issues regarding scanning film, however digital photographers need to look at colour management.
So if I am using film and I've exposed all my shots, and ive had it processed ( this can be typically £1.99 neg to 3.99 for slide, Get it returned unmounted in sleeves. I need now to get it in to a digital format, for this I need a scanne and a computer.
Computers will be delt with later but scanners come in two basic types which are within our budget constraints, The flat bed and the dedicated film scanner . Depending on what format you use, will have an influence on your buying decision.
Firstly if you shoot 35mm or APS you really should go for a dedicated film scanner, be wary of flat bed scanners of serious use with 35mm film. Nikon and Minolta and other manufacturers manufacture dedicated 35mm scanners.
If you shoot 120 the costs escalate dramatically. A new 120 scanner will set you back approx £1500 to £2000. However these can be found at prices far below these on the second hand market. Check the Ebay listings at the bottom of the page. The cheaper option for medium format these days is the flat bed scanners. Epson produce a range of flat bed photo scannes. which have had good reviews. I use the old 4870, and I don't have any problems with it on medium format bar for the speed, this was improved on latter models. As for other manufacturers and models look below.
A final word on medium format scanners, carefully check out how the film holders keep the film flat. A major issue for me. I have read a review of a third party dedicate film holder for 120 slides and negs. Ill try to check it out. asap I need it.
So if I am using film and I've exposed all my shots, and ive had it processed ( this can be typically £1.99 neg to 3.99 for slide, Get it returned unmounted in sleeves. I need now to get it in to a digital format, for this I need a scanne and a computer.
Computers will be delt with later but scanners come in two basic types which are within our budget constraints, The flat bed and the dedicated film scanner . Depending on what format you use, will have an influence on your buying decision.
Firstly if you shoot 35mm or APS you really should go for a dedicated film scanner, be wary of flat bed scanners of serious use with 35mm film. Nikon and Minolta and other manufacturers manufacture dedicated 35mm scanners.
If you shoot 120 the costs escalate dramatically. A new 120 scanner will set you back approx £1500 to £2000. However these can be found at prices far below these on the second hand market. Check the Ebay listings at the bottom of the page. The cheaper option for medium format these days is the flat bed scanners. Epson produce a range of flat bed photo scannes. which have had good reviews. I use the old 4870, and I don't have any problems with it on medium format bar for the speed, this was improved on latter models. As for other manufacturers and models look below.
A final word on medium format scanners, carefully check out how the film holders keep the film flat. A major issue for me. I have read a review of a third party dedicate film holder for 120 slides and negs. Ill try to check it out. asap I need it.
- Shutterbug: Scanners; Film To Digital Devices
- Scanners; Film To Digital Device
. - Digital Film Scanners - Polaroid SprintScan 4000 Film Scanner Review, Information, and Specifications
- IN-DEPTH review of the Polaroid SprintScan 4000 digital film scanner, with actual sample images, and a detailed data sheet.
. - Epson Scanners
- Epson Scanners Home page
Epson Perfection V700 Photo - AP scanner of the year runnerup
Epson Perfection V750 Photo - AP scanner of the year
Epson Perfection V750; Pro Performance
. - Nikon scanners 2007
- Nikon scanners 2006
IN-DEPTH review of the Nikon CoolScan IV ED
IN-DEPTH review of the Nikon Super CoolScan 2000
IN-DEPTH review of the Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED
IN-DEPTH review of the Nikon Super Coolscan 8000 ED
. - Konica Minolta withdraw from camera business
- Konica Minolta withdraw from camera business
Scanner Review: Konica Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 II
In-Depth review of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 II scanner digital 35mm film scanner with actual sample images.
IN-DEPTH review of the Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III Film Multi Pro
. - Plustek OpticFilm 7200i scanner
- Plustek OpticFilm 7200i scanner This ultra high resolution scanner has improved bit depth, infra-red dust and scratch correction, and comes with various options of SilverFast from £200 upwards. The model tested includes SilverFast Ai and sells for £249. It proved surprisingly good with slides. - sign up required
- Braun 4000 projector style Slide Scanner
- Braun 4000 projector style Slide Scanner Jonathan Eastland reviews the only slide scanner which works like a projector and uses a rotatary magazine for batch scanning. - sign up required
If you want to work with your traditional film images electronically, this is the guide that will finally show you how you can do it. "Mastering Digital Scanning" takes a photographer's viewpoint to the topic of digitizing, managing, and enhancing film-based images. You,ll learn how to use your scanner's options to your best advantage and how to perfect your image once it becomes digital. You don?t have to give up the advantages of conventional photography to enjoy the ease of digital manipulation!
Mastering Digital Scanning with Slides, Film, and Transparencies
Amazon Price: $26.39 (as of 10/15/2008)
Flat bed scanners on Amazon
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Flat bed scanners, These days they are good for 120 negs, but not generally recommended for 35mm, for this you need to look at the dedicated scanners below.
Epson Perfection V750-M Pro Color Scanner
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/15/2008)
Epson Perfection V700 Photo Color Scanner
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/15/2008)
Epson Perfection 4990 Photo Scanner
Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)
35mm & medium format film scanners
Nikon LS-2000 Super CoolScan Film Scanner (PC/Mac)
Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual IV Film Scanner
Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)
Nikon Super CoolScan 9000 ED Film Scanner
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/15/2008)
Microtek Artixscan 120TF Scanner
Amazon Price: (as of 10/15/2008)
Minimum system specifications.
Does your machine meet the recomended requirements + minimum requirements is not really acceptable.
Digital Image manipulation, workflow and colour management.
Film users tend to create as much of the image as possible in the camera, leaving only minimal post processing activities, scanning, cropping (trimming edges), spotting. Colour correction, and dodging and burning. New comers to digital users tend to use these tools very aggressively, This where the word restraint comes to mind.
When it comes to image manipulation applications Photoshop is top the list, however there are many other applications available some free and many inexpensive.
Work flow is a term that describes how you manage these images in your computer, Dealing with revisions, possibly postings on to the web. Differing resolution images, while keeping the masters baked up.
Colour management is critical, does your screen match the printed output ? If not you need to read on.
When it comes to image manipulation applications Photoshop is top the list, however there are many other applications available some free and many inexpensive.
Work flow is a term that describes how you manage these images in your computer, Dealing with revisions, possibly postings on to the web. Differing resolution images, while keeping the masters baked up.
Colour management is critical, does your screen match the printed output ? If not you need to read on.
- Accurate Image Manipulation
- Accurate Image Manipulation
. - Digital Imaging Software Review: ACDSee Pro
- Workflow : Digital Imaging Software Review: ACDSee Pro
. - DXO optics pro review
- DXO optics pro review - sign up required
. - Photoshop elements
- Photoshop elements - signup required
. - Adobe - Photoshop CS2
- Adobe Photoshop CS2 is the professional standard in desktop digital imaging.
photoSIG ; Black and white in Photoshop
. - Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Camera Raw 4
- Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Camera Raw 4 - signup required
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. - Capture One Pro LE - technical review
- This is a very detailed technical report by Dr Daniel Oi dealing with C1Pro's workflow, with an appended page explaining the deBayer process visually. - signup required
. - PHOTOgraphical.NET - SilverFast Ai 6 - for Minolta Dimage Scan Multi PRO
- SilverFast Ai 6 scanning software designed to maximise the quality of your scans.
. - Picnik - edit photos the easy way, online in your browser
- Picnik lets you edit all your photos online, from one easy place. Great integration with Flicker
. - Corel Painter X _ 90 day Trial
- Corel PAinter X, this Application was the one that started natural media, when it was developed by meta creations. 90 day Trial
Computer hardware & peripherals.
The Computer is the hub of the digital darkroom. Today's are pretty well specified to deal with the majority of today's photographic requirements. The first decision is PC or MAC. This section deals with terminology, Components, specifications and requirements, Operating systems, Upgrading.
- Personal computer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Personal computer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search
Apple Macintoshes like the iMac Core Duo are personal computers. This iMac contains most of its components in a single case.
Comuter resources general
X-bit labs
Tom's Hardware Guide
PC Mechanic
. - Index to build and upgrading Howto's
- Index to build and upgrading Howto's
More Howto's
Build your own PC
Build your own Server
Build your own Home network
. - Macworld:
- General referance :Mac world, for all those people who use MAC's
. - LinuxWorld: Open Source Solutions for the Enterprise
- LinuxWorld: Featuring the latest Linux and open source news from Network World. the IDG network and you.
. - FireStar RAID hard disk stacks
- FireStar RAID hard disk stacks Richard Kilpatrick describes and reviews a RAID kit which allows you to swap component drives and build your own configuration using Mac OSX or other RAID supporting computer systems. - sign up required.
Printers, papers & ink resources
This sections deals with issues regarding printers and printing, and some of the issues surrounding it. Such as ink, profiling, printer paper,speed, running costs and longevity of the final print.
Epson has traditionally produced the standard photo printers accepted by the industry. However bith Cannon and HP both produce very capable printers which produce superb prints.
Ink is horrendously expensive, you have the choice, firstly the manufactures inks, or comparable inks, from these you have the cheap generics, or the premium photo inks from companies such as Lyson inks. These have a certified longevity of print. ive framed and hung some cheap dye based prints in a daylight studio, and they started to colour shift within a couple of months today's pigment inks are fare more resilient to fading.
Epson has traditionally produced the standard photo printers accepted by the industry. However bith Cannon and HP both produce very capable printers which produce superb prints.
Ink is horrendously expensive, you have the choice, firstly the manufactures inks, or comparable inks, from these you have the cheap generics, or the premium photo inks from companies such as Lyson inks. These have a certified longevity of print. ive framed and hung some cheap dye based prints in a daylight studio, and they started to colour shift within a couple of months today's pigment inks are fare more resilient to fading.
- Pigment vs. dye inks - Which is best?
- The most important reasons for using pigment inks are archival print life and color stability. The dye inks used in most early inkjet printers exhibited signs of fading or shifts in color after a short period of time (as quickly as days, in some cases).
. - Photo Quality Ink And Paper
- Photo Quality Ink And Paper Primer.The Choices Are Greater Than Ever. Review by Jack Neubart, March, 2002
Shutterbug: photokina Special Coverage; Inkjet Papers
Finding New Papers
On line paper distributor
. - Epson's triple black K3 inkset
- Epson's triple black K3 inkset The new Stylus Photo R2400 promises the best desktop black and white prints - and most neutral colour - so far. - sign up required.
. - Monochrome Photographic Printmaking with the Epson UltraChrome K3 Inkset
- Digital Outback - Monochrome Photographic Printmaking with the Epson UltraChrome K3 Inkset
. - Continuous Ink Systems
- Continuous Ink Systems; Are They Right For You?
Jon Canfield, July, 2006
. - EPSON UK - Printer products
- Epson Photo, Inkjet, Multifunction or All in one printer details and specifications. Buy ink cartridges and printers online with our price comparison. Download the latest printer drivers and get support for your Epson printer.
EpsonEpson Stylus Pro 4800 - 9600 large format printers
Epson R800 review
Epson R1800 review
. - HP Color Inkjet printers at a glance - HP Home & Home Office products
- Summary of all HP HP Color Inkjet printers currently available for purchase and recommended for Home & Home Office. Includes links to compare products, obtain more information about a specific model or product series, or view selection advice and special offers and other relevant information tai
HP 8450 printer
This printer will appeal to the person who just wants to get on with producing prints, without all the fuss of colour correcting and colour management.
Driver downloads
Support & Troubleshooting
>
. - Canon UK - Bubble Jet Printers
- Do more with your photos! Super size them into a giant tiled poster. Create your own photo stickers. Design a unique photo business card. More fun printing ideas? Click on the banner above!.....
Review of Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Printer
. - PiezographyBW@ InkjetMall
- PiezographyBW Quad Black inks and software is the best black & white inkjet solution. Inkjetmall is the Internet's #1 Source for archival media, color management, and tech support. With 20 years experience as digital printmakers - Jon Cone has the skills and knowledge to meet your needs.
Great Stuff on eBay
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