Making Digital Negatives - Drone Images In The Darkroom & Lith Printing

Grab a free copy of my darkroom formula ebook when you signup for my newsletter here: www.distphoto.com/darkroomfor...
How I create my digital negatives for lith printing in the darkroom.
In this video I will show you how I created a digital negative from a picture I shot with my Mavic 2 drone.
I love taking advantage of technology to assist in creating images that would be otherwise impossible to create in the darkroom.
Hope you enjoy!
Download the correction curve & step wedge I use for digital negative lith printing - www.distinctionphoto.com/wp-c...
=============================
Relevant Links:
=============================
Digital Negative Resources:
Easy Digital Negatives Book - amzn.to/3qqbheU
Easy Digital Negatives Website - www.easydigitalnegatives.com
Digital Negative Printing:
Epson Sure Color P700 Printer (new model) - amzn.to/3h7d83T
Pictorico OHP Transparcy Film - amzn.to/3xOn8G6
Contact Printing Frame - amzn.to/2T8yead
Excellent Lith Papers:
Ilford Multigrade Warm Tone Paper - adorama.rfvk.net/rnQ0JB
Ilford Multigrade ART 300 Paper - adorama.rfvk.net/x9kmz3
Foma Fomatone Paper - adorama.rfvk.net/a1nLrq
Tools & Safety:
Tray/food warmer - amzn.to/3uzGpJN
Respirator - amzn.to/2PTPbn0
Respirator Filters (Formaldahyde & Organic Vapor)- amzn.to/3dRR0Jc
Nitrile Gloves - amzn.to/3d4HFif
Excellent Lith Developers:
Arista Liquid Lith Printing Developer - distphoto.be/39WzyCa
Rollei Lith Printing Developer - adorama.rfvk.net/Yg9j2q
Moersch Easy Lith (Formaldahyde Free) - distphoto.be/3wHZMCf
Books & Resources:
Bob Carnie Lith Printing Video - distphoto.be/3e5gpzt
The World Of Lith Printing (Tim Rudman) - amzn.to/3a0cAtX
The Master Photographers Lith Printing Course (Tim Rudman) - amzn.to/3mxHuPv
Film Photography Project - What is a Lith Print - distphoto.be/39YXe94
=============================
Go to film photography setup //
=============================
Hasselblad 500 CM - ebay.us/I76k2J
120mm CF f-4 Makro - ebay.us/gX4UVm
80mm CF 2.8 - ebay.us/BRBAuT
50mm CFE f-4 - ebay.us/rcJhiz
Go to film - amzn.to/3oPiyTU
=============================
Go to digital camera setup //
=============================
Canon R5 - amzn.to/35FUX0r
Canon 35mm f1.4 L ii - amzn.to/3ioIBPl
Canon 50mm f1.2 RF - amzn.to/2N47Hax
Canon 85mm f1.2 - amzn.to/38PaH34
=============================
Affiliate Links:
=============================
Some of the links in my video descriptions are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, I will make a small commission if you click them and make a qualifying purchase. If you have a different purchase in mind, please consider using these links as it helps create more free content for this channel!
=============================
Follow Me:
=============================
Instagram: / distphoto and / distphotofilm
Lightroom Presets: www.distinctionphoto.com/dp/p...
Blog: www.distinctionphoto.com/dp/c...
Thank you so much for watching!
=============================
#distphotofilm #darkroom

[@GnartotheBone]

This is the most BASED youtube photography page I've ever found. Keep doing things your way man its super refreshing.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Thanks for that. Will do!

[@RewDowns]

Your content is incredible, your channel is about to blow up

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Thank you I appreciate that!

[@mike747436]

Wow, that’s complex! Very interesting to see your process and methods with this, but for me analog printing is a way to escape the computer. Besides, I don’t have a drone😁

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

I am with ya on an escape from the computer... This is a sort of middle ground. But I WAY prefer fully analog at the moment for many reasons. huge one is not staring at a screen :)

[@hajmanek]

Very interesting video, thank you

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@randallstewart175]

New and innovative. This not something I personally have any interest in doing, converting digital images to silver contact printing. However, I see that his analysis and related controls may be of great help in another process I would like to explore in the near future, which is using the computer to create negative masks for enlarging film images. There was some published work on this idea just in the year or so before everything turned to digital and folks started leaving their enlargers at the curb. I had to close up my darkroom for several years at the time, and I'd like to get back to developing this technique soon.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

I have made inker dodge masks that work quite well over the top off negatives. I intend on doing a video about this. Just have not had a negative come up that required the process.

[@GianniGiatilis]

Hi and happy and creative new year, I am recently into digital negatives and I found your video to be very informative and pleasant to watch. I have read Easy Digital Negatives too. Just before printing my first DN I would like to use your Silver printing curve and the one you have below is for lith, not silver, unless you use the same one for both processes. Otherwise could you put the link to download the silver printing curve. Thanks in advance.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

I do use the same curve… I almost always do lith with it 👍

[@mathewmccarthy9848]

Thank you, Matthew! Once the digital negative is made I assume one can make a contact print using traditional silver gelatin printing?

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Yes, I use a contact printing frame from Photographers Formulary and expose it under my enlarger!

[@dbw]

Nice video. How far have you got doing Silver Gelatin prints from Digital Negatives?

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

I usually make them for Lith Printing. I have had mixed results with straight printing on silver gelatin paper. Kinda depends on the image and the gradation. They can look lovely, but I do prefer to print from original negatives better.

[@TheJanisyt]

Could this be used for printing masks? Like sharping mask or high contrast mask, etc. have You tried it? The ideal size of the native negative could be an issue, I think

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

I do not think it would work for Contrast reduction masks or unsharp masks, etc... But I use the exact (printer/transparency) for ink jet dodge masks and it works quite well.

[@mathieumorel448]

Noob question. Hey there! can we get a B&W image with lith printing, or is it always sepia-ish/blue-ish depending on the paper? Thanks

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Yes you can. There are some papers like like Slavich and other cold tone papers that have a real gritty effect with no color shifts in the highlights. You can also use toners to tame or change the colors. If you use real strong developer it will have less color as well. It all depends on the paper and developer / condition of the developer. And then toning opens up a whole new world of possibilities 👍

[@mathieumorel448]

@@DistinctionPhotoLLC hey! Many thanks for this answer, lith seems to have its own life, can't wait to try/learn it! Thanks again.

[@ParhelionMedia]

At 11:18 I'm confused how you get those RGB input reference values. You don't explain this. Is this just the values measured on the Photoshop "Info" panel for black, white and middle gray on the color chart before you set those points on the curve? Or are they values inherent to the color chart?

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Those values are the known values (inherent to the color chart) for the ColorChecker Passport You want to set these in the curves to correct the curve to that standard. You can definitely still use contrast filters in the darkroom after as well!

[@maxschenk1013]

As someone just getting into digital negatives, really appreciate your doing this! Question, the link for the wedge and curve does not seem to be working - is it till available?

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Yeah for sure. here is the direct link :www.distinctionphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/DN-Curve.zip I actually was just changing that domain to cloudflare two days ago.. thanks for letting me know the link is busted. Now I can't figure out where to edit the description :). Good luck with the negatives!

[@maxschenk1013]

@@DistinctionPhotoLLC You're the best - thanks so much and have really been enjoying your tutorials - clearest explanations on darkroom processes that I have seen yet!

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

@@maxschenk1013 Appreciate that!

[@stevebills2427]

＠DistPhoto - You make it look so easy! 😂 I'm not really a digital guy, but if I can do all of that digitally and then print a negative to make a gelatin silver print I need to think about dumping my Hasselblad V system camera and look for an H3D-II.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

It is still missing something only traditional film can bring when it comes to straight silver printing. NEVER sell the Hassy👍.

[@stevebills2427]

@@DistinctionPhotoLLC I'm curious if you've tried to make a 4x5 digital negative and print that through the enlarger. I'm wondering what the quality would be like. Also, at what size you would start seeing pixels. I am looking at a used Hassy H-system camera to go along with the 503CX I have.

[@stevebills2427]

@UCq6RKE7-IL-X05wIxvS5Ttg - One more - If you ever decide to have that darkroom workshop let me know...I will be there.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

@@stevebills2427 Unfortunately The resolution and quality would not be good projecting through a 4x5 digital negative. Even contact printing if you look close can see the ink dots. They do not look terrible but they are there. With lith printing it is not an issue. But with silver gelatine straight it is noticeable at close inspection. I believe most alternative processes are more forgiving in this regard. I think because of the paper and finish. I have some Ilford Art 300 I want to contact digital negs on and see if it makes a different because of the paper base. It would be awesome if it were able to make 4x5 digital negatives for projection printing though. There are a few labs I have heard can print digital files optically onto traditional fiber based paper. Takes the fun out of working in the darkroom though. Also remember reading about an image setter being a possibility, but have no experience there.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

@@stevebills2427 Would love too. Need a bigger space though. If I can work it out I will let you know!

[@Puresniper1000]

yeah do platinum and palladium

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

It has always been in my plans. I think I am going to try and set up a frame and UV box at my studio soon. I think the cost scares me off a little silver is not getting any cheaper either :) Just gonna have to jump in!

[@johngskewes]

Hi Matthew, I'm just getting started in the darkroom and have been going through your catalog of vlogs, I find them really helpful. Watching this video, and ones where you make a mask with multiple windows and doors you can open and close for your dodge and burns - I reminded of hearing Matt Marrash on the FPP podcast talking about a workshop he took with Alan Ross...where Mr. Ross made mylar overlays of all his dodge and burns to make a final, repeatable print in one move. So here's the question, have you tried that technique? I'm still mastering the basics, but I'm listening. Thanks for your great teaching.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

Glad you have enjoyed! I have not used the Mylar like Alan Ross but am sure it is effective as he is a master. So many people do so many things differently. Sorry kind of a rant. Enjoy the dark! In my opinion there is no one “right way” in photography… only what is right for you and gets the results that you are after. Do not get sucked in to thinking something has to be done a certain way. Experiment and learn techniques that allow you to make images you are proud of 👍

[@johngskewes]

@@DistinctionPhotoLLC hi Matthew. Thank you. By nature I’m a problem solver so darkroom is a good fit. For now I’m selecting negatives I’m interested in - not necessarily winners, but something to work with puzzle over. Your videos help. Thank you.

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

@@johngskewes glad to hear!

[@josephasghar]

What is this cheese-before-bedtime juju shamen magic?! And how is this middle-aged man able to pull off wearing a reversed baseball cap!?

[@DistinctionPhotoLLC]

No sure? Thanks for watching