The Digital Negative - Appendix A - QTR Step Wedge Tool

[@RBain]

Really useful extra. Thankyou Bill

[@ralphrinke750]

Thanx for the video, nice shirt.

[@danielbombero8045]

Bill: this is another great video in your series. Thanks for helping to make the process more understandable. I do have one question though: in this video you use the 21 step gray tif target as the "control." In the instructions, Richard uses a Tiffin step wedge as the control. I am guessing these both work equally well? Thanks, Dan

[@BillSchwab]

Yes. Both work equally well. It is possible that the Tiffin is a little more exact, but I found no issues in using the 21 step wedge that was provided with the original program. So glad you like the video!

[@johnfellers9497]

Hi Bill, thanks so much for this series. Not sure if this is the right vid for my question but here goes: My QCDN V2 Linearization screen is a bit different from yours, (I don't have the pro.) My assumption is the "save" button exports the new .quad file (and it seems too.) But I noticed that under "Show Ink Channels" both OR (orange?) and GR (Green?) are clicked on by default. I am also on a P800, no orange or green inks,) should I click those boxes off or are they irrelevant? When I click them off the curve appears to change....

[@kirklindgren5824]

Bill, Nice job. I have a question about the version of Richards program. I have both the original QCDN and the newer Quad Tone Profiler Pro DN. Which one are you using? and (another question) in the video when you open up the program and select linearization, your screen shows "V2 Linearization" V2? what's that? Thanks for your much appreciated work on doing these videos for us.

[@BillSchwab]

Hi Kirk. In this video, I used the new version, version two. I think that’s what the V2 refers to. It’s pretty much the same program although has a few new goodies to use. I’m currently working on a video for that one that will replace number four in the series.

[@dorothykloss5303]

Still plugging' away! Richard mentioned using the Tiffen Q-13 target when using the scanner when using the step wedge tool. Do you have to use that every time. I'm a little foggy on the steps after the starter curve. Thank you!!!

[@BillSchwab]

Hi Dorothy. Just follow back through the video. I’ve never use the 13 step, but you do use it every time you do an iteration. Each time you create a new correction curve, you print out the stepwedge and then scan it to see how close you are getting to linearization. It usually only takes me two or three iterations to settle on my final curve.

[@jerrybasierbe1195]

Is it necesary to put a gaussian blur on the 21 step wedge scan as in the 4th video for taking the readings with step wedge tool?

[@BillSchwab]

No. You don’t need that with a stepwedge tool. I think it must do its own averaging of each step. Great question!

[@johnjpenner8527]

Does Richard Boutwells’s Quick Curve work with the Cone Piezogepraphy inks, or just with the Epson K3 inks?

[@BillSchwab]

Hi John. I have not used cone inks with this process and I’m not quite sure. I’ve got a message into Richard and I’ll see what he says.

[@alfredoaguilarrubio7616]

Hi Bill, in this video you use the 21 step wedge, did you print this wedge with the starting curve from the previous videos, or did you print them without curves. Thank you very much Bill

[@BillSchwab]

Hello Alfredo. Yes. The 21 step wedge is printed first with the starter curve and then with each correction curve built until you have your final.

[@alfredoaguilarrubio7616]

@@BillSchwab Thank you very much Bill for the clarification.

[@dorothykloss5303]

@@BillSchwab I had the same question. Thanks!

[@JMC0704]

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a problem. I’m trying to open the blocking density file in print tool, but my file is grayed out. How can I fix this? Thanks.

[@BillSchwab]

Hi John, You might try writing directly to Richard on this one. I have not heard of this.

[@andrewweis3028]

Morning, Bill. I assume you can use this process for making a Silver Gelatin print with a Digital Neg? Just use the Silver Gelatin paper as the substrate instead of HRP, correct? Thanks.

[@BillSchwab]

Hi Andrew. Great question. It is possible, but silver gelatin prints from digital negatives are a whole other animal. You’ll need the white substrate and it to is only for contact prints. You can’t enlarge these because of the artifacts. They’re just not acceptable.

[@andrewweis3028]

@@BillSchwab Hi Bill,, thanks for taking the time to answer, but am not quite sure I understand. What is the ‘white substrate’? And what is unacceptable, the resulting Digital Negative or the Print or ?? Thanks for clarifying.

[@BillSchwab]

@@andrewweis3028 Sorry not to be more clear. It would be the print that would suffer when enlarging the inherent artifacts of a digital negative. In alternative processes, you have rougher surfaced papers and artifacts don’t show up. Silver gelatin paper is much more sharp and clear and shows the imperfections in a digital negative. I will look for a link to the white substrate. It’s basically the same material but it’s a cloudy white.

[@BillSchwab]

This is the stuff. The white film helps in diffusing the light and helping to hide any artifacts. Do a Google search on the subject and you'll find better information than I can provide. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/544974-REG/Pictorico_PICT35001_Pictorico_Pro_Hi_Gloss_White.html

[@andrewweis3028]

@@BillSchwab Thanks for your help, Bill. I’ll check into it and then way the advantages vs. disadvantages of using Silver Gelatin for printing with Digital Negs. Much appreciated.