Hybrid Processing

I am getting back into to film and I am considering going with a hybrid process, developing film and printing digital prints rather than pulling my enlarger out of storage. The scanner comes bundled with Silverfast software. Ideally, I'd not like to invest too much. WillI need software beyond Silverfast, or can I use Photoshop Elements and my existing Epson printer.

I'm not looking for chapter and verse directions, just some general guidance and resource recommendations.

Thank you!

Mike

I shoot film and both scan and print in a darkroom.

Silverfast is reputed to be good for scanning, but you’ll probably need to adjust the scans for printing. Lightroom is nice, but costs. Darktable can do most of the same editing, but it has the typical open-source ‘technical’ feel in the UI, and doesn’t handle library management well at all.

I’d avoid Photoshop personally unless you plan to heavily edit or transform the image. Opinions will differ, but I find it to be overly complex for my taste.

If you’re getting back in to film, do you have a digital workflow now?

OK - got it.

Here’s my workflow:

1. Shoot (film or digital)

2. If film, develop (at home, I’m a B&W hobbiest)

3. If film, scan to DNG

4. Review digital captures or scans in Lightroom and/or Darktable (alternatives, I have both)

5. Adjust tone curves, etc.

6. Decide what I want to print

7. For film, go to darkroom

7a. For digital; straighten, crop, sharpen, etc.

8. Save adjusted version to high quality jpeg

Software, for me, is Vuescan for scanning and Lightroom/Darktable for adjusting. I’m by no means an authority, and I’m still working on my digital filing system. At the moment, it’s date/time based, but if I were a pro it would probably be client/project based. I’ve also bought in to DNG, which is not to everyone’s taste.

I don’t do a lot of digital cleanup or retouching, so I’m not up on the best/latest tools in that area.

I shoot film mostly because many of my beloved cameras will only shoot film.

For all that, I used mostly 35mm transparency film from 1959-2005.

But I am delighted to be able these days to scan in past and present images and use Adobe Camera Raw and all the other wonderful 'darkroom' tools that Photoshop gives me.

I give full credit to the excellent scientists and technicians involved in the photographic industry. The research, development, and design aspects, as well as production, are extraordinary. However, very few photographic manufacturing technicians comprehend photography as an art form, or understand the kinds of equipment the creative person requires. The standards are improving in some areas, however: in my opinion modern lenses approach the highest possible levels of perfection, and today's negative and printing materials are superior to anything I have known and used in the past. I am sure the next step will be the electronic image, and I hope I shall live to see it. I trust that the creative eye will continue to function, whatever technological innovations may develop.

Yes, Photoshop Elements will work. Many inkjet printers are at least a little frustrating with B&W printing. You can also send the JPEG files to mpix.com or Digital Silver Imaging and get real silver prints that are digitally exposed with a laser. Prices are pretty reasonable.

Browse through the Digital Darkroom forum here for more discussion.