Unsharp Masking

Greetings!

 

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I have become interested in using both unsharp masking and Ross dodge/burning masks. I know there are several workshops, but I am interested in knowing if there are any websites or books available on learning the technique?

 

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Also, does anyone know if there is a commercially available negative carrier with the proper registration aids and diffusing panels for the unsharp masking and Ross masks? Specifically I have a Saunders 4550 XLG enlarger (I don't want to construct my own) Thanks!

 

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Scott

The definitive reference on unsharp masking is probably the articles

written by Mark Jilg and Dennis McNutt. This also includes

instructions on making a registration carrier. See

http://hps.vanguard.edu/Photo/Art1.html

 

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Other folks who use masking a lot in their work and whose workshops

may be useful are Howard Bond and Lynn Radeka.

 

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Condit Mfg used to make registration equipment - Condit, alas, is out

of business. They do turn up very occasionally used. Lynn Radeka

advertises a masking kit at his website www.radekaphotography.com,

that might be worth looking at. There is also supposed to be a new

source of register equipment - an Alistair Inglass in BC, Canada.

Registration equipment can be fabricated by yourself also - you will

need register pins, which are available at graphic supply houses or

from Bregman Manufacturing. Most register pins tend to be somewhat

large (1/4" is a typical size and I've found it difficult to locate a

1/16" pin) but it is possible to improvise very workable solutions

without too much trouble.

 

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Good luck, DJ

Check out some of these special issues of Photo

 

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Techniques:http://www.phototechmag.com/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?

id=10

 

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There are quite a few articles by Howard Bond in the magazines listed,

almost all in someway related (if not dedicated) to unsharp masking.

 

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It looks like a really cool idea, but very difficult unless you have

the tools....

 

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-klm.

Condit is no longer making registration devices. Lynn Radeka has a

kit that appears to fill the bill. registering is very easy and with a

little tape and a good loupe can be done adequately without any

registration device other than your eye. Diffusion material can be

purchased at any graphic art store or most art supply stores. It is

called acetate and comes in various thicknesses with the most

common being 3, 5 and 7mm. You need the 3. Or just use a cleared

4x5 piece of film as a spacer. But what you are probably going to find

is that if you focus properly in the first place you don't need an

"unsharp" mask. But contrast reduction masks are very useful. Go to

radeka.com and email him about his kit. james

John Sexton includes a session on unsharp masking in his two advanced

darkroom workshops. The method he teaches is much simpler than that

taught by Howard Bond and seems to work well. I don't believe that

the utility of unsharp masking has anything to do with how you focus.

Also, you actually don't need any spacer material. The thickness of

the film alone will create enough space to make the mask unsharp.

work. At least this is what Howard Bond concluded in the second of

his "Photo Techniques" articles on unsharp masking. I always found

the spacer to be a pain - dust, scratches, etc. appeared on it with

regularity. Since Howard's second article appeared I've stopped using

a spacer and the unsharp masks seem fine without it.

I don't really have anything futher to add, but I do have a question

about unsharp masking. After responding above, I decided to actually

give masking a try.

 

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I made a negative mask, registered it with the original on my light

table, and taped them together as best I could. I can certainly see

how pin registration might be useful :-)

 

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My enlarger is a 4500-II, and all my negative carriers are glassless.

What I noticed is that when I put the sandwich in the carrier, it

seemed that there was an airspace between the two negatives, which is

not what you want, since the mask becomes incredibly unsharp.

 

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Are people using glass carriers when doing masking? Or, are people

exposing masks through the anti-halation layer, and then sandwiching

the negatives together so the emulsions are facing in the same

direction?

 

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Thanks!

 

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-klm.

Scott,

 

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I suggest that you take a look at the services provided by Lightbox

Inc. Bruce did a splendid unsharp mask for one of my 4x5's. My

experience with them was very positive and I feel they take a great

deal of pride in their work. Bruce has taken the Howard Bond

workshop and they even have a gallery of Bond's work up. Best of

all, the price was very resonable -$40 for the completed mask. I am

not affiliated with them in any way, I'm just a happy customer. Here

is a link to their site, click on fine art services. Cheers!

 

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http://www.lightboxinc.com/home.html

Ken,

 

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My experience parallels yours. I have made beautiful 8x10 contact

prints with unsharp masks but my every attempt using 4x5 film, in my

LPL 4500 / glassless carrier, in a word; sucks. I've wondered if it

was the enlargement process itself. Maybe my 8x10 masked negs

wouldn't look so good either if enlarged (but they seem very sharp on

the contact print). I hadn't thought about trying a glass negative

carrier. Anybody out there who can share thir expertise?

For an unsharp mask to work, it must be sandwiched with the negative

between pieces of glass. Simplest arrangement would have the emulsion

of the mask contacting the base of the negative, which is how the mask

was exposed in the first place. Any spacers used would go between the

two pieces of film. Without glass though, there is no way you can get

perfect results as the mask will be so far out of focus it will be out

of register and too diffuse.

Again let me restate my view that if you focus properly in the first

place, corner to corner, and you use the proper exposure/develoment

techniques along with the proper film/ developer combinations, you

don't need an unsharp mask to get an incredibly sharp print. And

this is brought out by the fact that you need look no further than

John Sexton, Howard Bond(pre mask), Bruce Barnbaum, Ray McSaveney and

any number of other 4x5 photographers. That isn't to be construed as

suggesting unsharp masking hasn't a place in the tool kit. I have been

using it for certain negatives for years now. And yes you do need to

work with a glass neg carrier. Yes you can get away with using only

the thickness of the film instead of a spacer.......some of the time.

That depends on what the mask is for and how unsharp it needs to be.

There are many times you need more or less unsharpness than that

provided by the thickness of the negative. And the technique is better

used, and named, contrast control mask. That is it's main purpose. To

control the internal contrast of the negative. That's why the print

appears sharper. Or have I miscontrued Howards original premise. It

was used for decades in printing. It ain't new. And it doesn't require

an expensive set up. It makes things easier if you have a punch and

registered neg carrier but it ain't necassary. James

Hello, In regard to your earlier post on the use of registration means for your 4550 XLG enlarger...If you do not already have your methodology solved, I have designed and developed a modification for the 4550 XLG enlarger which is designed to effect repeatability on the order of less then .003. I anticipate marketing this system by midyear 2003. The system involves a registered film punch, a mask printing frame, a modified negative stage for the enlarger, and a pin registered negative carrier for the enlarger. The reason for this is that in addition to unsharp masking, there are other forms of masks that are available for printing. These involve shadow contrast increase masks, highlight contrast increase masks, burn and dodge masks. This system should also have application in specifically printing certain areas of the print with differing contrast filtration. I have not tried it for this purpose myself, though. In regard to workshops, I do teach masking techniques on an individual basis should you desire.