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Thread: Zone System Development For Scanning

  1. #1

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    Zone System Development For Scanning

    For those that develop black and white negatives for scanning, do you develop them for Zone 7 or 8

    I have just exposed 2 sheets of FP4 and placed the darkest area with detail on Zone 3, the brightest area with detail was 4 stops brighter placing them on Zone 7

    In this situation, would you do a N development or an N+1 to try and expand the mid-tones to give them more separation

  2. #2
    Peter De Smidt's Avatar
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    Re: Zone System Development For Scanning

    If the image would benefit from more mid-tone contrast, and most do, I'd go for Zone VIII. You'll still be well within the range of the scanner.
    “You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
    ― Alexander Den Heijer, Nothing You Don't Already Know

  3. #3
    Resident Heretic Bruce Watson's Avatar
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    Re: Zone System Development For Scanning

    Quote Originally Posted by IanBarber View Post
    For those that develop black and white negatives for scanning, do you develop them for Zone 7 or 8.
    I've written a bunch of posts on this very topic. Search around and you'll find them.

    Bruce Watson

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    Re: Zone System Development For Scanning

    I agree with Peter. And, FWIW, I develop film the same whether for scanning/desktop or wet printing in the darkroom.

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    Re: Zone System Development For Scanning

    Quote Originally Posted by Bruce Watson View Post
    I've written a bunch of posts on this very topic. Search around and you'll find them.
    Any clues Bruce, Ive looked at your started posts but not seen any specific titles relating to this

  6. #6
    Resident Heretic Bruce Watson's Avatar
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    Re: Zone System Development For Scanning

    Quote Originally Posted by IanBarber View Post
    Any clues Bruce, Ive looked at your started posts but not seen any specific titles relating to this
    Here's some of what I've written, in one of your threads:

    http://www.largeformatphotography.in...ystem+scanning

    If you want more, go to the forums search box at the upper right of the forum webpage, and type in "zone system scanning" and let it rip.

    Bruce Watson

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    Re: Zone System Development For Scanning

    Thanks Bruce, I have all the information bookmarked now for offlne reading

  8. #8
    Alan Klein's Avatar
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    Re: Zone System Development For Scanning

    Quote Originally Posted by IanBarber View Post
    For those that develop black and white negatives for scanning, do you develop them for Zone 7 or 8

    I have just exposed 2 sheets of FP4 and placed the darkest area with detail on Zone 3, the brightest area with detail was 4 stops brighter placing them on Zone 7

    In this situation, would you do a N development or an N+1 to try and expand the mid-tones to give them more separation
    I don't develop my own film (Tmax 100). The lab used Xtol and developed normally. I also bracket +1 and -1 stops around my metered exposure calculation. I don't use the Zone system.

    What I've found is that all three shots will be scanned from blacks to whites with my Epson V600. Sometime I set the levels so that I move in the ends to right before I would clip at either end. No other settings are set for the scan. I use Lightroom or PS Elements for adjustments. I usually use the photo that's more towards the middle of the scan as the others are to the left and too dark. Whether this is the right approach, I don;t know. Some input from others would be helpful. Here are my results from this method.
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/alankl...57642492618713

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