[LargeFormat] re: Printing the Giant Pinhole Negative: A Question from June 4
SGHammond
largeformat@f32.net
Sun Jan 19 07:08:09 2003
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Hello Guy,
I was reading your question posted on June 4, but I am not a subscriber =
to this Large Format list and wasn't sure how to respond to the thread. =
I very much like what you are doing and wanted to let you know my =
thoughts...Maybe something from them will be helpful.
I would preface my ideas by saying that this approach I had thought of =
sometime back may be too much of a hassle and may not work, as I have =
not attempted it, but for the past few months I have been working =
through solutions in my mind and on paper to produce large format =
pictures.
So here we go:
A few years back I worked for a sign maker. My job included operating a =
CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router. If unfamiliar with this =
machine check out this link for a simple description.
http://www.thermwood.com/CNC_Routers_Explained.htm
Basically, it is a machine that can be programmed to automate cutting =
tasks on either two or three axes. The machine I used to operate had a =
9' x 16' table...large enough for your needs.
My thoughts on a solution for processing a print from a large negative =
utilize this machine. One problem though is finding one and an owner =
open to assisting in the developing process. If this is accomplished, =
here is how I would proceed.
The machine has a router head that could be removed and in its place a =
small fixed light source added. It is important to have the light =
source project its light with a fixed spread and a consistent intensity =
across this spread. The width of spread and value of intensity will =
need to be known when in the next step you program the software to do =
the exposing of the negative. Also, as part of this light source you =
should create a bracket for your filters if you need to manipulate =
contrast on different areas of your negative. With the light source =
being so close to the negative and print you eliminate the need for a =
16' ladder.
Using a CAD software program you would map out your negative into a =
grid. The grid would follow the width of the spread from your light =
source. Imagine mowing a lawn. That "mowing" is what I am essentially =
talking about. The machine would move back and forth directly over the =
negative and print exposing one section at a time. This would allow you =
to set up each area with great precision with its own exposure time =
attributes by how fast it passes over a specific area. Here you are =
letting the machine do the burning and dodging while exposing the =
positive print. If you do a test strip that covers a problem area of =
the negative, you could adjust the times in the programming rather =
easily without wasting the valuable large paper you acquired.
To eliminate wetting the negative and positive paper, I was thinking =
that if you are exposing, let's say, a 6" spread of print at a time, you =
could use a good old piece of glass that is 8' x4' that you would =
manually slide along the negative as the light source passes overhead, =
creating the necessary pressure for true contact. You would only need =
to move it every 6 passes or so, and it wouldn't be so large that it =
would be too encompassing.
Also, to hold the two pieces together and down to the table, =
strategically place lightweight two-sided taped would work I assume.
That is my simple explanation of what I had come up with. As a =
foundation of thought you could use this method to do a lot of effects =
and tricks by programming the CAD software to control the machine in =
almost any way you want...i.e.. purposely leaving out strips of =
developing or making designs of exposed paper. This, I guess, would be =
the artistic license side of developing.
Anyway, that's the basics. I hope that you get this and something =
within is useful.
Take care,
Stephen Hammond
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Hello Guy,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I was reading your question posted on =
June 4, but I=20
am not a subscriber to this Large Format list and wasn't sure how =
to=20
respond to the thread. I very much like what you are doing =
and</FONT><FONT=20
face=3DArial size=3D2> wanted to let you know my thoughts...Maybe =
something from=20
them will be helpful.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I would preface my ideas by saying that =
this=20
approach I had thought of sometime back may be too much of a hassle and =
may not=20
work, as I have not attempted it, but for the past few months I have =
been=20
working through solutions in my mind and on paper to produce large =
format=20
pictures.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>So here we go:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>A few years back I worked for a sign =
maker. =20
My job included operating a CNC (Computer Numerical =
Control) router. =20
If unfamiliar with this machine check out this link for a simple=20
description.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"http://www.thermwood.com/CNC_Routers_Explained.htm">http://www.th=
ermwood.com/CNC_Routers_Explained.htm</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Basically, it is a machine that can be =
programmed=20
to automate cutting tasks on either two or three axes. The machine =
I used=20
to operate had a 9' x 16' table...large enough for your =
needs.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>My thoughts on a solution for =
processing a print=20
from a large negative utilize this machine. One problem =
though is=20
finding one and an owner open to assisting in the developing =
process. If=20
this is accomplished, here is how I would proceed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The machine has a router head that =
could be removed=20
and in its place a small fixed light source added. It is important =
to have=20
the light source project its light with a fixed spread and a =
consistent=20
intensity across this spread. The width of spread and =
value of=20
intensity will need to be known when in the next step you program =
the=20
software to do the exposing of the negative. Also, as part of this =
light=20
source you should create a bracket for your filters if you need to =
manipulate=20
contrast on different areas of your negative. With the light =
source being=20
so close to the negative and print you eliminate the need for a 16'=20
ladder.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Using a CAD software program you would =
map out your=20
negative into a grid. The grid would follow the width of the =
spread from=20
your light source. Imagine mowing a lawn. That "mowing" =
is=20
what I am essentially talking about. The machine would move =
back and=20
forth directly over the negative and print exposing one section at a =
time. =20
This would allow you to set up each area with great precision with its =
own=20
exposure time attributes by how fast it passes over a specific =
area. Here=20
you are letting the machine do the burning and dodging while exposing =
the=20
positive print. If you do a test strip that covers a problem area =
of the=20
negative, you could adjust the times in the programming rather easily =
without=20
wasting the valuable large paper you acquired.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>To eliminate wetting the negative and =
positive=20
paper, I was thinking that if you are exposing, let's say, a 6" spread =
of print=20
at a time, you could use a good old piece of glass that is 8' x4' that =
you would=20
manually slide along the negative as the light source passes overhead, =
creating=20
the necessary pressure for true contact. You would only need to =
move it=20
every 6 passes or so, and it wouldn't be so large that it would be too=20
encompassing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Also, to hold the two pieces together =
and down to=20
the table, strategically place lightweight two-sided taped would work I=20
assume.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>That is my simple explanation of what I =
had come up=20
with. As a foundation of thought you could use this method =
to do a=20
lot of effects and tricks by programming the CAD software to control the =
machine=20
in almost any way you want...i.e.. purposely leaving out strips of =
developing or=20
making designs of exposed paper. This, I guess, would be the =
artistic=20
license side of developing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Anyway, that's the basics. I hope =
that you=20
get this and something within is useful.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Take care,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Stephen Hammond</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
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