[rollei_list] Re: Digital Ciba{Ilfo)chrome
- From: Douglas Nygren <dnygr@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 18:10:50 -0500
What type of paper is digital Cibachrome, matt or glossy?
Doug Nygren
On Dec 23, 2005, at 1:42 PM, Jim Brick wrote:
Digital Cibachrome is simply regular Cibachrome polyester paper (a
large roll) in a printer like a LightJet, Chimera, or Durst Lamda
printer. This is basically the only way you can make very large
prints. A LightJet can print up to 50"x96". The XL version can print
up to 75"x120". Attached to the LightJet is a roller transport
Cibachrome processor running the p3X or P3XL process. My local
LightJet printer uses Fuji Crystal Archive paper. It has a Kreonite
roller transport processor bolted to it running the RA4 process.
A LightJet printer requires that your film be scanned (I use the lab's
drum scanner) and the digital file is sent to the LightJet where three
(red, green, blue) lasers expose the paper. The exposure is continuous
tone rather than raster dots like an ink jet printer. It is a
completely photographic process, photographic paper and process, the
only difference is instead of a light source, transparency, and lens
exposing the paper, it is lasers. A Chimera printer (ZBE) uses diodes
for paper exposure.
You can scan transparencies, color neg, B&W neg, or flat art, and send
the digital file it to a LightJet or Chimera. Obviously you can
Photoshop it on the way.
The largest prints that I can print in my darkroom is 20x24. I have
printed larger prints but it is really difficult and any mistake is
very costly. A sheet o Ciba polyester 20x24 paper is roughly $10. So
even at 20x24, mistakes are costly.
In my gallery (I have a very large entry way in my home) I have a lot
of 20x24 & smaller (smaller printed from 35mm) Cibachrome prints. I
also have a 48x60, 48x48, and several 30x40 prints, which are LightJet
prints since I cannot print these large sizes in my darkroom.
So digital Cibachrome is simply a way to make large prints. But once a
piece of film is digitized (always scan to make the largest size print
possible - 200mb-300mb files) you can have the LightJet printer make
any size print from business card size up to 50"x96".
There is a noticeable difference between an optical enlarger
Cibachrome and a LightJet Fuji Crystal Archive print. But you can see
it only if you put them side by side. They are both super on their
own. I have several 30x40 Cibas and the same print as 30x40 LightJet
RA4 prints. I sell the LightJet prints as they are outstanding and
easy to make. Just give the lab the CD. 30x40 Cibas (for me) are very
difficult to make.
http://tinyurl.com/c97bm
:-)
Jim
At 04:43 AM 12/23/2005, Douglas Nygren wrote:
Isn't that ironic. Digital images printed as Cibachromes. Glad to
hear about that, it may mean that we'll keep that wonderful product.
and isn't it interesting that digital is being printed using an older
technology, if I understand that correctly.
I have a friend who scans film, edits it with photoshop, then prints
his edited work to a disk and sends it off to have negatives made
from which he contact prints.
While many people marvel at digital photography, I find it
interesting how people play with it, how they go beyond its usual use
and create new processes. It's interesting to see how old and new
mix. Some people take photophotos and then paint protraits from
them--a mix of old and new.
The sad thing is to see the wide variety of the old products
disappear, for example Kodak black and white paper.
Have a good day, Doug
---
Rollei List
- Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe' in
the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
- Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe'
in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
- Online, searchable archives are available at
//www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list
---
Rollei List
- Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'
in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
- Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with
'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org
- Online, searchable archives are available at
//www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list
Other related posts:
