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Colour Correction

 

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Duplicating

This process is very simple in theory - based on taking a digital photo of a film original. However it is a process that can produce some very disappointing results from even the best film originals.

A wide range of factors can chip away at the results leading to final image that lacks sharpness and colour accuracy.

As always the objective is to get the best possible results within the cost and time constraints that we all have to face.

These brief notes summarize just one approach to getting good results from a limited budget.

Copystand-1
Kaiser_4420_4-1-300

My starting point came when a Kaiser System-V enlarger was spotted at a knock-down starting price on eBay. Luckily I was the only bidder and so that became the basis for my copy stand.

Now you can buy new or used copy stands instead of an enlarger. However the asking prices of copy stands are (or at least were) much higher than the numerous, redundant enlargers.

Also the Kaiser System-V does have a specific accessory to convert it to a copy stand - so no home engineering is required to provide the mount for the digital camera. Now finding the Kaiser accessory could be the biggest challenge - but luckily there was an independent camera dealer with one for sale online. True it did cost much more than the enlarger itself - but it was still much cheaper than a copy stand.

Kaiser_4420_4-42B-300

Kaiser themselves recommend using the enlarger head as the light source. But that was based upon duplication using film.

With digital the colour correction can be done with Photoshop or even in camera. And modern light panels or a traditional light box are more flexible - and cooler - than a single incandescent bulb.

With the basic stand in place we next need the camera. A DSLR with a macro lens or any indeed camera that can focus on a small object and avoid introducing distortions is required.

In my case a Canon 5D with a 100mm 2.8 macro lens was the best of what I had available.

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