Building my first HD curve

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Andreac76

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Hi everyone

finally I got a densitometer (printalyzer from Derek) now I must use it!!

I’ve read a lot on how to make a characteristic curve but there’s something I miss. I don’t have the knowledge to calculate a CI or an average gamma but I wold like to find a method that could work for me in finding the right developing time.

My idea is testing my film shooting a target (a white wall) at increment of 1/2 stop, from -5 to +5. In 20 exposure I should have 20 frames to sample with the densitometer. Now, is correct my assumption that I don’t need to measure the light in millilux because I know that every frame is a half of a stop so when I drow the x axis I mark each dot as an half of a stop. The y axis is calibrated whit the LogD from 0 to 3. Then I start the measurement of the frame starting from the -5 and writing the corresponding value on the x axis of the first exposure at the level of the density indicated by the densitometer. Doing so I can draw a line connection all the points and that should be the HD curve.

is that correct? If is the case, I’d like to make different curves with different developing times to understand how my process should be at a given SBR.

Please be patient with me, forgive my English, I hope someone can understand.

Have a good day
 

ic-racer

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You would use this gage to analyze the contrast. However, many people (like myself) use a computer to calculate the exposure index and the contrast.

You might ask, "if I don't know how to write software to do this what can I do?" and I don't have a good answer. I hope others can chime in. The user Aparat, was working on software for this very purpose but has gone silent.

Just out of curiosity, did you ask Derek? What does he (the creator of the densitometer) use?


image025.jpg
 

Bill Burk

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Good luck! Check my resources, I have some paper graphs (pdf) that you can print full size on US 8 1/2 x 11 paper and transparency material.

The absolute x-axis exposure can remain relative until you get a better feel.
 

xkaes

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There are lots of software programs that you can use to create the plots & lines. Many will even smooth out and/or extrapolate from your data -- if you want -- and even generate the formula for the lines.

I use Harvard Graphics and SPSS, but there are tons to choose from, and many are free. They all have learning curves, but a pencil and a some graphing paper work fine too.
 
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Andreac76

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There are lots of software programs that you can use to create the plots & lines. Many will even smooth out and/or extrapolate from your data -- if you want -- and even generate the formula for the lines.

I use Harvard Graphics and SPSS, but there are tons to choose from, and many are free. They all have learning curves, but a pencil and a some graphing paper work fine too.
Thank you and the previous users for the answers.
Could anyone be so kind to link a site where I can find such datasheet? maybe free?

Anyway, I assume that my testing process is valid.. then I can draw graph on paper or on a computer but the procedure is valid to find useful curve to adjust my developing times..

thanks

PS I'll ask to Derek if he has some graph
 

RalphLambrecht

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Hi everyone

finally I got a densitometer (printalyzer from Derek) now I must use it!!

I’ve read a lot on how to make a characteristic curve but there’s something I miss. I don’t have the knowledge to calculate a CI or an average gamma but I wold like to find a method that could work for me in finding the right developing time.

My idea is testing my film shooting a target (a white wall) at increment of 1/2 stop, from -5 to +5. In 20 exposure I should have 20 frames to sample with the densitometer. Now, is correct my assumption that I don’t need to measure the light in millilux because I know that every frame is a half of a stop so when I drow the x axis I mark each dot as an half of a stop. The y axis is calibrated whit the LogD from 0 to 3. Then I start the measurement of the frame starting from the -5 and writing the corresponding value on the x axis of the first exposure at the level of the density indicated by the densitometer. Doing so I can draw a line connection all the points and that should be the HD curve.

is that correct? If is the case, I’d like to make different curves with different developing times to understand how my process should be at a given SBR.

Please be patient with me, forgive my English, I hope someone can understand.

Have a good day

this may help
 

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  • CustomFilmSpdDevEd2a.pdf
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FredK

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Perhaps this image will aid in your understanding of how to calculate contrast.
Contrast Pix.jpg
 

Bill Burk

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Thank you and the previous users for the answers.
Could anyone be so kind to link a site where I can find such datasheet? maybe free?

Anyway, I assume that my testing process is valid.. then I can draw graph on paper or on a computer but the procedure is valid to find useful curve to adjust my developing times..

Here is a summary of my resources: (all free)

Resource - Divided Attention (My write-up)



Choosing a Contrast Index
Recommended: Chart takes SBR and LER to determine CI with fixed flare model
( http://beefalobill.com/imgs/Contrast Indexes - Kodak.jpg )

Recommended: Chart takes SBR and LER to determine CI with practical flare model
( http://beefalobill.com/imgs/Practical Flare Model b.jpg )

WORKSHEETS & EXAMPLES
Recommended: Sensitometry Graph Paper
( http://beefalobill.com/imgs/sensitometry.pdf )
Recommended: Time/Contrast Graph Paper
( http://beefalobill.com/images/TimeCI.pdf )
Recommended: Contrast Index Meter (print onto overhead transparency film)
( http://beefalobill.com/imgs/cntrastindexmeter.pdf )
Recommended: Lab Notes Negs
( http://beefalobill.com/images/labnotesnegs.pdf )
Recommended: Lab Notes Prints
( http://beefalobill.com/images/labnotesprint.pdf )


Delta X Meter is the same as my other graphs referenced in the resource, and is intended to be printed on an overhead transparency sheet.

Recommended: Delta X Meter (Reveals the 0.3 G point that underlies the film speed determination)
( http://www.beefalobill.com/images/DeltaX_Meter.pdf )

To directly adjust Delta X to ASA/ISO I made this variation of the Delta X Meter. (Reveals a number you can use, giving Exposure Index you can set on your camera or meter)

Recommended: Shifted Delta X Meter
( http://www.beefalobill.com/images/DeltaX_Meter_Shifted.pdf )
 
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