Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I would expect that a 4x print in a reasonable enlarger would retain all the detail visible in the negative with a 10x magnifier and make that detail easier to see. Yet when I examine 4x prints made in a Fuji Frontier digital system, I seem to be losing detail. I gather that the Frontier digitizes the negative and then prints with a laser onto ordinary photographic paper. I imagine that the scan is insufficiently fine to pick up all the detail in the negative, just enough so that when the print is examined with the bare eye it appears as sharp as one might hope. (Perhaps also, electronic manipulation, say sharpening, loses some detail?) Hence the 4R print, examined with a loupe, is inadequate. If I understand all of this correctly, optical enlargement with a decent enlarger, is "inefficient." Lots more detail is retained in the print than can be seen with the naked eye. Digital scanning and enlargement can be more "efficient," putting down just enough detail so that the image feels sharp and complete with the naked eye. This is not necessary, in that a digital system could have all the detail available in the negative, and print it out (at say a real 1000dpi). Am I right in my understanding? MK - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html