What Color Is Your Knife? [Archive] - The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions

Terrill Hoffman

09-18-2001, 05:36 PM

I've got a few minutes to play so I'll add a bit more of information from my recent testing. I'm one of the few that have the capabilities to process my own film and prints, but I seldom do. I make my money behind a camera and not in a darkroom. What I have found is that most labs just don't know what color a knife is. Throw in a few materials like mammoth ivory and you really throw a lab tech. for loops. Most labs are set up for typical colors and exposures. Give them a face in the shot and they can give you a decent print Without a landscape or person in the shot and they are only guessing. But there are ways around the problem. First, use a standard film. I tested Kodak Royal Gold with fantastic results. Most labs have this film programed into their processors. What this does is to get them close to the right color balance for a print. Second, give them something they know in the very first shot. What I do is I shoot a "graycard and color chart in the very first shot of each roll. Kodak has a booklet called the "Kodak Color Dataguide". Most of the info in it is more than you ever want to know. But in the middle there is a graycard on one page and a color guide on the facing page. A graycard is just that, it is a card that is colored gray. But it is an exact gray that reflects 18% of the light that hits it. It is an industry standard and any lab should be able to match it. Also, the color guide is an exact reproduction of the primary and secondary colors. By giving the lab something they can match, they can make any color and exposure (density) adjustments they may need to make. If you are shooting the rest of the roll of knives under the same conditions that you shot the graycard, just have them run the same settings for each shot. If you make changes during shooting just shot another copy of the graycard and color guide before you shoot more knives. Also, take the time to tell the lab what you are doing. Work a bit with them and after the first roll let them know if you prefer prints a bit lighter or darker. Most labs take pride in their work and it makes them happy when they give you great looking prints. Once you get them set up, stay with them. By going back to the same lab you avoid a lot of trouble. If they don't get it, find another.
These two shots were done with a Nikon 35mm with a standard 50mm lens. The film was Kodak Royal Gold 100 ASA.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=243110&a=10627614&p=54277384&Sequence=0&res=high


The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Community Discussion Boards > Knife Photography Discussion > What Color Is Your Knife? PDA View Full Version : What Color Is Your Knife? Terrill Hoffman 09-18-2001, 05:36 PM I've got a few minutes to play so I'll add a bit more of information from my recent testing. I'm one of the few that have the capabilities to process my own film and prints, but I seldom do. I make my money behind a camera and not in a darkroom. What I have found is that most labs just don't know what color a knife is. Throw in a few materials like mammoth ivory and you really throw a lab tech. for loops. Most labs are set up for typical colors and exposures. Give them a face in the shot and they can give you a decent print Without a landscape or person in the shot and they are only guessing. But there are ways around the problem. First, use a standard film. I tested Kodak Royal Gold with fantastic results. Most labs have this film programed into their processors. What this does is to get them close to the right color balance for a print. Second, give them something they know in the very first shot. What I do is I shoot a "graycard and color chart in the very first shot of each roll. Kodak has a booklet called the "Kodak Color Dataguide". Most of the info in it is more than you ever want to know. But in the middle there is a graycard on one page and a color guide on the facing page. A graycard is just that, it is a card that is colored gray. But it is an exact gray that reflects 18% of the light that hits it. It is an industry standard and any lab should be able to match it. Also, the color guide is an exact reproduction of the primary and secondary colors. By giving the lab something they can match, they can make any color and exposure (density) adjustments they may need to make. If you are shooting the rest of the roll of knives under the same conditions that you shot the graycard, just have them run the same settings for each shot. If you make changes during shooting just shot another copy of the graycard and color guide before you shoot more knives. Also, take the time to tell the lab what you are doing. Work a bit with them and after the first roll let them know if you prefer prints a bit lighter or darker. Most labs take pride in their work and it makes them happy when they give you great looking prints. Once you get them set up, stay with them. By going back to the same lab you avoid a lot of trouble. If they don't get it, find another. These two shots were done with a Nikon 35mm with a standard 50mm lens. The film was Kodak Royal Gold 100 ASA. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=243110&a=10627614&p=54277384&Sequence=0&res=high stevekorn 09-18-2001, 08:13 PM Hey partner, It's good to have you back.........like all the testing and I'll benefit just as much as the rest of the CKD group!!! Keep up the good work I'm sure a few guys will get tougher in the contests and have no need for us.