Converting Digital Files to Slides

[metacomm]

I plan to convert some of my digital files (Canon 1Ds) to slides.

I assume that I would use the appropriate Capture Sharpen and Creative Sharpen (as needed). My question then is: what "size" should I choose for the Output/Multimedia selection? Assuming the slide will be viewed through a slide projector, on to a wall/screen, I don't know how to proceed with this last sharpening aspect. There is no "slide" choice :)

Are there any guidelines in converting from digital files to slides that I should be aware of, or should I treat/process the digital image like a digital image until the final sharpening? Places I have contacted who work on these conversions have stated to flatten all layers and make sure the color space is Adobe RGB.

Additionally, these vendors have told me that the conversion, while not perfect (comparing the digital file processed the same way and the slide) are very close regarding color, sharpness, etc.

Any one have any experience/tips with this conversion of digital files to slides?

[metacomm]

I know that this has not been a "hot" topic for the moderators or others, but would like comments if anyone has any. In particular, I plan to do some digital files to slides and not sure how to sharpen them appropriately for a slide projector use.

Thanks in advance.

[Bruce Fraser]

There's really no simple answer to this one. Film recorders are all over the map?there's a huge difference between something like a FIRE1000 and the cheapo Polaroid slide recorders used to make presentation slides, with many points intermediate. A 16K film recorder that writes to film with lasers would have vastly different requirements from a 4k film recorder that writes to film using a CRT. To further complicate matters, some film recorders apply their own sharpening....

If you can tell me more about the kind of film recorder you'll be using, I can pbably give you some helpful hints, but we made a conscious decision not to attempt film recorder support because there are simly too many variables.

[HowardG]

I have the same question. The services website says they use a 'precision calibrated 8K film recorder....does this help with determining the output sharpener or do I need to obtain an actual brand name?

Howard

[Bruce Fraser]

I'd really need a brand name.

[HowardG]

I just called them up...it is a Management Graphics Saphire. Any help would be appreciated.

Howard

[Bruce Fraser]

I'm assuming it's the Sapphire Pro?the Sapphire is a 4k unit aimed at the presentation market.

I suggest doing Capture and Creative sharpen as you would for any other use, then...

Create a new layer, and choose Option/Alt Merge Visible from the Layer menu (hold down Option or Alt while choosing the command) or press Command-Option-Shift-E (Mac) or Control-Alt-Shift-E (Win).

Set this layer to luminosity blend mode.

View at 100%, and run Unsharp mask at settings that make the image at 100% look reasonably, but not overly sharp. (The settings will depend somewhat on the image, but the radius should probably be somewhere around 0.4-0.8).

[HowardG]

Thanks Bruce...I don't suppose there is a PhotoKit Sharpener Output setting that would approximate what you think would be reasonable settings for a Canon 1Ds capture used in this way?

Howard

[Bruce Fraser]

You could try Contone 400 as a starting point?you'll probably need to back it off some. But let me be very clear that this is my best guess, not a supported workflow, so no guarantees!

[HowardG]

Thanks again for your help......

Howard

[Christopher_Campbell]

Last year, I needed to make some highly detailed macro images of paintings for a symposium at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I used www.slides.com to make the digital to film transfer, as their pricing was extremely reasonable, and because I was impressed that the 8K film recorder they use has a very high fixed resolution: 2730 x 4096 pixels. In the FAQ section of the slides.com web site, you can read that they do not recommend upsampling to meet that resolution as the RIP in their recorder will do the necessary resampling. For my Canon files, I used PK Capture Sharpener: Digital High-Res Sharpen, and Output Sharpener: Contone 400. I did my raw processing in ACR (ProPhoto RGB), processed and edited the images as usual for white balance and tonal range, converted the files to Adobe RGB (1998), and also made sure that the files were properly tagged. The sharpness and detail was spectacular, the color was excellent, and the slides were a tremendous success with a very demanding audience of museum directors and curators.

[HowardG]

Chris...thanks for the reply. As it turns out this is the same company that I was planning to use as well. I am applying for my first juried art show and had no experience with the digital to slide conversion and slides.com was recommended to me on the artshow Yahoo group.

Howard