Precision Digital Negatives

Bridging the Gap Between Digital Innovation and Historic Processes

Whether it’s the rich, smooth tonal scale of a Platinum/Palladium print, the ethereal blue of a Cyanotype, the deep blacks and rich contrast of a Silver Gelatin print, the timeless beauty of a Photogravure masterpiece, or any of the other wonderful Alternative Process Prints, the journey from computer screen to a luscious paper hanging in a gallery requires more than just great tools.  Great printmaking requires a workflow that follows Best Practices and achieves highly repeatable results!

Invented by Mark I. Nelson, the patented Precision Digital Negatives System (PDN) was born out of his desire for perfection and predictability in the hand-made print. The PDN System allows current day photographers to convert rich digital files into negatives of any size that rival, and often surpass, traditional film negatives in rich tonalities and fine detail.

Mark is one of those artists who are always looking for a more efficient and improved way to do things.  During the 25+ years of his Alt Photo Career, this has led to his development of:

• ·      An eBook covering the patented Precision Digital Negatives System
• ·      Curve Calculator III, a unique database software for Calibrations and Curves
• ·      An improved film 31 Standard Step Tablet design
• ·      Aquatint Screens for Photopolymer Gravure and Copper Plate Photogravure that are considered the best available in the entire world
• ·      An ingenious Wave Rocker for rocking trays when processing prints (patent pending)
• ·      Optimized workflows for Digital Negatives and Alternative Photographic Processes
• ·      Excellent in-person and Zoom Workshops

 

Through the years, Mark has taught many well-known Photographic Artists.  In addition, Major Corporations have sought his expertise in the evaluation of new products:

• ·      Mitsubishi consulted with Mark regarding their development of the Pictorico Ultra Supreme Film For Negatives, which he tested for them before they went into production.
  
• ·      Hahnemühle Paper Company invited Mark to participate on the team that tested many iterations of their new Hahnemühle Platinum Rag Paper for alternative processes prior to production.

Why Precision, Consistency, and Control Matter

Alternative photographic processes are notoriously temperamental. A shift in humidity, a change in paper batch, or a slight variation in chemistry can alter the final print image.

Too often Practitioners use a workflow requiring them to create a new Calibration for each new image. This is a terrible waste of time and materials.  With the Precision Digital Negatives System, you Calibrate your process and paper then you just make negatives and print them—focusing more of your time and money on your art!

Mark developed the PDN System to remove the guesswork. It is a true calibration system that clearly determines the Standard Printing Time, the Required Negative Density and a family of Photoshop Process Adjustment Curves of varied contrast that will produce a hand-made print that exactly meets your vision.

There are no shortcuts to mastering printmaking. However, the Precision Digital Negatives System and Products can help make Printmaking easier for you.   The PDN System follows the Best Practices for a printmaking workflow with digital negatives and will produce the most stunning, hand-made prints possible.  The PDN System also helps you troubleshoot any printing problems and find a resolution.

The Precision Digital Negatives System and Products

Where Art Meets Science