Keeping it simple dmax is maximum density. What was considered well processed E6 film was truly opaque in the black film rebate. Almost the first thing I did when comparing different processing labs was to line up the rebates and look closely at the black.
Now it seems that film that I would have considered to be badly developed is easier to scan on cheap scanners. Any dmax deficiency being corrected by software.
Somewhere I read that a true transmissive black can be achieved by making a one foot cube box which is lined inside with black velvet. The side facing the viewer should have a 3" x 3" hole. In perfect conditions anything measured from this hole in the box should be 4.8 away from the brightest highlight. As soon as you view this box through a device like a camera or spot meter the flare factor will reduce it. As you cannot capture this photographically without a lens 4.8 can only be achieved by reducing exposure. At this point so many other theories take over it becomes very complicated.
No discussion about dmax from me is complete without a mention of the 1957 feature film "Goha". I think it must be the film using more solid black than any other. Surprisingly after winning the Palm d'Or at Cannes in 1958 it seems to have dropped out of sight. However, I have a personal theory that the film was very influential on the style of photography which uses rich black tones achieved through underexposure to offset brightly lit highlights.
2p worth on Sunday. (Is this frivolous enough Richard?) ;-)
Bob Croxford
On Sunday, March 16, 2003, at 02:47 am, Richard Kenward wrote:
In message Michael Harvey writesDoes anyone really know what dmax is and how the scale works given that it
is measured from 0-6 and Carbon is rated only 4.0?
Dear Michael
A I understand it dmax is the level of hype that a scanner manufacturer thinks sounds impressive enough to con the punters into buying their latest offerings. It has nothing whatever to do with the scanner's ability to produce a wide range of usable noise free information from film or print.
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