How to Make a Digital Negative

Making a digital negative:

Save the curves posted online in to the computer or your portable drive.

Open an image in Photoshop.

If the image is a color image convert it to Black and White using the Black and White adjustment which is found in the “Image” menu under “Adjustments”

Make all the appropriate image adjustments to make the image look how you would want it to look in a final print (density adjustments, contrast adjustments, etc)

Now you will apply a curve:
Select: Image>Adjustments>Curves

Next to the preset section of the curves dialogue box is a small icon that looks like three lines above a down facing arrow – click this icon and choose “load preset” browse your computer for the appropriate curves file and select it.

Click “Okay” in the curves box

Next you will make the positive image into a negative image:
Select Image>Inverse

Select Image>Rotate Canvas>Flip Horizontal

Select Image>Image size

Make sure the box next to the words “resample image” is unchecked

Size the image to approx 5x7 or 6x8 inches

If your print resolution is higher than 300 re-check the “resample image” box and change the resolution to 300

Now to print the negative…

Load a sheet of Pictorico transparency film into the paper tray printable side down for the 4880 printer or printable side facing out for the 3880 printer (to determine the printable side moisten your finger and drag it against the very corner of the Pictorico film – if your finger sticks then that is the printable side, if it slides off the surface you are touching the back of the film)

Select File>Print

Choose Page set up

Choose the appropriate size paper for your print size, in our case that size is "Letter" Make sure the appropriate printer is selected as well then click "Okay"

Click Print

For Print settings (found in the “layout” drop down menu) set your media type for the highest quality photo glossy paper available.

Used the advanced settings to select the print quality – Print quality should either be set on “Best Photo” or “2880 dpi” whichever is available.

The box marked “high speed” MUST be UNCHECKED

Click “Print”

Once your negative has printed store it in a folder, envelope or 81/2 x 11 sheet protector