Digitalsilverimaging

The Fine Art of Printing in a Digital World

DSI Blog

Infrared Conversions – 715nm versus 830nm

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Clients are asking us about our new Infrared conversion services and how we differ from other companies that are offering the conversions, or “do-it-yourself” kits.  DSI has partnered with Precision Camera Repair to provide this service at very competitive rates.  We offer two IR filters, 665nm and 715nm.  So, I asked Mark Soares, Professional Services Technical Representative from Precision Camera to explain this more clearly for our clients:
“The filter we use still allows a small amount of visible light to penetrate through the filter and expose the image. What this does is create an image that it ~95% IR and ~5% visible spectrum. Although this may seem like a disservice when you talk about shooting specifically in IR, we find that using the 715nm filter allows for better tonal range in the highlight areas (where there is a lot of IR, with all the foliage, etc), whereas the B&W; filter the competition use is much higher contrast(and as such has less tonal range). The filter they call B&W; is an ~830nm filter, which means that the exposed image is 100% IR and no visible light. The truth is that the difference between both is a matter of contrast in the image (which is a result of IR levels in the image). The 830nm will be more contrasty than the 715nm, however, with minimal post processing the 715nm can have the same contrasty B&W; look as the 830nm with the added benefit of a better tonal range. What this means is that the 715nm overall ends up being a more versatile conversion capable of producing results as dramatic as the 830nm, and with more tonal range (not to mention it allows you to do low saturation color IR work, which is also nice.)”
For more details and info about our IR Conversions, please check our website for more details and information.
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DSI Announces Agreement with Nik Software

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Photo Plus Booth 863 – Eric Luden, owner of Digital Silver Imaging, was a user of Nik software before he became a reseller.  “Nik’s Dfine 2.0, Sharpener Pro 3.0 and Silver Efex Pro saved us many hours of Photoshop time and helped us produce some of the finest B&W; images we’ve printed”, says Luden.  “Our relationship just continued to grow from there, and we became an authorized dealer of Nik software.  We’ll have co-operative displays at Photo Plus and will launch a joint webinar and field training seminars after the show.”

Luden is scheduled to present on the software, particularly Silver Efex Pro, at an upcoming B&H; Photo event scheduled for Monday, November 2.  Per Luden, “The Silver Efex Pro is a remarkably complete package for those working in black and white.  The software gives the user total control of tonality and contrast.  The software emulates most of the common B&W; film types, allowing the user to choose grain, color sensitivity and tone curves as needed.  In addition, Silver Efex Pro gives additional brush and filter tools when used on conjunction with Adobe Photoshop.  It really is a package that can be used by professionals and hobbyists alike.”

To promote the software at Photo Plus, Digital Silver Imaging is offering special show pricing on Nik Software purchased at the their booth during the show.  Details on the offer, including an additional discount on printing services through DSI, can be found here.

In addition, DSI plans to raffle off two packages containing a Canon G series camera, converted by Precision Camera to shoot in infrared, plus a copy of Nik’s Silver Efex Pro.  One package will be raffled off on Thursday, October 22 and one on Friday, October 23.

Join our FREE Web Training session for Silver Efex Pro on Wednesday Oct 28th from 3-4PM Eastern Time.



Click here for free registration.

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Free Web Training for Nik Silver Efex Pro B&W Software

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Join Victor Ha of Nik Software and Digital Silver Imaging for an in depth training on the award winning Nik Silver Efex Pro. Silver Efex Pro from Nik Software is the most powerful tool for creating professional quality black and white images from your digital files. For the first time, all the advanced power and control required for professional results have been brought together in one convenient tool. We will demonstrate how to work with your digital files from RAW to print in an easy to follow online training.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28th 12:00 – 1:00PM Pacific Time
Webinar Details
  • Working with Silver Efex Pro (SEP) as a smart object
  • SEP workspace and preferences
  • SEP Presets
  • Work with Tonality controls
  • U Point Powered Control Points
  • Film Types with state-of-the-art grain engine
  • Saving files for printing
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Off the Wall Opening Celebration

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Magnifique!

It’s a unique event which brings a Boston Globe international war correspondent, a visiting Neiman Fellow and member of Vii – together with Marilyn Riseman, the doyenne of style –  to celebrate fashion! The packed opening of Off the Wall brought 200 plus photographers, designers, academics, stylists, journalists and revelers out to view the work of 11 area shooters to the Griffin Museum @ Digital Silver Imaging. Ennis, Team and other agencies who represent the talent behind the photographs joined their freelance artists in celebrating their work.

Accolades are still pouring in: “Paris in Belmont”. “Never saw such glamour in Boston”.  “The opening was lovely, I think the show was so smart and exquisite”. “I have been out all fashion week and never saw such a diverse crowd”.”How did you get all these people here?”. An outdoor tent and self-portrait gallery managed the overflow crowd and added to the festive vibe.

While heavy on the female, the show covers subjects ranging in age from 6 – 81 including Savannah youth in their Sunday best, abstract close-ups of accessories, witty and sublime takes on the act we all do everyday – dress. A unifying factor is the handsome custom framing provided by Kathy Skarvan of Ava Art. A guest described the beauty of the frames as “standing on their own without taking anything away from the image.” It is a masterful balance to strike.

A poster asking “Are you ready for your close-up?” , led guests to a studio set up for their own shoot. Individuals, couples, families and groups captured themselves in all manner of fun.  The photographers in the show suffered through being on the other side of the camera for a group portrait. We edited 250 raw files and posted the results in the OTW Studio Gallery.


It is a stellar show pulled together in a short amount of time. Thanks to the confidence of Paula Tognarelli, The Director of the Griffin Museum, and the inclusiveness of Jay Calderin, The Founder of Fashion Week, we were able to create a “perfect storm” of interest and excitement. I had the challenging task of deciding what to eliminate. It was a pleasure reuniting with colleagues I have worked alongside at various times over the past 15 years and to meet the new breed of talent lending their eye to the art of fashion photography.

Wanting to preserve this special collection of photos, we created a custom book bound in platinum Japanese silk. The show is up until November 1st. All images are for sale and the book can be ordered.

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DSI and Nik Software to present at B&H Photo 11/2/09

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Complete Control for Professional Quality
Black and White with Nik Software and Digital Silver Imaging

November 2nd 2009 3-5 PM at B&H; Photo Event Space

Silver Efex Pro from Nik Software is the most powerful tool for creating professional quality black and white images from your photographs. For the first time, all the advanced power and control required for professional results have been brought together in one convenient tool.
Featuring Nik Software’s patented U Point® technology to selectively control the tonality and contrast of the image, Silver Efex Pro includes advanced imaging algorithms to protect against unwanted artifacts, a comprehensive collection of emulated black and white film types, a variable toning selector for adding traditional toning techniques, over 20 one-click preset styles, and a state-of-the-art grain reproduction engine that help produce the highest quality black and white images possible from your color images while providing more freedom to experiment.

Janice Wendt from Nik Software will demonstrate how to best work with your files, from RAW capture to output using the award winning Nik Software tools. You will learn how to easily work with your files to create stunning black and white images. Techniques that will be taught in this lecture will remove the need for tedious selections and endless numbers of steps. Janice will teach how to get the most out of your workflow, optimizing raw images, noise reduction techniques, global adjustments vs. targeted adjustments, selective enhancements, bringing out detail, applying traditional techniques, black and white images from color capture and creating a style with your retouching.


Eric Luden, Owner of Digital Silver Imaging, will discuss more about output and their unique black & white printing methods. DSI incorporates cutting edge laser printing technology from Durst with true gelatin silver papers from Ilford Photo to produce stunning black & white prints. DSI was an early adopter of Silver Efex Pro and has been recommending the software to their clients for the past 15 months. “Silver Efex Pro takes the mystery out of the black & white digital workflow and allows the photographer total control, without all the headaches.”
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Gallery Talk with J. Sybylla Smith “Off the Wall – Fashion in Black & White”

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October 4, 4 PM
The Griffin Museum at Digital Silver Imaging
11 Brighton St., Belmont, MA
Photos: Marilyn Riseman by William Huber


Inspired by famed fashion and portrait photographer, Richard Avedon, who shot and edited for the wall rather than the page, this exhibit showcases black-and-white images by area fashion photographers. Curator J. Sybylla Smith gives a brief tour of the exhibit, followed by an intimate behind-the-scenes discussion on style and fashion concepts in today’s fashion photography

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