Make Your Own Transfer Function

What you see is not always what you get

by Ralph W. Lambrecht 2011-Mar-12

This paper is essentially an excerpt of a chapter called ‘Make Your

Own Transfer Function’ in the book ‘Way Beyond Monochrome,
Ed2’, published in 2011 by Elsevier, Focal Press, ISBN 978-0-
240-81625-8. The analytical evaluation method presented in
this paper is based on manual methods described in that book.
A basic understanding of the photographic process, including
sensitometry and densitometry, and the use of Microsoft Excel,
is assumed. This paper and the accompanying spreadsheet is
provided as is, and the user agrees to accept all consequences that
may result from their application, without holding the author
responsible or liable in any way, shape or form.

The purpose of a transfer function is to bring the subjective

tone-reproduction cycle full circle, and closely match the fi-
nal print to the on-screen image. To do so, a transfer function
must correct for the differences between the actual and the
desired process characteristics. In order to design a transfer
function, these differences must be clearly understood.
Desired process characteristics are typically expressed
through a personal rendering intent, which gives us de-
sired print reflection density for every on-screen value. Our
spreadsheet provides several tabs with different rendering
intents for glossy, pearl or matte papers and personal pref-
erences in shadow contrast. The target densities for each
rendering intent are shown in cells C11:25. With the help tones and a 2% spacing in the midtone area. It is available fig.1 The purpose of a transfer function is to
of a step tablet, we are able to determine the actual process from my website or can be constructed easily with any suit- bring the subjective tone-reproduction
characteristics, regardless if an analog or digital process was able drawing software. cycle full circle, and closely match the
chosen. Comparing actual and desired process characteris- Open the step tablet in your photo editing software, and final print to the digital image seen on
tics will allow us to design the necessary transfer function. run it through your process, whatever that may be, to bring the computer monitor.
A well-designed step tablet simplifies the development it to paper. For example, if your process includes a digital (based on an illustration by White, Zakia and

of a transfer function. The self-made example in fig.2 has a inkjet negative, send the file to your printer with your typi- Lorenz, The New Zone System Manual, Morgan

tonal spacing of 1% for the extreme highlight and shadow cal settings and produce such a negative. Then, make a test & Morgan, Inc. ISBN 0-87100-100-4)
fig.2 A well-designed step tablet simplifies
the development of any transfer func-
tion. This self-made tablet has a tonal
spacing of 1% for the extreme highlight
and shadow tones and a 2% spacing in
the midtone area. It is available from my
website or can be constructed easily with
any suitable drawing software.
fig.3 After running the step tablet in fig.2
through the chosen digital/analog pro-
cess, and the print has fully dried, the
actual output densities are measured and
entered into cells D11:25. The software
will calculate the output densities in cells
E11:25 and plot the transfer function.
2 www.darkroomagic.com
0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
print of that negative on your chosen photographic paper.
Tone it, if that is part of your standard process, and wait
until the print has fully dried.
1 2
2 Open the spreadsheet and select the tab with the appro-
priate rendering intent. Measure the actual output densities
2 3
3 4
4
4 5 for all input percentages listed in cells A11:25 with a densi-
5 6
6
tometer, and enter the values into cells D11:25. It’s up to you
6 7
to measure absolute or relative print densities, because the
7 8
8 9
8 software will adjust the target densities in cells C11:25 ac-
cordingly, calculate the output densities in cells E11:25 and
plot the transfer function.
© 2006-Apr-06 by Ralph W. Lambrecht 100% The input and output values are then entered into the
‘Curves’ adjustment dialog box of the photo editing software
(fig.4) and saved as a transfer function for future use. From
now on, this transfer function is applied to every digital
image after final image manipulation, and just prior to
committing it to the chosen process and the print media this
transfer function was made for. This ensures that the final
print will always be a close match to the on-screen image
as seen on your monitor, even if process and paper changes,
because all transfer functions designed this way are based
on the selected rendering intent.
fig.4 The input and output values are manually entered into
the ‘Curves’ adjustment dialog box of the photo editing
software and saved as a transfer function for future
use. This transfer function is applied to every digital
image after final image manipulation and just prior to
committing it to the chosen digital/analog process and
the print media this transfer function was made for.