#Helicon focus capture one series#
The first few sessions of these cars were a series of compromises. This smaller image size made it necessary to use the Better Light Super8K (380 megapixel) scanning back to capture an 8-bit RGB image of about 150 MB, just enough for the specs of the banner printer. I chose a 210mm focal length lens and kept the image of the car under 50% of the size of the format. I also realized that I could not overcrowd the 4x5 frame, since that would only further decrease my depth-of-focus. A single-shot digital back could not provide a file size anywhere near this size and so I decided that the cars should be photographed with a 4x5 view camera and my Better Light digital scanning back.Įven though the view camera has a shallower depth-of-field than a medium format camera, I had the benefit of swings and tilts to help control the focus. The designer had notified me that the banner printer wanted a file that was at least 150 ppi for a 48” wide banner that meant the digital capture needed to be over 100 MB.
#Helicon focus capture one plus#
The cars have multiple planes to attempt to keep in focus: Tire-to-tire far-front headlight to rear driver’s side tail light the vertical side of the car edge-to-edge on the hood and trunk plus the top of the roof which had a small decal commemorating the convention. I was just not thinking about the shallow depth of field, focus issues, and other problems related to creating a digital file of the tiny car that would be printed to over 48 inches wide. Once I had the first car under the camera I quickly realized that I was in for a challenge. I remember when the client first called me and asked me to photograph several Hot Wheels cars for his convention I thought, “how hard could that be!” - six cars, same size, same angle, same setup…a couple of hours…no problem! They look so “cute” when holding them in your hand, but can look very terrifying when viewing the 150 MB file at 100% size on the monitor. Whenever the next job came in I always had mixed feelings…excited about the challenge, but fearing the technical obstacles in creating an image at this level of enlargement. The cars average 2-1/2” long and would be enlarged to 48” wide banners…a magnification of 16 times life size. For the last couple of years, I have photographed a number of special edition Hot Wheels® cars for semiannual collector shows.
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