TruNeg is a stand-alone application for macOS and Windows 10/11 that creates logarithmic digital negatives.
You can download a fully functional watermarked version for testing at no cost or purchase an unwatermarked
version for US$35.00. See the Downloads page.
Making the Negative
TruNeg is fundamentally different to how other digital negatives are made. It does not invert and measure a matrix of tones, use or need blocking colours, or apply linearisation and normalisation procedures. Instead, TruNeg calculates the negative from the inverse relationship between the positive and negative logarithms, to produce a negative indistinguishable from a scanned silver gelatine negative.
The Original Image
The Logarithmic Negative
The Traditional Inverted Negative
2. Making the print
Option A
Starting with what is essentially a silver gelatin negative, you can approach printing using the traditional black-and-white darkroom practice of assessing and adjusting test strips. Paper grades are replaced with an adjustment curve that lets you selectively lighten or darken the highlights, midtones, or shadows. While this approach requires some experience and expertise, it puts you in control of the printing process. Profiles available from the website make the process easier.
Option B
After establishing the exposure and negative range, use a densitometer or Stouffer Opaque Gray Scale to find the RGB values of ten intermediate densities of the true negative specified by the program. Entering these into the TruNeg Profiler tool creates a negative that can go straight to print.