Re: Shooting long range negs?
Ross,
Though I agree with Sandy that staining developers might be good to
use, I must tell you that I abandoned it when the slight fog got
stained too, and that made exposure painfully long. You want not just
high density, but high density range, so unless you have clean and
clear shadow areas, "bullet proof" highlights would simply extend
your printing time.
Loris' suggestion is the way to go if you want to get it really
right. But for a quick and dirty method, you might try what I did
before I had a densitometer, and before I learned Beyond The Zone
System: use Plus-X, FP4, or some film that has less base-plus-fog,
double your normal D76 undiluted developing time, and you should get
reasonable close results. Normal = negs appropriate for condenser
enlarging. Reasonable range = 1.8 to 2.3.
Good luck.
Sam Wang
On Aug 9, 2007, at 4:06 AM, Ross Chambers wrote:
Dear Folk,
I'm trying to achieve salted prints from 5x7 camera negatives.
I'm a little hampered by regular lack of access to a densitometer
(occasional access is not impossible -- I just don't want to strain
the
friendship until I feel more confident of results) so I'm
eyeballing them as
best I can using the step wedge on the light box comparison method.
I would appreciate recommendations on the filmstocks / developers
that I
have available (I've used Fomapan 200 and Kodak 320TXP; Xtol and
D76 thus
far with results which printed OK on Ilford MG IV VC at grades 2 -
0, but
are still flat, but not totally hopeless, on salted paper).
I'm paying regard to John Barnier's recommendation to extend
processing time
by 30%.
I have also Arista Ultra Edu 100 and APHS Litho (Jim Galli's evil
influence)
neither of which I have tried.
My developers option is D76, Xtol, HC110, Rodinal and a bunch of raw
chemistry.
I haven't tried my preciously hoarded Arches Platine yet, I'm using
some
cheap Canson 100 and realise that this could contribute to the short
contrast range.
What would any of you successful salt printers grab off my shelf to
set out
for a printable negative?
Thanks - Ross
===========================
Ross Chambers
Blue Mountains
New South Wales
Australia
maelduin@ozemail.com.au
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