Re: Gum tonal range (was Miracle size for gum)

[Paul Viapiano <viapiano@pacbell.net>]



I've now worked with several different DRs with my gum prints...

 

Although the lower DRs are great for one-layer prints, I find the pt/pd negs (1.8 and up) give me more breathng room for accurate separate exposures for highs, mids and lows. It's easier to divide a 7 or 8 min exposure (I use the sun) into separate components than a 1.2 neg that has a base exposure of 2 - 2 1/2 minutes.

 

Paul

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Loris Medici" <mail@loris.medici.name>

To: <alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca>

Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 12:38 PM

Subject: Re: Gum tonal range (was Miracle size for gum)

For the sake of clearness I'd add that no one had made such 
a
translation as I understood the conversation. The subject was 
"what's
the *ideal* negative DR" to print gum, and when somebody says 
"gum
prints 2 stops", what I understand personally is that they're 
making
the assertion: "gum need a negative density range of log 0.6", 
which
is obviously a false statement. Gum is so flexible that one can 
print
perfectly from a negative with a density range 0.6, or 1.0, or 1.2, 
or
1.5, or even 1.8 as Marek shows, (fill the rest and in between), 
given
the necessary adjustments in emulsion formulation / exposure 
and
development are made. That's my whole point - which I'm sure 
you'll
agree. What's best depends on the practitioner and their 
particular
workflow / strategy of preference. Hence the (*)s to mark 
"ideal"
above; there's not an ideal DR in the practical sense. 
Especially
after some amnt. of 
experience...

Regards,
Loris.


2009/10/12 Katharine Thayer 
<kthayer@pacifier.com>:
> 
...
> I was not arguing against the use of step wedges, for heavens' 
sake;
> ...
> I was simply arguing against the translation of number 
of steps, or the
> number of "stops" to a print density range by 
multiplying by .15 or .30.
> Hope that point is now perfectly 
clear.
> ...