Ok J.R. I'll start.
The ways I am aware of:
Shoot big to begin with.
Direct Dupe film
Neg-Pos-Neg
Reversal of std neg film
Make silver print and copy with large format copy camera
All of these have been done with some degree of success. I'd personally rate
Dupe film at the bottom of the list with "shoot big" at the top as far as
quality goes. From Pt prints I've seen, I'd rate reversal in no 2 position
with Copy neg and Neg-Pos_neg vieing for the middle.
I am soon to embark on a quest for a reversal kit for sale in our catalog
at a somewhat cheaper price than the Kodak kit for TMX. (any formulas, hints
or tips appreciated). My inital readings indicate that the reversal process
is inherantly less contrasty than ordinary duping so it may be possible to
tune one to work with Litho film since most alt-photo processes require
higher constrasts that ordinary silver enlarging or contact work.
I think $600.00+ for a box for 25 16 x 20 sheets of Kodak Dupe is silly.
I have also seen some stunning work done by copying silver prints in a copy
camera. Dan Burkholder was a master of this. He was able to make some very
convincing copy prints (in silver) of some of Horace Bristols WWI stuff that
Horace had Bretted (burnt). Dan also has produced some stunning pt prints
from such negs. I am currently working with Meridel Rubenstein at the
Institute of American Indian Arts here in Santa fe and she is fond of the
copy camera both for doing orignal combination still lifes, incorporating
photos and objects, and has taught the students to make their enlarged negs
this way. The students at times copy wet silver prints to save time.
Comments appreciated.
Dick Sullivan
Bostick & Sullivan
Santa Fe, New mexico