John, what is the name/make of your retouching pencils? I have
Koh-i-noor 1555 and a couple of Stabilo's, but haven't found them to be as
controllable as Dyene -- tho that may simply be my lack of technique.
Do you rub them in? Smear them? Any other hints? (Do they rub off?)
"Kodak Abrasive Reducer" I've never heard of or seen listed anywhere. I've
tried pumice for the purpose and find it just slightly less effective
than curse words. Would you use it for a large even section like a sky?
How do you apply it? Is there a catalog number?
As for Dyene, it comes in a 3 bottle kit, a black, a red (so you can see
where it is) and a bottle of "Conditioner" that you put on the area first.
(ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THE CONDITIONER IS ??-- it isn't acetic acid.) I find
it pretty easy to get a reasonably undetectable increase in density of an
area, using a good watercolor sable brush, tho not big even tones. If you
get on too much you can flood it off with water, even resoak the whole
negative.
I also have Veronica Cass, both red & black, which some people swear by,
but haven't tried them yet. Anyone?
Judy