Now Stuart is being a good guy and sharing his secret. The secret is PMK
Pyro. With his system you can make negs as nice, if not nicer, than you can
with film cost 5 to 10 times as much. This litho film is available from
Freestyle in LA for $1.94 per sheet for 20 x 24. If you buy 100 sheets. A
25 sheet pack costs @69.00. They have a whole bunch of other sizes.
I wouldn't have believed if if I hadn't of seen it!
The details are posted on my website [see below] under the "technical
Papers" section and I'll try to stick it below in this message. The
formatting makes more sense if you download the web page. This is for the
webless folks here.
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Stuart Melvin's Pyro Big Neg. System
For Using Inexpensive Litho Film
An outline
Stuart Melvin of Santa Fe is making stunning prints using enlarged
negatives made from inexpensive litho film. The secret is PMK Pyro. The
following is an out line of the details of Stuart's process. I will try to
fill in any details after Stuart finishes his write-up on this.
Interpositive
Film: FP4 or Tri-X
Develop
D23
1:3 for more contrast
1:4 for less contrast
5-6 minutes at 70 Deg. F.
Follow Development with constant agitation for 3 minutes in a 1% Balanced
Alkali (also called Sod. Metaborate, formerly Kodalk)
Fix, wash and dry
Enlarged Negative
Film: Freestyle Sales Halftone Supreme - http://www.freestylesalesco.com -
Fax: (800) 616-3686 or (213) 660-3460 Direct Phone Orders: (800) 292-6137
or 213-660-3460
Film Cost per 20 x 24 sheet is 194.50 per 100 sheet pack, also available in
25 sheet packs and in smaller sizes.
Development
PMK Pyro (Hutchin's Formula)
Order the "Book of Pyro" from: Photoeye Books www.photoeye.com.
Stuart Melvin uses a 1/2 strength "B" (metaborate solution) instead of the
full strength listed in the book. [I believe this is to lower the contrast
of the litho as it is very contrasty.]
He uses a 20 x 24 tray for 16 x 20
22-24 Deg C. Temperature of developer
7 minutes with constant agitation.
Wear gloves as Pyro stains and is poisonous!
Short stop - Dilute version
1 oz. 28% Acetic to 3 liters of water
Fix - Non Hardening
F24 Formula
Do not use Hypoclear as it washes out the stain!
Wash - 5 minutes
Post Stain
1/4 teaspoon Sod. Metaborate per Liter for 1 minute
Wash and dry
Bostick & Sullivan
PO Box 16639, Santa Fe
NM 87506
505-474-0890 FAX 505-474-2857
<http://www.bostick-sullivan.com>http://www.bostick-sullivan.com