Negatives

[ericawd <ericawd@mem.quik.com>]

I recently subscribed to this list and have waded through much of the
archives before posting.  I also have read the recent discussion of digital
negatives and I have some questions which I'm sure have been addressed but I
can not seem to find.

I have been gum printing off and on since college (quite a few years ago).
Recently I have been working on 3-color.  I had found a handout from a class
which included a recipe for manual separations using Super XX Pan film.
That film was no longer made even when I began doing 3 color so I
substituted T Max 100.  After much experimentation I have been able to make
separations that are quite suitable for my purposes.  I have been working in
5X7 and if I liked the image enlarging it to 11X14.  I found out recently
that in order to get 100 sheets of 5X7 TMX you must order 31-100 sheet
boxes.  (The same holds true of 11X14.)  Needless to say that is cost
prohibitive.  I spoke with Kodak and they recommended Ektapan.  It is also
100 ASA and can be bought a box at a time. Kodak sent me the data sheet and,
for instance, the development times are significantly different.  I know
what the negatives should look like for my purposes, (I have no
densitometer.), but I know I will have to do some fairly major adjusting.  I
am also afraid Kodak will discontinue that film about the time I get it just
right.  I don't want to be continually re-inventing the wheel.

I have been reading the posts about digital negatives and am not sure if
this is the way to go.  I have a Epson 1200 printer.  I have tried  to make
some negatives from monochrome photos using transparency medium bought at
Office Depot.  The results have been fairly disappointing.  I have not been
able to find in the archives what the best material to make enlarged
negatives.

I have read the posts about the 1160 but can not find what the ultimate
advantage is to it and the thought of buying yet another piece of hardware
quite frankly leaves me cold.

Please forgive my ignorance on not being up to speed on this in advance.  I
have been working here on this little island called Memphis.  I had no idea
that there were so many others working with gums.  Any help or suggestions
would be appreciated.

Candace Spearman