Re: large format negatives

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From: Judy Seigel (jseigel@panix.com)
Date: 01/04/01-01:29:33 PM Z


On Thu, 4 Jan 2001, Burkhardt Kiegeland wrote:
> Flat bottom trays I find impossible to work with -
> especially because of the gloves I need for PMK. There are
> just beautiful trays made by Deville on the market which
> have a kind of knuckeld(?) bottom. This is better than
> grooves or ridges.

I think the KIND of ridges is very important. There's a tray with a big
fat circle in the center with fat "spokes" radiating out from it, that
ruins print, film, whatever, in a twinkling. In fact when a student has
developed lith in that tray, leaves its signature. I banish it from lab.

Some of the best trays are a compromise: Premier has a shallow INDENT,
which does the job without intrusivity & last time I bought them, Premier
had best price in the large sizes. Some other makes have that construction
also. For small trays you used to be able to get a SMALL rib in parallel
rows (eg, as I recall, Yankee). Don't know if still available, that fat
circle seems to have driven out common sense.

My experience in developing lith film, which I suspect is trickier than
*real* camera film, is that for one sheet at a time (which is what we do
when enlarging, not for in-camera negs), there is no equal to brush
development... almost any kind of wide brush will do. You leave film still
and brush back & forth then up & down, etc., varying the speed varies
"agitation." And contrary to expectations, even if the brush touches the
film, hasn't scratched yet...Otherwise, especially with a large sheet, you
have to make quite a splash to disturb the lanimar layer.

PS. To Burkhardt: that Photovision article was best thing in the magazine
(maybe best thing in the magazine so far !!!) -- clear, interesting &
well-written -- a pleasure to see explanations so well expressed, even
though I will never develop large format film, EVER. But that said, I'm
gonna tell you right here & now, I groaned at the *title* of the portrait
of man, woman, & two children: "Young Doctor and Family" !! Oh oh oh !

greetings, seasonal & otherwise...

Judy


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