From: Judy Seigel (jseigel@panix.com)
Date: 07/07/03-12:04:11 PM Z
On Sun, 6 Jul 2003 curzon@tegenlicht.com wrote:
> And now my question. I still haven't found a contact printing frame. There
> is no supplyer in Holland and I couldn't find a second hand one yet.
> Is there anyone on this list who has a printing frame he's willing to sell
> to me? I'll pay for the shipping costs. It doesn't have to be a new one, as
> long as it is complete and operational.
I realize that alt printers LIKE doing things the hard way, but I keep
thinking maybe someone is listening --
Over the course of the years I've had 5 or 6 different makes & styles of
contact frames, and tried several more -- NEVER did one of them work
really comfortably, including even the Great Basin frame I had custom
made. For one thing, to make large prints and leave a bit of paper border
it had to be so huge a little old lady could hardly wrassle it. For
another, it was such a production to make a few little tests, it made me
cut down on the testing, which is what's REALLY crucial...
Of course Gravity Works gets the prize for worst -- if that rubber thing
hits you in the eye, you've got a hospital bill... beautiful antique
frames are good as frames, but softer than a baby's tusch in contact, etc.
etc. etc.
What is ALWAYS good, or good for me, available anywhere and no shipping
charge or customs, is two sheets of plate glass -- the print sandwich gets
sandwiched between them. Tape or glue the edge of one sheet so a piece
sticks out for lifting, and you have no hassle perfect contact one size
fits all, no springs, no pinched fingers, and you can let the paper hang
out anywhere you want. True you can't so easily check progress, but...
IF YOU'VE MADE YOUR 21-STEP TESTS, YOU CHECK THEM FOR EXPOSURE in the
first place -- they're much better indicators anyway, because they've
already been developed, washed, dried, and aged (oxidized) so give a much
better reading of what an exposure becomes in the print.
Or simply tape the negative to the paper -- if you really MUST check in
progress.
Of course nobody will be impressed with your custom made sheet of
glass...and it *is* easy... But just in case, the list ran a couple of
threads on the topic years back, & there's an article showing a couple of
setups in Post-Factory #6 ("Light Carpentry"). But forget the very
expensive "water white" glass, Starphire if memory serves. My tests showed
it was no better, maybe worse. Regular demi-plate costs $20/sheet for
extra large, about $5-$10 for average.
Judy
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