Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/03/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Christer Almqvist wrote: > > Your caption says you used Microdol-X 1:3 and not Xtol > > What did you really use? Once we know, we will diagnose the problem > and come up with a solution for you ;-) > > A densiometer would be a great help, but is an investment. Perhaps a > local lab can measure an exposed film for you. Shoot a series of grey > card exposures. (No need to buy a grey card, any old cloth that is > grey will do, but no patterns please.) Start with a correct exposure > and then make four underexposures, each one of them one step more > underexposed than the other and then four overexposures in the same > way. The most underexposed negative should be just faintly (but > clearly) darker than the film base plus fog (that is the density of > the negative between the sprocket holes). If thinner, then your EI > was too high. The darkest negative should be darker than the second > darkest, and __almost__ solid black. If it is not almost solid black, > then you have underdeveloped. If more than one negative is solid > black, then you have over developed. > > Another solution would be to photograph a grey scale, ten little > fields of different shades of grey starting with white and ending up > with solid black. Make sure that you can see differences between all > shades of grey on the negative. If there is no difference between the > thinnest portion of the negative and the film between the sprocket > holes, then your exposure was too short and you should adjust your > meter setting. If the blackest portion is not .. well, see above > > Or print a copy of the negative. Everything there from pure white to > true black and in even steps? If not adjust EI and/or development time > > Don't trust the times in the Cookbook. Don't trust Rabiner's times. > Don't trust my times. > TEST YOU OWN TIMES, and stick by them > > Chris > ><Snip> I'll second that! Any time you get a time from anywhere it's just a starting point. Assume it's off by several minutes but maybe your negs might just be printable. Mark Rabiner Portland, Oregon USA http://www.rabinergroup.com Email: mark@rabinergroup.com Fax: 503-221-0308 - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html