Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I just finished making about 1000 prints as Xmas presents, mostly from Leica negatives on Ilford Delta films and printed on Ilford MGIV RC paper. (I make these for the grandparents and other family members - they got bound into 8 different books before being given away.) I believe they were the best set of books I've made in the 20 years or so I've been doing this because for the first time I simply mustered the faith to accept a light print when I first view it in the fix. Like you, I find that what looks like a washed out highlight at first will have some detail by the time it goes into the wash, and by the time it dries will have some real texture. I had the same experience when I used Kodak Polycontrast RC papers as well, but haven't tried other papers. I don't know why it happens, but have experienced it consistently for many years and so have assumed it's a characteristic of the paper. I haven't used fiber base paper in years, so don't know if it has the same characteristic. As I say, I got good results this year by just disciplining myself to accept a print that seems too light at first. Cheers, Kip Mike Durling wrote: > OK, this dry down is another thing I have noticed in my recent return to the > darkroom. In fact my prints darken noticeably by the time the wash is done. > I kept trying to redo my prints when they look too light and ended up > overdoing it. I'm using Ilford MGIV RC both warm and cold tone. I also > used a package of Luminos and had the same experience. Didn't like the > Luminos much. > > One print I did tonight had little highlight detail when it hit the fix. I > left it alone and after a short fix and wash all the detail was there. Is > this just an RC thing? I've used RC before but never noticed this. Anybody > know why this happens? > > Mike D > > -----Excerpt from Original Message----- > From: Roy Zartarian <royzart@connix.com> > To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> > Date: Friday, December 31, 1999 12:21 AM > Subject: Re: Re[Leica] All hail Tri-X, Off with TMAX's head! > > On 31 Dec 99, at 4:06, Dan S wrote: > > > > > As for the PAPER....I have been using Ilford for years and was not > > prepared for the tremendous "dry down" of Kodak VC. As Adams said, paper > > can dry with a "dull thud". And HOW! > Amen. That's why I've stuck with the Ilford RC and FB papers for > printing Leica (on topic) negs, Through experimentation which > involved Adams' approach of microwaving wet prints, I came up with > a drydown factor 15 percent for Ilford's VC resin and 3 percent for > the fiber. > > Roy