Re: [Leica] printing questions

[Guy Bennett <guybnt@idt.net>]

clive,

thanks for the detailed response. your system makes sense, and i can see
how it would be helpful in calculating new dodging and burning times for
the enlargement of a previously made print. what i don't see is how this
works better than the stadard test strip made in x second increments, which
is intended to give an initial exposure.

for example, i habitually make test strips in 2 second increments, with 5
variables per strip (so i've got samples of 2 - 4 - 6 - 8 and 10 seconds on
a given strip). with the lens stopped down one or two stops (according to
the density of the neg), this gives me a relatively broad spectrum of tones
from which to choose, a spectrum which frequently goes from a zone 7/8 type
highlight to a zone 1/2 shadow. when i go on and make my print, i stop the
lens down further (usually to 8 or 11) and recalculate the exposure time,
doubling the time for each new stop.

based on my experience, anything beyond 16 seconds in the test strip is
going to register as maximum black, so samples of 32 and 64 seconds that
your system provides are going to be so dark as to be useless to me. also,
there will be some *very* broad differences in tone between samples of 8
and 16 seconds, so much so that, if the exposure i want fell somewhere
between the two, i might have to make another strip to detemine if i want
10, 12, or 14 seconds, for example.

the system you use seems sound, and obviously works for you. have i
misunderstood something here?

guy



>I don't have an F stop timer but do use the system with an ordinary timer -
>which is remarkably easy - when setting the time just think in terms of a
>progression doubling the time - i.e. 2, 4, 8, 16,32,64 seconds etc
>
>
>If you begin from the test strip stage - expose the whole of the strip for 2
>seconds at your chosen aperture, cover a small part of the sheet and give
>another 2 seconds to the rest of the sheet, cover the original portion plus
>another bit, give the rest of the sheet 4 seconds, cover a further section
>of sheet and give the rest an 8 second  exposure, cover a bit more and give
>a 16 second exposure.  cover a bit more and give the final section 32
>seconds.
>
>when processed the test strip will show bands for:
>
>2 seconds
>2+2 seconds         = 4 seconds = 1 stop extra
>2+2+4 seconds     = 8 seconds  =  2 stops extra
>2+2+4+8 seconds =16 seconds = 3 stops extra
>2+2+4+8+16         = 32 seconds = 4 stops extra
>2+2+4+8+16+32  = 64 seconds = 5 stops extra
>
>I find this system much simpler when estimating  an exposure between two
>steps,  as the difference can always be considered as quarter, half or three
>quarters of the time between the two steps ( or smaller changes if you're
>really picky) - and for each individual step these increments will have the
>same effect i.e. just as stops do for the camera (Leica TTL of course!!)
>
>If you compare this with exposure strips made using two second (or 5, or
>whatever your choice is) the above system covers a much greater exposure
>range  and each time step gives consistent density changes - rather than the
>fixed time steps where each change in time gives a differing density change.
>
>
>Sorry if that could be put more clearly - but try it next time you're in the
>dark - Once you've adjusted your way of thinking there is no other way to do
>it!!!
>
>
>Regards
>
>
>Clive Sanbrook