Hi Ann, I'm not surprised that you're printing on 3 paper if you're using Microdol X. While Microdol X yields very fine grain, it's also relatively low contrast. I used to use it straight up at 68 degrees for 8 1/2 minutes with Tri-X. I frequently printed on 3 paper. When I switched to D-76 1:1 it was a revelation. My prints were crisper and punchier with 2 paper. Now I use a cold light and multigrade paper. My filter is usually a 1, but the cold light adds contrast to multigrade. Paul
> Collin Brendemuehl wrote: > > > Nothing below 3? Hmmm. > > > > Not totally true - if it was a really great neg - 2 1/2 did it for me. But I > like contrasty stuff. > > > I'm finding grade 2 with a saturated neg to have a nice quantity of > > highlight > detail. Of course having a color head makes things really straight-forward. > > I don't have a color head.... > > > But it depends on the film as well as the subject being printed. > > Sure. I don't like too much contrast on my face... :) > > > That pic I posted of the young lady a few weeks ago -- that was a normal > exposure on the film side, normal development, but printing just a bit more > than > grade 3. > > http://members.safe-t.net/dpconsult/ashley.jpg > > I did a grade 2 print as well. In that she's less distinct from the > background but has more detail in the skin tones. The '3' print on the web > did > require some burning in for the face. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > C. Brendemuehl > > oooh a bit too much white in her eye on my monitor... > really can't get into subtle printing discussions without seeing live prints, > of > course. > > bEst, > ann > > > > > > > > ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- > > >Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 13:30:05 -0500 > > >From: Ann Sanfedele <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >Subject: Re: Hey you b and w darkroom guys - help! > > >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > > > > >thanks, Colin > > >This is kinda what I wanted to know... I never liked D-76 for my own stuff > and would > > >have considered less contrast as the developer aged to be a negative (no > > >pun) > rather than > > >a positive (I printed almost nothing lower than "3" in my dark room days) > > > > > >I just never used Universal for anything but prints. > > >I love Microdol-x 1:3 for Tri-x but the woman I'm teaching got talked out > > >of > > >getting it by a storekeep when she told him she thought I had told here to > get it for prints > > >(for one thing) He didn't have any, so he didn't want to sim,ply correct > > >her > - and she didn't > > >think to call me on cell phone while she was in the store.. > > >i'm trekking out to Long Island tomorrow to give her private lessons. > > > > > >Hurray for craigslist! I need the gig! > > > > > >ann > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Collin Brendemuehl wrote: > > > > > >> B&W has gone through so many stylistic changes in the past > > >> few years, it's amazing. Many people I read on NGs shoot an > > >> extra 1/3 to 1/2 stop of extra saturation and then develop > > >> normally. (Personally, I shoot most b&w by the book but add > > >> about 5% extra time to the processing to bring out the > > >> highlight detail a bit more.) > > >> > > >> Isn't Ilford Universal their ID-11, very similar to or the same as D-76? > > >> > If so, that class of developer has an interesting characteristic that you > might > make good use of. Let it have a day of a little air exposure and turn a > little > dark. This will keep contrast under control and give some smoother tones to > Tri-X. > > >> > > >> But apart from that experiment, just develop normally for a good neg. > Tri-X is very forgiving of a few seconds either way. > > >> > > >> Sincerely, > > >> > > >> C. Brendemuehl > > >> > > >> ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- > > >> >Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 12:03:11 -0500 > > >> >From: Ann Sanfedele <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> >To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > >> >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > > >> > > > >> >I'm about to give a woman lessons in film > > >> >developing -- > > >> >she acquired Ilford Universal developer - she shot > > >> >tri-x > > >> >I'm a Microdol 1:3 gal (ot chemicals in stock > > >> >chez moi now) > > >> > > > >> >(nevermind why we aren't using that for the lesson > > >> >- long story) > > >> > > > >> >Anyway, anyone have preferences for developing > > >> >times and dilutions for > > >> >Tri-X ? Using the Ilford Universal? > > >> > > > >> >Would prefer personal experience as opposed to a > > >> >link on the web. > > >> > > > >> >Thanks much! > > >> >annsan > > >> > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________ > > Sent via the WebMail system at mail.safe-t.net > > > > > > >
