AREA
CHIT - CHAT
While we were sorry that Area 22 was
badly hit by the resignations of their local Committee We would like
to thank those who kindly remained with us. The area continues under
the guidance of Area 20 Co-ordinator, Pete Guy while waiting for
someone to take on. Area YOU that someone! ... I sent off slides to
Kodak in 1973, waited three months as they were on strike, so I
decided to have a go myself. I joined the CR50 Club which had been
formed to help home processors, and which later became the Colour
Reversal Club. With a lot of help from the late Will Griffiths I
started on E4 Ferrania, which took about 1½ hours to process. Not an
easy film to process. Not an easy film to start
with as it had to be hardened before use and reversal had to
be done by photoflood bulbs or flash. Also the bleach and fix stages
had to be done one at a time. With the E6 process of today the film
can be processed at 100F, using chemical reversal and the bleach/fix
is one solution. In some kits the Chemical Reversal is in the
Colour Developer and in other kits the Chemical Reversal is a
separate solution used after the First Development. The whole
process takes about 30 minutes. All E6 films can be home processed -
Fuji, Agfa, Ektachrome, Konica, Barfen etc. I used to use ChromeSix
which is very good, but the made up solutions only lasted three
weeks. I now use Lingcolor kits which can be obtained in 600ml and
1200ml sizes. If you buy the
60ml kit the chemicals can
be used for 5 or 6 films and will keep for 3 or 4 month s if kept in
the dark in well stoppered bottles. The film I am using now is
Barfen, which I think is made by Konica.
Ken Moore, Swanage, Dorset.
I am quite
active in photography but do not have a darkroom at home. In winter
I enrol at the local Tech. for 20 weeks and they let me do my own
thing, without any problems usually. It is B&W work, but not all
the time. I find this very handy.
It is always
a pleasure to receive CRC mags, and I enjoy the content in total for
information and reading. Over the past few months I have been
thinking of purchasing a s/h microscope with a T mount to try this
type of work but have just put in on the back burner for now as I do
not seem to be able to find one at the right price. If anyone has
one now
out of use I could well be interested.
Ian Oxley, Paignton, Devon.
AREA
3/15
Frank
Bancroft wrote to say that he has had very satisfactory results over
several years. Not one spoiled or lost film to date, and a fast turn
round time - usually within 48 hours door to door. The lab he uses,
when not processing his own, is Transpacolor Ltd.,
of Leicester. The 1996 charge to
process a 36 exposure E6 film was £2.90 unmounted (£3.95 in
plastic mounts) and prices include VAT and return postage. The
company provides a range of
printing services too. To give them a try, send your film and
payment to Transpacolor Ltd., FREEPOST, Leicester, LE2 7ZW. Phone
0116-255-0726 to check latest prices.
Norman Davies
asked if there was any difference between Glycerin and Glycerine....
Phil
Byrom responded to previous comments by Bill Broadhurst on
pre-exposure when producing copies from slides "If I understand
correctly the hint by Bill on the subject of contrast
reduction in slide copying, he suggests two approximately equal
exposures of the transparency; one using diffuse light, the other
using normal light. I presume he provides as light softening effect
by combining sharp and diffuse images. I use the more traditional
method of contrast reduction, as employed in monochrome printing,
which involves `pre-flashing` the emulsion before exposure to the
image. This requires a minimal exposure to diffuse light, typically
about 1% of the total, before exposure to the image. Providing this
pre-exposure does not extend beyond the "toe" of the
characteristic curve, then no fogging will occur and the tonal range
of the subsequent exposure will be reduced. The pre-exposure may
conveniently be controlled by a neutral density filter (Wratten 2.0
x ND, obtainable from SRB).
A small flash gun mounted at a
reproducible distance will provide a convenient "daylight"
source for those not in possession of detachable enlarger colour
head. And in particular this method removes the problems of film
movement between exposures since there is only one exposure to the
actual image.
Regarding Norman Davies` query
about glycerin and glycerine - there is no difference. The most
convenient source "Glycerine B.P.", obtainable from any
pharmacy".
Bill Broadhurst says that his
flashing exposure through a diffuser when copying slides on to
ordinary camera film, does work and gives a normal sharp image.
Nevertheless he is interested in Phil's technique and would like to
know more about it. Is
the 1% flashing exposure critical? If so, how do you calculate 1%?
I`m sure other members are keen to give these techniques a go, so
these columns are open to all who can help and assist.
Bill also mentioned that he too has
used the Rayco RA4 formula. He found that when
he first tried it he either misread it, or there was a
misprint and he used 5ml of glycerine instead of 50ml. It worked! So
Bill always uses the smaller amount now. For stop bath he uses 2%
acetic acid rather than 5%, again satisfactory and a bit cheaper.
EDITOR`S
COMMENT
These letters prove the worthyness
of being a club member, bringing people together and sharing
interests and passing on hints and tips. Area 22 members in
particular may be missing their local newsletter and long term
contacts, however by being part of Area 20 and through these pages
new contacts and friendships can be formed. Of course, as National
Editor, I would welcome any copy ALL of you may have. Copy really is
getting more and more difficult to find and every little piece you
can send will help not only to make my work a little easier but also
make the newsletter
more interesting and entertaining.