Check Your Enlarger Alignment
It can be very frustrating to work hard to make a beautiful print only to find part of the photograph is sharp
and part of it is not. When this happens, your enlarger is not in proper alignment.
Proper alignment occurs when all three stages (negative, lens and easel) of an enlarger are parallel; then the
light falls evenly across the ...full article
|
Handcoloring Tips
"Handcoloring B&W photos with oils & pencils is a fun way
to make unique works of art. The process isn't hard to learn
and is totally forgiving. Until the oils dry the colors can
be removed or changed to suit your aesthetic without ruining
the photograph. Also the oils actually protect the photo and
increase its longevity but coating the emulsion and protecting
the silver from the environment."
full article...
Archival Processing, Display and Storage
Things to remember about archival processing include:
Proper Fixing, Washing and Toning
The first step in archival processing is to properly remove
all the unexposed silver from film and prints by using a fresh
fixing bath.
full article...
Enlarger care and maintenance
A properly adjusted and maintained enlarger is a joy to use.
Having to make photographs with one that has not been properly
cared for can be aggravating work. There are four steps to
follow in caring for your enlarger. full article...
|
To ask Ms. Smith a question please fill out the form below. The most popular questions and answers
will be posted on this page.
|
|
| Ask the Expert Question/Answer |
Question:
Dear Norma,
I have both a Bogen 22A Special and a Vivitar E34 enlargers and am trying to find a medium format (6cmx6cm) negative carrier to print pictures and haven't had much luck. Do you know of a website to get this tool from?
Thank you,
Erica
Answer:
Unfortunately neither of those enlargers has been made for quite some time.I don't know any place that still has accessories for them. You could put a posting on the APUG web site. Or keep eye on ebay for a negative carrier. You might eve be able to ...full answer
Question:
Hi Norma,
I am looking for a way to clean old fix off equipment. Do you know of anything that will disolve it?
Thanks,
Allan
Answer:
Dear Allan,
Something acidic usually works, like a strong acetic acid or vinegar. Some surfaces might be sensitive to such treatment like soft rubber rollers in a roller transport processor. For that you might try Jobo's Processor Clean II. It is ci...full answer
Question:
Dear Norma,
Is fixer laden water in a print washer heavier than the plain water going into the washer?
Thank you,
Robert
Answer:
Dear Robert,
The heavy fixer water theory was what I heard forever from fellow photographers. However, I remember that someone finally got smart and asked a scientist about specific gravity of fixer laden water. I can't remember the article but th...full answer
Question:
I have severe silvering & bronzing in B/W photos less then two years old.
Some from the same source are not yet showing these effects. If I have them laminated will this stop the silvering and bronzing in it's tracks and from ever taking place if it is not yet visible?
Thank You
Tom
Answer:
Dear Tom,
The problem you are talking about sounds like the result of not getting the fixer out of the photographs. Just laminating them will not stop the sliver and bronzing because the chemical is still in the paper. Laminating will seal th...full answer
Question:
I found your article to be very informative and easy to read and understand. I have found my black and white prints over the past 5 years to be deteriorating. i did not tone them back then and now I am getting them back from clients with a bronzing or silvering happening to them. I have heard about bronzing and I have also heard of acid burning but I can't figure out which is which. I do know that one would stem from the printer and one would stem from the framer. Does it matter what brand of paper was used? I have been using RC paper. Could you please give me some insight into this. I would greatly appreciate it!
Thank you,
Lisa
Answer:
Dear Lisa,
The deterioration you describe probably results from using RC paper and not toning your prints. Properly processed fiber prints will last much longer than RC prints even if they are toned. That is why most photographers producing pr...full answer
QUESTION:
Hello, I'm trying to do a hand coloring project
for my photography class at my high school and I have a
few questions. We have Prismacolored pencils in our class.
Would these work well on Arista Classic Graded Fiber Matte
paper?
Also, should I use Grade 2 or 3 matte paper?
If you have any other suggestions, they would be much appreciated.
Thank you for your reponse.
Topher
ANSWER:
Dear Tofer,
Some Prismacolor pencils will work, some won't. For best
results you will need to put a very thin coat of Marshall's
PM Solution on the print first. This will help emulsify
the color in the pencils. You just want a light sheen of
oil on the paper. If the pencils have not been used for
a while rub the tips with a piece of cotton that has PM
Solution on it. Don't use a pencil that has a very sharp
tip as it will tear up the paper. Use cotton swabs to smoothe
out the pencil strokes. As I said before some Prismacolors
work others don't. You should test them out on a reject
print before working on a final.
All the Marshall's pencils will work. They would be my first
choice. They come in sets that are not too expensive and
come with the PM Solution that I spoke of before. Hope this
helps. Let me know you results.
Yours truly,
Norma C. Smith
|
