[LargeFormat] Removing black spots from prints

[Huib Smeets]

Don,

Bleaching and spotting is an option, but it is, at least for me, too
troublesome.

I first tried to tackle this problem by making duplicate exposures but
that halved the number of photograhps I could take.

I solved the problem through start using Readyloads, I left FP4 and
started to use Tmx. Not a single spot since I started using them.
Secondly it quasi 10 folded the number of photographs I could take on a
trip.

Hey, but to return to your question: my experience is that fiber can be
spotted better than RC (less obvious). Never try to match density in one
layer, built up density with a stippling action, layer over layer.
Finish: To make it less visible moisten the spotted area slightly with
some steam generated from a water cooker, spottone and gelatine will
merge.

Huib



-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: largeformat-admin@f32.net [mailto:largeformat-admin@f32.net] Namens
Wilkes, Don MSER:EX
Verzonden: woensdag 15 oktober 2003 23:12
Aan: 'largeformat@f32.net'
Onderwerp: [LargeFormat] Removing black spots from prints


The bane of LF has come to bite me in the posterior: dust.  Close
inspection reveals that a couple of small dust particles must have been
clinging to the surface of the 4x5 sheet when I exposed it, resulting in
black spots on the print. Naturally, according to the rules of large
format, these appear in a large, smooth area of uniform sky...

Does anyone have experience in dealing with this sort of problem?  I
don't want to retouch the neg itself -- it's fairly important to me --
so I'm thinking the route to follow will likely be bleaching and
(probably) subsequent spotting.  At the moment, I'm using Ilford MG RC,
and I have little idea how it reacts to bleaching (nor spotting, for
that matter -- it's never been my forte).  If it comes to it, I'd
consider switching over to fiber-based paper, I guess, but hope that
isn't necessary.

Digital workflow would solve it, but it's not an option, both for
monetary and personal preference reasons.

One thing that's worrying me is the first of the batch that I loaded for
the Yosemite trip...I haven't souped the others yet, as I wanted to
ensure everything was tickety-boo with my processing first.  Also, I've
been both unusually busy and not feeling all that terrific lately.
Don't want to rush nor fumble what may be the only negs I have of that
perhaps once-in-a-lifetime trip.

God, I hate dust...

\donw in Victoria, B.C.

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