Category: the Lab

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Posted on Posted in overnight notes, the Lab

Factors of failure — 

forumula
-- factors of failure clumping
fixed or malleable minded, knowledge
--- the magnus reads; separations [sep anxiety]
is it skill beyond what anyone has... pencil, doodle, drawing, draftsman

am falling behind in posts, not in notions — I posted about a bookset and brovira, not knowing I’d also put up a draft of that; that draft has become this overnight. No brovira at all.

Instead more about small food fights on the large format site (LFF).. Doremus was called out by the doormouse, revealing how small his imagination; limitations he maintains are strengths.

The exchange prompted my searching Doremus. His website doesn’t have contact info, even though it has a page saying to contact him. So it goes. And that makes me wonder how to contact me…. many do. so they knows

what was noted is a separation, just not what those with lower imagination learned…

the filter does separate the exposing light. in the case of the yellow, it makes it into 2 distinct groups: the Y and the B.

To assemble the image would require transmitted light, rather than reflected light. The image would also appear to lack Reds.

AND … making prints from separations of long ago — the secret is in the light source the seps were made under. Change the exposing set, and the printing set will be in error, looking much like a cross-over, or subject failure. To get a (wide) neutral balance, you loose key, or edge color clarity. By changing the assembly color-set you regain a semblance of balance. That seems to be what was done in the

color carbon printing
on the edge of awareness

a Pinch of Knowledge: sulfite

Posted on Posted in labnotes, the Lab1 Comment

“by forming sulfonates with many of the oxidized forms of the developing agents, sodium sulfite decreased the concentration of the oxidized form to such a low value that the initial rate of development is not materially influenced by the oxidized forms. sodium sulfite thus acts to stabilize and maintain a uniform developing action by the developing agent.” haist

Folkways occur as knowledge grows. Best practices do enter the studio from commerce. Kodak and its competitors knew much that didn’t make it to the field of practical studios, however, they also learned from the enthusiast. Oxidized developer is brown. If your developer turns brown as you mix it, your water is too oxygenated. Stir less. Do the pinch thing. Stir from the bottom of the mixing jug. Also, try boiling the water, then letting stand a half-hour before using. Don’t use water from an “aerator” spout, such as those in many kitchen sinks. The boiled water thing works, sometimes; was a DuPont trick.

Do we add a pinch of sulfite before mixing the metol into a developer; why?

Yes, it was taught by Kodak field reps along with the renowned Kodak chemist George Eaton.

Gorge T. Eaton · 1986 · 
Developer and other processing - solution formulas are published with the chemicals listed in the order in which ... In mixing developers , a pinch or two of the sodium sulfite is added to the water before adding the developing agent


3. Always dissolve the preservative before the reducing agent which it has to protect . Exception ( see page 82 ) : developers containing Elon . Elon should be dissolved in water containing a pinch of sulfite , balance of sulfite added ...

Camera Magazine - Volume 75 - Page 71

1952 · ‎
Add some sulfite to retard spoiling ( oxidation ) and step up development ( reduction ) . Expose a roll of fast pan film at 500 Weston ... He starts his mix by taking a pinch of the sulfite and dissolving this first in the water .

Developing: The Technique of the Negative - Page 87

Kurt Jacobsohn · 1948 · ‎
Many practical workers prefer to dissolve a pinch of sulfite , or a crystal or two of metabisulfite , in the water before dissolving ... as it is insufficient to upset the balance between sulfite and alkali in the finished developer .

Minicam Photography - Volume 6, Issues 1-6 - Page 75

1942 · ‎
A pinch of sulfite added before the metol , will reduce the chances of your developer oxidizing while it is still being mixed . A properly mixed developer should show little evidence of discoloration . If your dark - room illumination ...