Wanting to get to Platinum printing, I need to know what anyone has tried and likes for enlarged negatives. I know that I can get some nice 8x10 negs by using Kodak Versalite TDF and am wondering if any one use this method. Processing in Dektol yeilds some really nice tones and VERY fine grain. I am wondering if it will work for platinum and Kallitypes.

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), July 28, 2000

Answers

Don't know much, but have you tried this site? Maybe someone will mention it there and you can pop them an e-mail.

http://members.aol.com/sixbysixcm/photographers.html Dean

-- Dean Lastoria (dvlastor@sfu.ca), August 03, 2000.

There are several methods, but one of them is not using Dektol. The use of this paper developer goes back to an article I remember reading in 1937 suggesting its use, and it has been perpetuated in many texts by many people who are too lazy, or to unknowledgeable to test other methods. Here is pone I use with my students. Use Kodak's Fine grain Duplicating film to make a positive which is as large as your enlarger will handle. Develop this in your film developer of choice. Enlarge this onto Freestyles' APHS developed in WD2D , a pyro developer. Beautiful negatives can be produced and the grain is almost impossible to detect. Another method, in case you are not comfortable with the use of pyro developers is to use Agfa N31p, a long scale duplicating film available through graphic arts suppliers, for both the inter-positive and the enlarged negative. This film does a terrific job, and uses more common developers. It is costly, but beautiful. Good Luck Jim

-- Jim Noel (jimnoel@att.net), August 29, 2000.