Transparency crisis!!!

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Does anyone know if it's possible to get a high quality transparency from a 35mm negative(colour and b&w)? Having contrast and dust problems. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

-- Michelle Reardon-Barker (mbarker@york.com), August 07, 1998

Answers

Set up your regular duping/copying system. I used a Nikon bellows unit with slide copier holder which also accepts neg strips. Load your camera with Kodalith film (bulk load short lengths). Use the camera meter and an ISO of about 8. Bracket at 1/2 stop intervals for 2 stops each way. Develop in fine grain developer (Kodak D76 or Ilford ID11) for 5 minutes and fix for 5 minutes. View the negatives and decide on the best exposure. Use the same exposure (+- 1 stop in 1/2 steps) for negs of the same density and adjust for negs of different densities. This technique is good for both B&W and colour negs. It was submitted by John Stanger, Quilcene, WA & published in the now defunct but sorely missed Darkroom & Creative Camera Tecniques magazine Jul/Aug '93. I have tried this with various kinds of B&W negs. Dazzling highlights and minimal grain are obtained. Cut up the film (on +- 1/2 stop each side), snap in slide mounts and project. Kodalith is very sensitive to development. Only one exposure will be perfect. Good luck - you'll love the results! A good alternative to Scala.

-- John R. Fowler (cpci@fox.nstn.ca), August 31, 1998.

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