Finally got some decent winter weather in Rochester, NY ..so I went out and took about 20 4x5's of the backyard and fields (the most I've been able to take in any single day thus far) I thought the far tree was interesting. Tone I cannot say is accurate. It's a purplish-yellowish in real life that I got from tea/coffee and then cranberry. --
It must smell wonderful! A fine example of what I call a balanced imbalance composition. On the critique front, would you consider top and side burns with corner burns in the top corners and the bottom left corner? That might emphasize the 'circular sweep' of the lower and left side branches.
Dektol, 1:3. Hm. I never thought of 1:3. Didn't know you could. Please tell me about that dilution, how it affects the image, and developing time please. I love all the new options I see by what you all do! Beautiful. Is Ilford MG Satin an RC paper? I didn't know you could tone or stain RC paper. I don't mean to be a pain, but I love details. Helps me grow. Thanks for sharing!
Dektol 1:3 probably drops the contrast a bit and perhaps warms the tone a very little, but I don't see it. I'm a beginner printer, too. Don't want to give away too much as it may be "wrong" ..best just to try it all, anyway! As for times I develop till it is finished. This RC stuff tones/stains -takes a while, though. Selenium I've read doesn't do much for most RC papers but I don't have any to try.Oh, and the satin finish is kinda seductive as well as repulsive at the same time. I use it for the straight prints before I try anything else.
I'll try out your suggestions, Murray. I went back to the print and it really isn't all that close, at all. The frost barely comes through. Unbalanced balanced is what I go for, though.
In the scan there is just the delicate hint of a pinkish stain which must be cranberry. I think you are saying that the print doesn't look like the scan which is a pity as I like the effect. Yet you'd think tea/coffee and cranberry would come out just like the scan.
Ilford RC Satin seems to be a minority taste but it has a texture and an effect that is quite different to Pearl and well worth a try. I do hope that Ilford will persevere with selling it.