Analogue RETOUCHING Supplies?

[Terrance Hounsell]

I am looking for a source of hard to find analogue retouching supplies. I probably have a lifetime supply of dyes and oils (depending on how long I live) but crocien, coccine, opaque, and abrasive paste are difficult to find and I am out of abrasive paste.

A search of the web didn't turn up anything. Maybe some one at APUG knows of old stock at their local photo store or have switched to digital or knows how to make the paste from scratch. Any older retouchers out there know what it is made of? Thanks in advance for your help.

BTW: I bought an Adams Retouching Machine off eBay last year and when it arrived it was in as new condition with the name Veronica Cass on the box. A venerable name from the heyday of analogue retouching. I remember her book being a good reference. Cool ;{D

 

[edz]

I am looking for a source of hard to find analogue retouching supplies. I probably have a lifetime supply of dyes and oils (depending on how long I live) but crocien, coccine, opaque, and abrasive paste are difficult to find and I am out of abrasive paste.

As a replacement for "abrasive remover" try using some chrome polish like Cibachrome or some other fine abrasive paste. It was nothing other than a very fine grinding compound.

For opaque.. Its still around. The black stuff is easier to get than the red/brown. Its just highly pigmented and opaque ink. I got some that Schmincke made. Kodak Crocein Scarlet are still in production.. they have like all of the Kodak retouching stuff taken on wild and crazy pricing but...

Shellac and all the other 'ol time goodies, pigments and whatever else one could need or want is available from Kremer Pigments (in Germany and NYC).

The hardest stuff to replace are the liquid and dry dyes.. but you have a good supply so no need to worry...

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

Perhaps you could use dental abrasive paste? there is a seller on ebay who sells only dental supplies.. ids dental I believe, they have everything (dental related).. but are located in the US.

As far as everything else, I believe B&H photo has neo coccine and opaqueing fluid.

 

[Lopaka]

I did see crocein scarlet listed on B&H's website.

My primary experience with negative retouching 'back when' was pencil retouching portrait negatives. As such, the only use we had for abrasive paste was to smooth out damage to the emulsion by a bad retouching job so you could start over. Fortunately, very little was used. I used dental pumice. You might try an inquiry of your local pharmacist, or dentist office. I don't know what effect the newer flavored versions might have. That could present a problem if you get hungry.

Bob

 

[Terrance Hounsell]

Needs to be chemically inert

Perhaps you could use dental abrasive paste? there is a seller on ebay who sells only dental supplies.. ids dental I believe, they have everything (dental related).. but are located in the US.QUOTE]

For a Kodak Retouching Abrasive substitute I was leaning towards using something that was inert so as to reduce the risk of chemically disturbing the negative. Pumice comes to mind but I don't know what to suspend it in perhaps a talc and distilled water slurry.

If Kodak is no longer supplying it maybe they will tell what is in it.

 

[Charles Webb]

Automotive rubbing compounds are available in a ton of different grits.
I have had great success using a white compound for thinning dense skies. I generally apply it with a foam Q tip and a gentle hand.

Charlie......................

 

[LordMagnus]

Here is the website for ADAMS RETOUCHING MACHINE

http://www.geocities.com/adamsretouching/index.html


If you call them, they only answer the phone with, 'Hello..." it is kinda confusing for a prof. company. I kinda thought I was making a phone call to 1975 since that's when the machine I inherited was manufactured.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

This is an old thread, and I've posted about it elsewhere, but just for the archives, I've made abrasive reducer by mixing brown tripoli with light mineral oil using a mortar and pestle. A little goes a long way. Finer abrasives don't do anything, and coarser ones are too scratchy.

 

[Tim Boehm]

There's a guy on eBay selling Crocein for $25

http://cgi.ebay.com/CROCEIN-SCARLET...VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

I've never used the abrasive you're talking about. However, I do use Novus Plastic Polish on French Polished guitars. Works well and is gentle, but I've never tried it on film. They may have various grits, but may be too soft as David said.

http://www.novuspolish.com/