PLEASE READ THIS VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING UP FOR THE BLIND PRINT EXCHANGE
For those that don't know what the Blind Exchange is, here's a brief explanation:
People sign up to become "participants" during the signup month via PM to the organizer (me).
Participants PM me their full name and mailing address.
Organizer arranges so that every participant sends one or more print(s) to one other participant. Likewise, all participants will receive a print(s) from a different participant than the one to whom they sent.
It's 'blind' because the participants do not know who will be sending them a print
When you send/receive, please post immediately on the status thread so that the organizer can more easily keep track of overall progress. Et voila. You're done.
CURRENT ROUND
Round 22: Signup ends January 31 2016.
Print and Send: February and March 2016
Rest and Relaxation: April 2016
COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
Please post immediately in the status thread upon either sending or receiving prints. I really need to know and doing so would be a huge help. If you need to contact me, please feel free to PM me about any old thing your heart desires. Always note the Round to which your correspondence refers.
So, what exactly do I send?
There has been a lot of questions about the 'quality' of prints. So here's some basic ideas.
Make the best print you can. It does not have to be museum quality, but there shouldn't be spilled coffee on it either!
Mounting/matting your print is optional.
Say something about your print. I'd encourage everyone to add a note, especially if you are a newbie that is looking for some feedback, with some basic information about the print such as the following . . .
Camera
Film
Exposure settings
Location
Paper
Developer
Development times
Other pertinent info
B&W or Colour? Fiber Based or Resin Coated? 4x6 or 16x20? Your choice.
Polaroid transfers, Polaroid emulsion transfers, PT/PD prints, Ilfochromes, etc... are all acceptable. Even contact prints made from the hybrid method (film-->PC-->acetate-->paper) is acceptable.
Lambda or Lightjet prints of reversal film is fine for those who lack the capacity to print Ilfochromes. Please make certain you state these processes if used.
Generally, a decent 8x10 or larger is the norm. Send whatever you feel like printing to get your vision across. If your neg looks best as a 4x4 inch square print or as a 24x36 inch print, just do it and have fun.
PACKAGING
Here are some known methods that people have been sending their prints:
flat, sandwiched in between two stiff cardboards, in a flat cardboard mailer or a soft bubble wrap mailer <--very good for unmounted prints, OK for mounted prints
flat, loose with popcorn, bubble wrap, newspaper or other soft material in a cardboard box mailer <--good for mounted prints
rolled in a cardboard tube <--very not good for mounted prints
hand delivered <--now that's dedication!
OTHER SIDE NOTES
Please be prepared, if you want to participate, to mail your print internationally since you may get someone overseas.
Note that for customs purposes, value your print under $10 USD or 10 EUR when sending a print overseas to reduce holdup in customs.
For those of you in the US that want to send your prints via Priorty Mail, you can get free cardboard boxes from USPS at your post office or online at http://www.usps.gov. If you order them online, you'll need to order 25 mininum of each size and it takes about a week or so have it delivered to your address.
IMPORTANT. If you cannot honor your commitment and have already received your print, please send the print you received to the person to whom you were supposed to send your print. Please notify the organizer immediately. If you have NOT received your print yet, please contact the organizer ASAP so that a correction can be forwarded, if possible.
Please do not signup if you still have past Blind Print Exchange commitments you still need to honor. Complete them first then feel free to sign up for subsequent rounds.
Make certain you have the correct address on your mode of shipping. Triple check it. I would rather be deluged with PMs than need to have someone reprint and pay postage a second time.
And last but not least. This is a member organized function. There is no one 'legally' responsible for anything, unless Jason Brunner signs up and sends bacon through the post (again?). Might be some health issues there. If a problem arises, please contact me first. We can generally figure these things out and we'll go from there.
Disclaimers. Well, my legal department is non-existant so there aren't any. Just have fun. Please realize that there is a possibility that you may not receive a print. Your sender might have to move and will have no darkroom for a year or more. They may, for personal reasons put up their cameras and gear for sale. In the past, members have sent additional prints to those who have not received a print. This will not always be the case. Just so you realize that it a possibility.
Thank you.
Eugene Anikin
APUG Blind Print Exchange Organizer
PLEASE USE THIS THREAD TO POST GENERAL QUESTIONS SO THAT OTHERS MAY BENEFIT FROM THIS FAQ.
For those that don't know what the Blind Exchange is, here's a brief explanation:
People sign up to become "participants" during the signup month via PM to the organizer (me).
Participants PM me their full name and mailing address.
Organizer arranges so that every participant sends one or more print(s) to one other participant. Likewise, all participants will receive a print(s) from a different participant than the one to whom they sent.
It's 'blind' because the participants do not know who will be sending them a print
When you send/receive, please post immediately on the status thread so that the organizer can more easily keep track of overall progress. Et voila. You're done.
CURRENT ROUND
Round 22: Signup ends January 31 2016.
Print and Send: February and March 2016
Rest and Relaxation: April 2016
COMMUNICATION IS KEY!
Please post immediately in the status thread upon either sending or receiving prints. I really need to know and doing so would be a huge help. If you need to contact me, please feel free to PM me about any old thing your heart desires. Always note the Round to which your correspondence refers.
So, what exactly do I send?
There has been a lot of questions about the 'quality' of prints. So here's some basic ideas.
Make the best print you can. It does not have to be museum quality, but there shouldn't be spilled coffee on it either!
Mounting/matting your print is optional.
Say something about your print. I'd encourage everyone to add a note, especially if you are a newbie that is looking for some feedback, with some basic information about the print such as the following . . .
Camera
Film
Exposure settings
Location
Paper
Developer
Development times
Other pertinent info
B&W or Colour? Fiber Based or Resin Coated? 4x6 or 16x20? Your choice.
Polaroid transfers, Polaroid emulsion transfers, PT/PD prints, Ilfochromes, etc... are all acceptable. Even contact prints made from the hybrid method (film-->PC-->acetate-->paper) is acceptable.
Lambda or Lightjet prints of reversal film is fine for those who lack the capacity to print Ilfochromes. Please make certain you state these processes if used.
Generally, a decent 8x10 or larger is the norm. Send whatever you feel like printing to get your vision across. If your neg looks best as a 4x4 inch square print or as a 24x36 inch print, just do it and have fun.
PACKAGING
Here are some known methods that people have been sending their prints:
flat, sandwiched in between two stiff cardboards, in a flat cardboard mailer or a soft bubble wrap mailer <--very good for unmounted prints, OK for mounted prints
flat, loose with popcorn, bubble wrap, newspaper or other soft material in a cardboard box mailer <--good for mounted prints
rolled in a cardboard tube <--very not good for mounted prints
hand delivered <--now that's dedication!
OTHER SIDE NOTES
Please be prepared, if you want to participate, to mail your print internationally since you may get someone overseas.
Note that for customs purposes, value your print under $10 USD or 10 EUR when sending a print overseas to reduce holdup in customs.
For those of you in the US that want to send your prints via Priorty Mail, you can get free cardboard boxes from USPS at your post office or online at http://www.usps.gov. If you order them online, you'll need to order 25 mininum of each size and it takes about a week or so have it delivered to your address.
IMPORTANT. If you cannot honor your commitment and have already received your print, please send the print you received to the person to whom you were supposed to send your print. Please notify the organizer immediately. If you have NOT received your print yet, please contact the organizer ASAP so that a correction can be forwarded, if possible.
Please do not signup if you still have past Blind Print Exchange commitments you still need to honor. Complete them first then feel free to sign up for subsequent rounds.
Make certain you have the correct address on your mode of shipping. Triple check it. I would rather be deluged with PMs than need to have someone reprint and pay postage a second time.
And last but not least. This is a member organized function. There is no one 'legally' responsible for anything, unless Jason Brunner signs up and sends bacon through the post (again?). Might be some health issues there. If a problem arises, please contact me first. We can generally figure these things out and we'll go from there.
Disclaimers. Well, my legal department is non-existant so there aren't any. Just have fun. Please realize that there is a possibility that you may not receive a print. Your sender might have to move and will have no darkroom for a year or more. They may, for personal reasons put up their cameras and gear for sale. In the past, members have sent additional prints to those who have not received a print. This will not always be the case. Just so you realize that it a possibility.
Thank you.
Eugene Anikin
APUG Blind Print Exchange Organizer
PLEASE USE THIS THREAD TO POST GENERAL QUESTIONS SO THAT OTHERS MAY BENEFIT FROM THIS FAQ.
