Lith print exchange, anybody interested?

[Travis Nunn]

I'm with Sly on this one, I don't mind sending overseas and it's really kind of neat to get a print from someone in another country.

As far as the beginner/expert thing, in the Alt print exchange you're asked to rate yourself (Expert/Intermediate/Beginner) and then the groups are divided rather evenly with all three in one group. I don't really see a reason to do that but if others want that, I'll go along with it.

 

[Ole]

Every exchange I've participated in has been 100% international shipping for me. So what? That's the price I have to pay to be on any kind of exchange.

As to sizes and mounting/matting:

I usually print on either 8x10" or 9.5x12" paper, with somewhat varying margins depending on film format and whether I want to crop anything.

I have learned that a well packed unmounted print has a far better "survival rate" in international shipping. Mats tend to arrive damaged, too. So I will ship mine unmounted and unmatted.

Since 8x10" is far easier to fit in a reasonably standard-sized padded envelope that's probably what I will use. Unless the picture just wants to be bigger, of course...

 

[keeds]

Around 8x10 max, unmounted, unmatted works for me...

 

[bdial]

Around 8x10 max, unmounted, unmatted works for me..

I agree, and I'm ok with shipping prints anywhere.

 

[Mark Fisher]

I've been wanting to try lith. I have the chemicals and an image I want to try it on........this could be the push I need.....count me in.

 

[Ole]

... I would appreciate to know the materials used, dilutions, exposure times, etc. Details that would otherwise take a long time to experiment with. ...

I second this. Part of the fun and frustration of lith printing is the infinite variability, but it can be a good help to have at least a starting point if trying to get a specific tone or look.

BTW - how do people feel about RC paper? I'll probably use FB anyway, but I have some RC papers that give very unusual results...

 

[Mateo]

I don't think we should say fiber prints only...I've made prints on kodak transtar tp5 that are a bit unique and that paper was only available in rc. I think we should keep things as open as possible regarding materials, printing experience, location. I hope we don't even put any kind of size limits...if someone wants to send 20x24 prints that's up to them and their pocket book and if someone makes jewel like 4x5s that they are proud of that should be fine too. One thing we could do to lessen international shipping costs is to allow loose prints. I will send matted prints cause that's how I want them to be seen but I wouldn't expect the same, it will only take some of the fun out of this to make too many rules.

I do think it would be helpful to mix up the groups if we have everyone rate themselves as beginner, intermediate, or experienced. This is not a competition, this is the opposite of that. So hopefully people won't be bashful and worried that others will judge them if they put that they are experienced. I've been printing in lith for about 12 years now so I'm not afraid to say I'm experienced at this. If you've been doing this for a long time please say so. It will make this more fun to me if we get a good mixture of levels in each individual group.

 

[Travis Nunn]

I think the statement "I think we should keep things as open as possible regarding materials, printing experience, location." pretty much sums up my feelings.

If we're going to rate ourselves, I'd say I'm an Intermediate.

 

[rst]

I am a beginner with lith printing but already hooked to this nice and unique process. As to materials, I will print on FB paper (either Fomatone or ADOX Fineprint, both lith well but the Fomatone is much more colorful) size will most likely be 9.5x12 inches and I use Wolfgang Moerschs SE5Lith developer kit. To reduce shipping size I will also send unmounted but well packed prints

I also do not mind sending international. Otherwise I would end up in a one person only group

I am looking forward to this.

ciao
-- Ruediger

 

[Gay Larson]

I haven't been lith printing for very long but I leave on Sept 9th for Tim Rudman's workshop at the Formulary so hopefully I will be much better at it when I return and I hope whoever's name I get won't be too disappointed.

 

[sly]

I'm not sure where to place myself. Maybe 1/2 step up from beginner? I have not yet seen anyone's else's lith prints in the flesh, only on the monitor, so it is hard to compare my stuff with theirs. I'm looking forward to this exchange. Sly

 

[mikeg]

Bump!

Any more takers?

Cheers

Mike

 

[Ole]

I also do not mind sending international. Otherwise I would end up in a one person only group

Same here, Ruediger!

I haven't decided anything yet. I don't even know what papers I have, or whether my developer is still usable. If the developer is dead I may mix some from scratch, otherwise I'll use what I have. I can't even remember what it is!

Then it depends on the paper I have: I know I have some Varycon, in both RC and FB, but that may not be the colour I want. And some Forte, but is there enough for the necessary failures? Some Bergger too, which also may be too few sheets.

I'll put myself a notch above beginner, since I've managed to make some lith prints that I actually like - and my wife likes them, too!

 

[mikeg]

I'll put myself a notch above beginner, since I've managed to make some lith prints that I actually like - and my wife likes them, too!

I'd say that I'm the same, beginner to intermediate.

I've got some Fotospeed LD20 and Moersh developer along with Fotospeed lith paper.

I've also got some Kentmere Fineprint WT and Agfa MCC both of which I've managed to get some decent lith prints from.

Cheers

Mike

 

[matti]

I would love to participate!
/matti

 

[Mark Layne]

If there is space I would be interested as I do quite a bit of lith
Mark

 

[kjsphoto]

I am interested but I usually do everything on FB and mount and matt and would feel cheated if I received a loose RC or FB print as I put a lot of effort into my work.

 

[rst]

I am interested but I usually do everything on FB and mount and matt and would feel cheated if I received a loose RC or FB print as I put a lot of effort into my work.

OK Kevin, I can understand your point. In my first print exchange I felt like a cheater because the others sent way better images than I did. In my second print exchange I felt like a cheater because I sent RC and got FB and platinum back. Now I wonder how I will feel in the current round. So for the Lith Print Exchange, if we end up in the same group, I promise to mount and matt the image I send to you. But who knows if you will like the image I am going to send, you may feel cheated.

ciao
-- Ruediger

 

[mikeg]

I can understand your point too Kevin. I have only sent fibre prints for exchanges. They are toned and spotted, titled, signed and dated on the reverse. They are my best work.

I don't mount or matt the prints as I find that the mounts do not survive the post that well. The few mounted and matted prints that I have received over the years have all been damaged in some way. Obviously you can really go to town with the packaging to prevent this, but this will increase the postal costs enormously. I think that if we forced everyone to mount and matt then the price would be too exorbitant for many people, especially with international postage rates. I leave it up to the recipient to mount and matt the print if they wish.

Part of the enjoyment I receive from the print exchanges is in making and the giving of my best attempt. Obviously, it is disappointing if you receive a piece of work back which isn't up to your own standards -- it's even worse when nothing arrives.

I hope this doesn't put you off (or anyone else) participating!

Cheers

Mike

 

[Ole]

My experience is the same - mounts and matts don't survive international mail. I've received one which should have survived, as it was packed between two sheets of plywood. But somehow someone had managed to drive a nail through it!

I prefer to receive unmounted prints. Then at least the print has a fair chance of arriving undamaged.

Most of my prints are toned, but this is not so for lith prints. The colour variations in an untoned lith print are very different to what they are after toning, and sometimes I wish to retain the original colours. Any toning that is strong enough to make a difference in archivality is strong enough to change the tone, too.

I will use FB paper this time, though: Of the two "lithy" RC papers I have, one is way too glossy, and the other one is the same emulsion in the FB version.

 

[timeUnit]

Me too!

 

[Travis Nunn]

I too prefer to send and receive unmounted/unmatted prints. In addition to the shipping issue, it makes storage easier, too.

 

[fearc]

I'd like to participate - really beginning to like lith printing - although a bit nervous about sending work out... would love to send overseas....rate me beginner - intermediate. ..

 

[Gay Larson]

I would rather not have to mount and matt the print as it does cost more and it is usually to no avail as the matt is usually damaged. I have been in several exchanges and sometimes received prints that took my breath away and other times they made me shake my head with dismay. But I never felt cheated. It all works out in the end. I have sometimes not gotten what I wanted at Christmas too but that is the nature of gift exchanges which is what this really is.

 

[semeuse]

Can I still jump in here?