Lith Print Exchange Round 4

[mooseontheloose]

Groups for Round 4

Alright, I'm back.

We had a nice even number of people sign up so I made four groups of four people. Since we were fairly split down the middle with experienced and beginner lith print exchangers, I put all the experienced people in one hat, and the newbies in another and drew names that way. That way there is a nice mix of abilities and experience in each group. I hope that's alright with everyone.


Please exchange addresses via PM with your group members and send your prints (preferably) by June 30th, 2009.

The groups are:

Group 1
eduardomolina
Paul Cocklin
Pete H
Travis Nunn

Group 2
Mark Fisher
Robk331
sly
thebanana

Group 3
keeds
mooseontheloose
Shangheye
thefizz

Group 4
KWhitmore
rst
Thomas Bertilsson
trotkiller

Thanks everyone - I hope we have all a great exchange!

 

[rst]

Thanks Rachelle for organizing this. I sent out my address data.

Cheers
Ruediger

 

[Paul Cocklin]

My data has gone out as well. I'm off to the darkroom...

 

[Paul Cocklin]

....aaaannnnddd, I'm done! Prints will go out Monday.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I got my prints finished today too, they are in the print washer currently. I'll flatten, package, and send probably by next weekend.

- Thomas

 

[Travis Nunn]

OK, you guys are working too fast...

 

[Shangheye]

Going in to the darkroom tonight with a wiff of hope and trepidation....hope I can get them flat enough, but I have a feeling that will be the least of my challenges ;-)) K

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Got my prints done last night. The best part of that is that I was able to revitalize a stash of about 400 sheets of Agfa Portriga Rapid G2 and G3 that I thought were dead to the world, but my new lith chemistry seemed to work perfectly and not much age fogging at all!
So, that's what the prints are printed on. I'll be sending them out soon, after they are flattened.

 

[RPippin]

Lith is the black hole I've fallen in about 6 months ago...count me in.

 

[Mark Fisher]

You folks are moving too fast. Please slow down! It will be a few weeks before I am done!

 

[mooseontheloose]

Mark - don't worry - I'm in the same boat as you. I'm still trying to narrow down my choices of what negative I want to use, what paper, what chemicals (I have a few choices now). I'm hoping to get into the darkroom next week but I'm not counting on perfect prints right away (not that things are ever perfect anyway).

RPippin -- I hate to say it, but you've missed the deadline for this round. The groups are already set up, addresses exchanged, and prints are drying as we speak! I'm not sure when the next round will take place but you'll be more than welcome to sign up then.

 

[Shangheye]

OK, I am printed up after a very successful 5 hr session in the darkroom last night (I had a few other prints to get through), But I need some advice on protection. How do you do it? Do you matt them and then send them, or just flatten and put them in a hard backed envelope (will need to find such envelopes here).

Also, is the tradition to name sign them and date them, and if so I assume on the back in pencil...

I won't be sending them out, until I have worked out how to send them safely.

Rgds, Kal

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Kal, and everyone - to ship safely (I've always had good luck like this):

1. Make sure the print is in something water proof, like a print file sleeve that's been taped up.
2. Use fairly heavy cardboard, four pieces, slightly larger than the print.
3. You know how the cardboard has a structure, you can see its patters, and it bends easier one way than the other. Criss-cross that pattern with two sheets on top and two sheets on bottom.
4. Tape the print to one of the cardboard couples, lay the other cardboard couple on top, and then tape those two together - all along the edge.
5. Wrap.

This makes for a very stiff and secure envelope. I haven't had a single print, even matted to 16x20" become warped this way.

Or, if you're sending it my way, put it in a sleeve, and send it in any book about/by Mary Ellen Mark, preferably signed, and send it over...

- Thomas

 

[Shangheye]

Heh!Heh!....Thanks for the great advice, Thomas. I have a bunch of cardboard downstairs. ...too bad my Mary Ellen Mark book is a softback

 

[rst]

OK, I am in three print exchanges and I have a negative which is good for a lith print, a normal silver print and a kallitype. I started with lith and did some test printing with different papers this evening. I ended up with an Ω-lith print on Fomatone and lucky as I was today, my prints are drying right now. I hope to send them out later this week or early next week.

Cheers
Ruediger

 

[Paul Cocklin]

My prints went out yesterday!

 

[Pete H]

My prints went out yesterday!

Paul,
Your print arrived today. Many thanks! I shall spend some time contemplating it before sending feedback (brutal or otherwise - somehow I doubt that it will be brutal!), and for now just say that I like it.

I'd better get back into the darkroom too. My last lith printing session involved 20+ min development times and the prints came out with slight chemical fogging :rolleyes:. Time for some reformulation ...

cheers
Pete

 

[keeds]

Paul,
I'd better get back into the darkroom too. My last lith printing session involved 20+ min development times and the prints came out with slight chemical fogging :rolleyes:. Time for some reformulation ...

cheers
Pete

If you have a tray heater, this will help reduce development times.

 

[Justin Maramba]

Count me in. Now, where do I send to?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Justin, I think the sign-up is over for this round. If you want to trade prints anyway, there should be a print trade part of the forum, or seek someone out who's work you like and approach them.
Or wait for the next round of this exchange.

 

[Paul Cocklin]

Great to know you got it, Pete. I look forward to hearing any comments you may have. That made it to you pretty fast. Gotta compliment the USPS on that.

 

[Shangheye]

Mine went out today. Rachelle, I sent it to your home address since I think there should be plenty of time for it to arrive before mid-June. Looking forward to your views.

Rgds, Kal

 

[mooseontheloose]

Thanks Kal!

I'm currently on the road but will be doing some major printing sessions when I get back next week. Looking forward to receiving your print (and getting mine out!)

 

[Travis Nunn]

Hi Paul, I got your print in the mail over the weekend. PM on the way...

 

[KWhitmore]

Mine probably won't go out for a few weeks yet...I'm in the middle of moving house, sigh.