Lodima Fine Art Paper--Official reports and Member Responses

[c6h6o3]

Well OK - you've got me!
Even my wife agrees with you!

I knew I would run into trouble with that... actually I first wrote "weeks" but changed that to months after thinking about it for a while...

My inital reaction was just as you suggested, but this is the problem with that approach as I see it.

1. This is a rare opportunity
2. This question has gone unanswered long enough
3. If, as many here claim, there is something special going on, then I feel certain that that "specialness" can be quantified.

I am reasoning that the 'technicians' are overlooking something that the 'glowers' see but cannot adequately describe.

Right or wrong, to be able to settle this once and for all... is going to require some forethought.

How the heck do you measure this kind of "glow" ?

Besides, MAS did say to hold off a bit, and I don't want to seem impatient or pushy.

OK, if it becomes a now or never situation, I will do what has to be done!
Admittedly, 'a couple of months' does sound kind of flakey!

(I am open to suggestions, if anyone has any constructive ides, please PM or eM me.)

I'll send you an Azo print if you would like to see one. I'll make it one that displays the unique qualities that set it apart from other gelatin silver papers. As for my bona fides, ask Michael Smith if I'm a good printer. Just PM me a snail mail address.

 

[Ray Rogers]

Consider it done!

As for a background check, that won't be necessary.

I trust you.

 

[Mahler_one]

Print

I'll send you an Azo print if you would like to see one. I'll make it one that displays the unique qualities that set it apart from other gelatin silver papers. As for my bona fides, ask Michael Smith if I'm a good printer. Just PM me a snail mail address.

Well, I'd love to see one as well. I'll be happy to remimburse you for the postage.

I am planning to take a workshop with Michael and Paula-probably next spring. In the interim, I'll be starting to use Lodima as soon as the paper arrives.

Edwin

 

[c6h6o3]

Well, I'd love to see one as well. I'll be happy to remimburse you for the postage.

I am planning to take a workshop with Michael and Paula-probably next spring. In the interim, I'll be starting to use Lodima as soon as the paper arrives.

Edwin

You're doing the right thing. After he shows you how to use it, it will take a while to teach yourself how to print. It took me about a year. A word of advice: take his "outflanking" methodology to heart. Force yourself to outflank the print until you can't anymore. It's difficult to do at first but utlimately very rewarding.

 

[jgjbowen]

You're doing the right thing. After he shows you how to use it, it will take a while to teach yourself how to print. It took me about a year. A word of advice: take his "outflanking" methodology to heart. Force yourself to outflank the print until you can't anymore. It's difficult to do at first but utlimately very rewarding.

Very good advice, Jim

 

[RobertP]

Is there a good supplier for amidol? I've heard that the amidol made in China has problems with staining. Does the formulary amidol have the same problem? Or are there other suppliers that carry amidol? Thanks

 

[photo8x10]

I have chinese amidol, it's true about the stain,but well washed it dosen't shows problems, I bought lots of amidol to Artcraft Chemical, a very good source.

Best

Stefano

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

For those who have been asking about alternatives to amidol, I posted a couple of images on Azo in Ansco 130 and Dassonville D-3 in the Technical Gallery--

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[jgjbowen]

David,

Thanks for sharing those images.

 

[Alex Hawley]

David, thanks for sharing the images and info. My Azo supply ran out before I started using PF 130 so I haven't tried that combination. I'm in my second year of using PF 130 and have fairly much decided to use it exclusively. Like everything else, it has a learning curve and I don't think I've mastered it entirely yet. My first kit of 4 liter stock solution lasted a good 1-1/2 years. The shelf life is amazing. No, it doesn't waterbath like amidol but it does allow varying the dilution for contrast control. I've used 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4, mostly 1:2. And it sure is a lot less in cost than amidol from any source.

 

[c6h6o3]

Is there a good supplier for amidol? I've heard that the amidol made in China has problems with staining. Does the formulary amidol have the same problem? Or are there other suppliers that carry amidol? Thanks

Artcraft Chemicals has the best amidol. I've compared it with the Gennert's amidol that Michael Smith uses and can't tell the difference. I have about 6 lbs. of the Chinese stuff but haven't used it yet since I have about 2 lbs. of Artcraft.

However, Joe Freeman tells me that if washed properly, prints made in the Chinese amidol are just as good as ones made in Artcraft. There is no better printer alive than Joe.

 

[juan]

I use the Chinese amidol - filter it through a coffee filter before putting it in the tray. I use a submersible aquarium pump with all the filter material removed to stir the water in my first wash. The moving water removes any stain. Then I proceed to HCA and a normal wash in trays. Perhaps that's overkill, but easy enough to do and I don't have stains.
juan

 

[Richard Wasserman]

I use the Chinese amidol - filter it through a coffee filter before putting it in the tray. I use a submersible aquarium pump with all the filter material removed to stir the water in my first wash. The moving water removes any stain. Then I proceed to HCA and a normal wash in trays. Perhaps that's overkill, but easy enough to do and I don't have stains.
juan

I understand that thorough washing removes all the stain, but my question is how do you judge what a yellow print is going to look like after it is washed and turns white. I have 2 or 3 pounds pounds of the Chinese Amidol that I would like to use with the new Lodima paper and have only played with it a bit, so I don't have much experience with it. Does filtering the solution help reduce the level yellow stain?

Richard Wasserman

 

[juan]

My method might not help you, but I don't judge the prints until they are washed and dry. Test prints I dry in the microwave for speed. I write down everything I do in printing so that I can duplicate when I make a good test print.
juan

 

[JLP]

Does filtering the solution help reduce the level yellow stain?

It does help reduce the yellow stain but it is still there. After a few miuntes in the print washer it does disapear. It is important to filter the Chinese Amidol to get the chunks out but it works very well despite the bad rap it's gotten.

jan

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

I ordered my box on Sunday but didn't think to ask for a number. I couldn't be more excited or grateful that M&P made this happen. Hats off... Shawn

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The order number, I think, shows up on your e-mail receipt.

 

[Trevor Crone]

The order number, I think, shows up on your e-mail receipt.

I got an order number (121) but no e-mail receipt:confused:

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Maybe it's in your spam folder or it's taking the electrons a long time to make their way across the pond. Mine had the subject line--"Order Confirmation No: 3"

 

[Michael A. Smith]

The automatic email reply for Lodima Press had some problems. I realized this after some automatic replies are probably lost forever. Others were returned to us and I can send them when I have a moment. The problem is fixed now and that should never happen again.

Right now fewer than 20 boxes of paper for sale remain.

Michael A. Smith

 

[Trevor Crone]

Michael, is delivery of the paper still on track - October 2008?

 

[Michael A. Smith]

As far as I know.

Michael A. Smith

 

[PhotoHistorian]

It is now the middle of October. Has anyone received delivery of your Lodima paper?

Walker

 

[Jerevan]

According to the latest info I have from Michael and Paula: "We will send the paper just as soon as we have it. We hope that will be before the end of October." I got this information in a mail the 11th this month.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The credit card charge went through in the last couple of days, so I hope that means something positive.