Photo-Lab-Index

2F/2F · May 1, 2010

Here is a question (really? ):

Is there a present-day equivalent of the old yearly Photo-Lab-Index publications? I highly doubt it...but when did they go away? The newest one I have is from the 1960s.

It would really be a quite valuable tool to have all technical information on all currently available analog materials bound into a handy analog reference. Since nobody really knows anything about analog in this day and age, it may be even more helpful to those who still use analog than were the original publications!

What would it take to make one of these? Any A.P.U.G. entrepreneurs out there??? It would make a great project for A.P.U.G., and might even make some money for the site. IMHO, every school and every analog photographer should have one. I would buy two of them, for sure. I am sure Freestyle and other retailers would carry such a publication.

AgX · May 1, 2010

Such was attempted in Germany about 1993.

Rick A · May 1, 2010

My PLI is dated 1976. I wouldn't mind seeing a newer one(or even a couple of older ones for comparison).

bsdunek · May 1, 2010

I think my Morgan & Morgan is last updated about 1976 too. Would be nice to have an updated one but I don't expect it. The market is probably too small to even consider.

Jim Noel · May 1, 2010

One can easily assemble the information from the technical portions of the manufacturers web sites.
I have done so for every manufacturer I can think of even though some are not in English.
Assembled on a CD or collected on a hard drive, the info is readily accessible.
Of course, this does not include some of the non-manufacturer info available in the PLI, but those charts too can be found to add to the CD.

photoncatcher · May 1, 2010

I think I have one from the 50s some where.

removed account4 · May 1, 2010

morgan and morgan is still around.

i at one point was in touch with jerry katz
the chemist formulator photographer scientist who tested
all the films and chemistry for PLI .. last i spoke with him
was 6 years ago or so. he was an encyclopedia of knowledge.
unfortunately, he was older and wasn't doing well ...

maybe morgan+morgan has another person working with them or would be interested
in publishing an "update" ?

Stephen Frizza · May 2, 2010

would it be a global publication say including services of Autralia, the Americas, europe, Africa, Asia etc etc...

2F/2F · May 2, 2010

Stephen Frizza said:
would it be a global publication say including services of Autralia, the Americas, europe, Africa, Asia etc etc...

PLI was a detailed collection of technical data from available materials, not a yellow pages.

AgX · May 2, 2010

The PLI represented only a limited section of the market. So Stephen is right on with his remark.

2F/2F · May 2, 2010

AgX said:
The PLI represented only a limited section of the market. So Stephen is right on with his remark.

How is he "right on" in asking what "services" are included? The answer is "none". It is a technical reference, not a yellow pages.

AgX · May 2, 2010

It referenced only products available in the USA. With the international character of Apug in mind the issue of coverage of a future version of anything similar to the PLI should be obvious.

2F/2F · May 2, 2010

AgX said:
It referenced only products available in the USA. With the international character of Apug in mind the issue of coverage of a future version of anything similar to the PLI should be obvious.

It is quite obvious...but I fail to see where the use of the word "services" (asking if his lab will be included, in other words) makes Stephen's understanding of what the book would be "right on".

Stephen Frizza · May 2, 2010

2F/2F said:
It is quite obvious...but I fail to see where the use of the word "services" (asking if his lab will be included, in other words) makes Stephen's understanding of what the book would be "right on".

Do not take my remarks out of context. I was merely asking if it was a global or localized resource. The market diversity is shrinking, that's no hidden fact so for such a publication to be more viable it would need to become more global then a localized market.

2F/2F · May 2, 2010

World wide? Yes. Of course.

Services? No. The publications are about material characteristics, processes, and formulae alone.

Sadly, a worldwide yellow pages for the still photo market would not be all that long.......

2F/2F · May 2, 2010

Jim Noel said:
One can easily assemble the information from the technical portions of the manufacturers web sites.
I have done so for every manufacturer I can think of even though some are not in English.
Assembled on a CD or collected on a hard drive, the info is readily accessible.
Of course, this does not include some of the non-manufacturer info available in the PLI, but those charts too can be found to add to the CD.

I have my notebook full of data sheets as well, but PLIs have far more detailed and useful information than is published by any manufacturer. All sorts of formulae, film characteristics in different developers (graphs), listings of product lines, instructions for certain processes, etc.

One thing the old PLIs did lack is photographic examples, and that would be a nice appendix to have.

John Koehrer · May 4, 2010

Although it's not likely to be printed because of cost, it could be done on CD reasonably.
I haven't had a copy for years but didn't the earlier versions have Adox, Foma, Ferrania & Ilford data?
Don't remember anything from Asia though, Maybe Fuji?

largeformat pat · May 5, 2010

A resource of material would be also neat, Not whom does what where. I have three folders full of laminated sheets of materials and specs.

Rodex · May 5, 2010

It sounds like a great idea, also for beginners like myself.

removed account4 · May 5, 2010

morgan and morgan is still around.

just learned moments ago that mr morgan passed away a few years ago.

Wade D · May 6, 2010

I have a 1971 edition and still use it. Though outdated there is a lot of very good info in there.

Photo-Lab-Index

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